26.02.2025 | Reading time - 17 min(s)

Mountain Biking Tips

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If you have just started mountain biking or are thinking about starting, then this guide is for you. We take a look at some beginner mountain biking tips to help you as you start out, including which mountain bike will be best, the correct position on the bike for certain scenarios, perfect saddle height, how to brake well, how to shift gears and trail etiquette and safety. We also have a bonus feature from James in our Newcastle store of his top tips for mountain bikers.

Contents and Quick Links

Which Mountain Bike Should I Choose?
Bike Position
Saddle Height
How to Brake Efficiently and Safely
How to Change Gears Effectively
Trail Etiquette and Safety
James's Mountain Biking Tips

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First things first, lets start with an overview of mountain bikes and which ones work best for different riding styles.

Which Mountain Bike Should I Ride?

There are two broad types of mountain bikes that each have pros and cons for new mountain bikers. The first of these is a hardtail mountain bike which is characterised by a front suspension fork and a rigid rear end, hence "hardtail". The other is a full suspension bike which has the front suspension but also rear suspension to smooth out the really rough terrain. These broad categories also apply to electric mountain bikes too.

Now that we know what each one is, here are the pros and the cons of these for beginner riders.

Hardtail Mountain bike

Hardtails are significantly less expensive than full suspension bikes but they offer less forgiveness to beginner mountain bikers as there is no movement on the rear end to glide over uneven surfaces, rocks and roots. But on the flipside of this, a hardtail will improve your bike handling skills really quickly.

Full suspension bike

A full-sus bike will offer much more forgiveness to beginner riders than their hardtail equivalent but they are more expensive. A full suspension mountain bike is usually the bike of choice for more technical trail riding, downhill mountain biking or enduro.

Within the full sus category, there are enduro bikes, downhill bikes, cross country bikes and down country bikes. When choosing between these styles, it depends whether you are looking for a mountain bike with pure downhill capabilities, climbing capabilities or a mix of each.

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Bike Position

The position you take on the bike will depend on the particular terrain you are on. This could be gentle cross country mountain biking sections, downhill, technical trails or advanced trails. Your position will be slightly different for each of these.

Non Technical Trail Sections

When on non technical mountain bike trails you will be in a more relaxed position and if freewheeling, you will be standing on the pedals with your knees slightly bent and your arms slightly bent also. Your weight here will be in a neutral position over the centre of the bike and you will be covering the brakes with one or two fingers depending on the sensitivity of the brakes you are using and looking approximately five to ten metres ahead. Top Tip: look where you want to go. If you are looking at the hazard instead, it is likely you will end up drifting towards them.

If you are pedalling on non technical trail sections then your saddle will be raised to the optimal position for pedalling efficiency while your arms are gripping the handlebar covering the brakes with one or two fingers.

Steeper, More Technical Sections

On steeper and more technical terrain, you will be in a more ready position. This is to be able to deal with bumps, jumps and teree roots. For this scenario, your pedals will be in a horizontal position and your knees will be more bent to help absorb shocks and your arms will have more bend also.

In a more ready position, your weight will be slightly further back behind the saddle (a dropper post is indispensable here but more on this later) to help with cornering and to keep your centre of gravity more balanced as the terrain gets steeper.

As always with mountain biking, you will be covering the brakes with one or two fingers .

Downhill, Enduro riding

Aside from equipping yourself with a good enduro bike, your weight will usually be right back on the bike above the rear wheel and your knees and elbows will have a healthy bend to absorb the rock gardens, roots and jumps. You will be looking a bit further ahead as you will lilkely be travelling faster and again, only look where you want to go.

Saddle Height

Saddle height can play an important part on your position while on the bike and makes a massive difference to your efficiency when climbing or going along the flat. So what is the ideal saddle height? The answer to this depends whether you are climbing or descending.

When climbing, your saddle will be fully raised so that you have a slight bend in your leg in the extended position while pedalling. This allows the maximum power transfer through the pedal stroke so that more of your effort goes towards propelling you along.

