I'm not a mountain biker but a mountain bike owner (all my time spent roading), however doing a big loop somewhere in the Peaks next month with me regular-mtbing mates. I've done an mtb ride only thrice in me (long) life and stacked each time, once having to push the damn thing home 5 miles down a Lakeland fell due to cracked rib and battered bike.
So, popped out for practice round the terrifying cornfield at the back of Tesco... the footpath round which, to be fair, is narrow, steep and stony.
Going up I keep lifting the front wheel and when turn a corner that goes steeper had to get off out of fear of stack.
Going down find the front end v twitchy and perhaps due to roading feel The Fear when encounter gravel and camber. Anyways, I tend to descend very gingerly with lots of dabs on brakes to feel maintain control - dunno if that best tactic.
Best advice anyone ever gave me was to get my butt behind the saddle when going downhill. I was wondering if anyone had any similar simple basic advice (in any technical aspect, not nec DH) to avoid misery, fear, and A&E.
Ta
Oz.
).
