How To Improve Your Mountain Bike Confidence | Progress Your MTB Riding

Sometimes your riding can feel like it has reached a plateau and you are not making any progress. Here is Rich with a few tips on how to build your confidence and get over that MTB hump!

Whether it's a big feature you're hoping to hit or simply progressing from blue trails to red trails, the process is the same. Ride as much as you can, mix up the trails that you ride, practise your basic skills, wear the appropriate protective gear, visualise your sucess, and get your riding buddies involved!

Did you find these tips helpful?

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Leave us a comment below!

[mtb]

I cleared a big drop for the first time today🤟👍

[kevinm]

I ran into trouble by focusing on the ground 5 feet in front of me. A huge break through for me was when I realized I need to be looking 15-20 feet ahead of the trail to pick my line.

[jexner]

Pads and a fat bike, that's what helped me over serious trail trauma

[rchaouen]

I'm about 1 month into MTB and at this point am getting much better at falling and anticipating what's coming ahead. I agree with envisioning the jump etc. Thanks for this!

[sam.wootton]

With explosion of social media, easy to feel intimidated / stupid. As you say, ignore the park-rats, do what u need for u.

[charlieine]

Yes! Wear as much protection as you want and don’t feel bad about it. Riding is about your comfort level and nobody else matters. Riding under protected doesn’t prove anything to anyone.

[tonyoffred]

Today I went for a few hour ride with my buddies and for the first time I felt confident on my bike. Few years went by since I felt this confident. It's probably because I haven't been ridimg for a few years. Also the geometry of the bike I'm riding at the moment is very different from the one on my old bike and it's something I need to get used to. I hope this video will help me even more.

[tylerboothe]

Lol my first ever blue trail was today and after a few years of not riding for a while I got most of the way scared poop less then crashed close to the end.

[kenyvej]

Two days ago i started riding my new bike after half a year of not riding and yesterday i did the biggest stairs ever and that gave me so much confidence

[bryan]

Thanks for the tips, all the way from Sydney Australia. Right grab some friends! 😉

[stFlyingeagle]

The little hops you guys do sure makes such a difference. Like when you go into the rocky over the hill. One tiny wheel hop, and now you were aligned just right with some speed in tow. Awesome.

[Silverripples]

In my opinion practicing on stairways and as steep as you can find them helps a lot. I don't mean rolling them high speed but as slow as a walking pace improves your skillset. getting confident on stopping midway on them furthermore improves your skills. I see technical off-road like irregular stairways.

[mtbm]

i've been riding MTB since mid-April 2021, everything you've stated is absolutely 100% true. Everything from wearing gear to feel safe/confident to repeating certain lines and obstacles over and over to gain confidence. This is everything I'm going through right now

[scottkeappock]

"Trust your bike setup" makes it a bit easier when u have a 7 grand bike, like our buddy rich here ;)

[stFlyingeagle]

Side note knee and elbow pads. I bought the first fox. I learned fast. Then moved into Poc. A world of difference when you slam into the ground. They really absorb the blunt force and great skid protection. Shin guards by Fox are great for pedal strikes. Yes, you will feel the blow, but you won't have spike damage on your shins.

[johnnydoe]

I know hip packs are becoming more popular, but I will stick with my Camelback. It works as a bit of back protection, mine has saved my back on several occasions, even if the bladder busts, it's better than a spinal injury.

[theepimountainbiker]

Riding skidoo and bike trails this winter has gotten my confidence up. Just yesterday went over a sketchy skinny bridge Ive been walking over all summer. Felt fantastic.

[partmedia]

6:20 That's a Squad right there! Def helps to ride with friends who can shout out live update pointers ;)

[HUSHHUSH-]

Great tips . The more time on the bike is the best tip. Session things makes you really good at it ✊🙌

[Danni]

I have to admit I get self-conscious when I have tons of protection on when on blue trails...Especially when I see others with less protection. Thanks for the reminder that the ride is about me...