When descending, you are going to want to drop your seat out of the way in order to let you shift your weight to the rear, left and right without your saddle getting in the way. If you are old-school, it is best to stop at the top of the trail and manually put your saddle down but if you have a dropper-post, this is made a lot easier.

A note on Dropper Posts

A dropper post is a relatively new innovation for mountain bikes as you can raise or lower your saddle with the push of a lever. For when you are climbing, the saddle will raise to it's optimal height for pedalling efficiency and when you are descending you can simply move the saddle out of the way and shift rider weight. Here are a quick list of the benefits.

Easily raise and lower your saddle
When raised, saddle will be in optimal pedalling position
When lowered, saddle will be safely out of the way while descending
No need to stop at the top and bottom of trails to adjust your saddle

How To Brake

One of the best skills to learn for any new mountain biker is braking. Good braking makes you much safer, more efficient and breeds confidence as you are more in control of your mountain bike.

With the introduction of disc brakes and advanced brake pads, stopping power has increased massively since the old rim brakes on mountain bikes. It is therefore important to pull the brake levers evenly and smoothly without grabbing them and it is best to use both brakes simultaneously to avoid skidding (too much rear brake) or going over the bars or sliding out the front wheel (too much front brake).

Another key to good braking is anticipation. It is usually best to brake before the turn and let your momentum carry you through the corner. Braking while on the corner risks skidding out.

Finally, looking after your equipment will make you much safer and in particular, checking your brake pads. Some serious downhill mountain biking wears through brake pads incredibly quickly but it is definitely worth checking these before every ride to make sure you have enough pads to safely stop you.

Key Points on How to Brake

Pull lightly and smoothly, try not to grab
Use both brakes together
Look ahead and anticipate the terrain
Check your equipment before a ride

How To Shift Gear

By shifting well, you can maintain momentum into climbs and make yourself much more efficient. You will also avoid those embarrassing moments when you come to a stop on a climb when you are in too high a gear and have to stop and manually get into a lower one. The key to avoiding this is anticipation.

By looking ahead and assessing the terrain, you can adjust your gearing before the coming climb or corner, allowing you to easily continue pedalling when the course changes. Good shifting is not only about when to shift but also how to shift.

When shifting gear, you should remain pedalling but relax your power to take stress off the chain, cassette and chainring(s). Shifting under load will wear through your chain and componentry much faster than backing off the power until your chain is set on the new cog. This also goes back to our point about getting in gear early as it is incredibly hard to shift gear lightly when on an unexpected climb trying to get into a lower gear.

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Trail Etiquette and Safety

When on a trail or cross country mountain biking, it is important to be courteous to other cyclists, walkers and horse-riders while also looking after the natural environment. Here are a few of the 'rules'.

Leave no trace

We include this in mountain biking tips but this should be a standard for everyone outdoors. If you take snacks, have to change an inner tube or any other packaging, take the rubbish home with you or dispose of it correctly. This goes for the trails as much as any car parks or outdoor areas you encounter.

Leave no trace can also go for those thinking about off-piste cycling - please don't create your own routes and damage the environment and plantlife. Stick to the trail routes available.

Another popular tip in the office here regarding leaving the area as you find it is to avoid deliberate skids as these unnecessarily damage the trail and as the people in the office say - skids are for kids!

Be Self Sufficient

No mountain biker should be without spare tube(s), tyre levers and pump in case of those unexpected punctures. That being said; most mountain bikes are set up with tubeless tires but even in these cases, it can be a good idea to take spares with you... just in case.

Be Courteous To Others

Another mountain biking tip that should be adopted in all areas of life is to be courteous to others. This could be other mountain bikers, hikers, horse riders or any one else you encounter on the trails, tracks or paths. Also, be conscious of where you are riding bikes as blue and red routes tend to attract beginner cyclists and children so please be tolerant of all levels of cyclist.

