| Mountain biking can be anything from a really fun | | | | knows you might go right through it the next time |
| experience to out right terrifying depending on the | | | | when you are more warmed up and/or focused. |
| rider's skills, experiences and perspective. Here are | | | | 5. Breathe, relax, breathe and smile it is just a bike ride. |
| some ways to over come fear. | | | | Breathing and smiling releases tension which improves |
| 1. Learn the correct riding techniques so you are riding | | | | our balance, coordination and confidence. |
| in balance and in control. | | | | 6. As you improve make sure you update your self |
| 2. Go at your own pace and take "baby steps" when | | | | concept to match. Remember that the past doesn't |
| progressing. Taking a big leap over your comfort zone | | | | equal the future. You may have wrecked or not made |
| is not a good way to learn. If you do something that | | | | a section last week/month but if your skills have |
| feel is way above your skill level you don't feel like you | | | | improved since then the section may be easier for you |
| have gotten better, you feel lucky. If you don't make it | | | | now. |
| it will often set you back, decreasing your confidence | | | | 7. Wear knee pads and elbow pads when practicing a |
| and raising your level of fear. So be gentle and | | | | tough section are learning a new skill. I have found that |
| progress at a comfortable pace. | | | | having padding on really increases your confidence |
| 3. Focus on what you want to do, not what you don't | | | | when learning or trying to push your limits. |
| want to do. This sounds simple but pays off big. Our | | | | 8. Debunk your fear/s. Is your fear realistic? Often fear |
| brains don't understand "not" and "don't" very well. If | | | | is not based in reality and when we realize this the |
| you are focusing on not falling your brain has to totally | | | | fear goes away. |
| focus on the idea of falling and then quickly try and | | | | 9. Learn from your mistakes. If you mess up or wreck |
| refocus on "not" doing what it is thinking about. It is | | | | do your best to figure out why it happened and |
| much easier to focus on "getting to that tree" than | | | | correct that mistake or improve your technique so it |
| telling yourself "don't fall". | | | | will not happen again. |
| 4. Live to ride another day! If you are more focused on | | | | 10. Attend a mountain bike clinic, mountain bike camp or |
| "not falling" than you are on getting to where you are | | | | private lesson from a reputable mountain bike school |
| going, get off your bike and walk that section. Who | | | | or coaching organization. |