Another tip, especially when at mountain bike trail centres is to be conscious of where you stop. This is particularly important at either the top or bottom of a trail. You will likely have to wait at some point for friends and stragglers - just don't do this directly at the bottom of a run.

Watch out for animals

Be extra careful when passing horses and if you are in doubt, ask the horse rider how best to proceed. Slowing down significantly is the most important and try not to startle horses. The same goes for wild animals too - a scared animal can be a dangerous animal so if you see any wild animals, slow down and pass safely.

Say Hi

Mountain bike riders are one big community so please wave or say hi to fellow bikers. An offer of a helping hand to any who looks to be in bother always goes a long way too.

James's Mountain Biking Tips

James from our Newcastle store started his cycling career over 17 years ago at bike parks doing jumps on his BMX and then moved onto MTB. He rode on a mtb race team as recently as 2019 and was awarded the local hero award in 2020. James has his own race team and is very active in building trails to encourage and progress riding on the local scene.

Who better to ask, than James, about mountain biking tips for new and experienced riders? Take it away James,

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Speaking from experience there is no, one, specific model to follow for each rider as numerous factors come into play.

Pack for the day ahead

This means packing light but not so light it's a constant journey to the car wasting time that could be spent on the hill. Carry light snacks / gel to power through a long day after a good breakfast meaning you only need one stop for a lunch break or worst come to worst, a repair you can't fix on the hill. Small tools like Allen keys, tyre levers and a tube should be mandatory for any ride. I use the Evoc Hip Pack to keep the general load down whilst just carrying essentials. You don't necessarily need a huge backpack unless you're adventuring all day and even then, it will wear you down.

Wear the right gear

If its soaking wet a pair of jeans after a small amount of time are not going to work. A pair of waterproofs like Endura's MT500 make a big difference for a small investment. Always look at your cycling gear as an investment rather than a purchase because, if you do it right, they will last you a long time! Jeans may look good in the car park but are not practical on the trails.

Footwear

Whether you like clipped in shoes or flat - having the right combination is key to pushing your riding offroad. I personally use flat as I like to take my foot off a lot in the air or move foot position. There are huge benefits to riding clipped also – more efficient hill climbing and keeping your feet in the correct position over rough tracks then clips come into their own. This is personal preference; many medals have been won with both flat pedals and with clips so choose what you prefer not what the industry forces you to choose.

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Look after your bike

Keeping your bike clean is easy and pretty darn essential for longevity. Bikes have become so much more specialised and with an increase in cost, it only makes sense to protect your investment. Don't store the bike wet, even if it's been a long day taking that extra 5-10 minutes to dry and protect the bike makes all the difference for bearing and parts longevity. Also, please don't jet wash your bike! Jet washers can remove the grease out of bearings and hubs and can result in a hefty maintenance bill.

Respect the land

Respect the places you're riding and the people who have made them. Please don't just eat a pack lunch or energy gels or whatever and throw them on the ground. If you bring it with you, take it home with you. It’s surprising how much litter is on the trails, don't be one of those people!

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Say hi

Everyone is out on their bike to have fun! You will be surprised at the people you can meet if you just say hi.

Just Ride

Don't sweat the small stuff. Remember to enjoy yourself – whether that’s the rush of adrenaline of the downhills, the scenic views or the challenge of the climbs. Mountain biking is about getting out in the fresh air and appreciating your surroundings whether solo or with friends.

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Author

Ross Howieson

Content Creator

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Mountain Biking Tips

Which Mountain Bike Should I Ride?

Hardtail Mountain bike

Full suspension bike

Bike Position

Non Technical Trail Sections

Steeper, More Technical Sections

Downhill, Enduro riding

Saddle Height

A note on Dropper Posts

How To Brake

How To Shift Gear

Trail Etiquette and Safety

Leave no trace

Be Self Sufficient

Be Courteous To Others

Watch out for animals

Say Hi

James's Mountain Biking Tips

Pack for the day ahead

Wear the right gear

Footwear

Look after your bike

Respect the land

Say hi

Just Ride