Navigating Your Mountain Bike Uphill Monday, November 15, 2010

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Mountain biking is a very challenging activity, and it requires more than courage to bike into steep hill and face the challenge. Believe it or not, mountain biking requires good skills. If you want to learn to navigate your bike through uphill trails, follow these steps before you take on the challenge.

1st step
Train on regular ascents before you go into a steep climb. Shift into lower gears; find out which lower gear you're comfortable with on various slopes.

2nd step
For you to not get too overwhelmed by the miles ahead you should analyze your climb into several sections in your mind.

3rd step
When you pedal your bike up always lean forward and keep your bike strait. To help maintain traction, put the pressure on your front wheel leaning on your handlebars.

4th step
When you feel your front wheel is lifting off the ground, lean more on your handlebars. Very steep climbs can really make you lift your front wheels when you don't put enough pressure on it.

5th step
Pedal harder. Hunch over your handlebar and keep your weight into both wheels for steep pitches.

6th step
Avoid locking your joints and keep your arms and legs flexed.

7th step
Rest some of your muscles and exercise other muscles of your body by standing while pedaling during longer climbs.

8th step
Raise yourself into a standing position as you pedal and switch into a higher gear.

9th step
When you're standing while pedaling, keep your weight centered above your pedals and press down on your handlebar.

Further tips

Always warm-up before heading to an ascent, this will help your body adjust to a harder activity. Just keep pedaling if you feel like giving up after 15 minutes of biking uphill, this will help you gain momentum.

Most heavy cyclists pedal more efficiently when they stay down, standing up on the pedal is simple for lighter cyclists.

To prepare for long uphill biking, you should equip your body with enough fluid by drinking a lot of water and eating high-energy foods. A good climb begins 1 to 2 hours before hitting the trail. To keep your energy up for an uphill biking that lasts more than an hour you should bring sports bar or gel with you.

Standing requires more energy, so use it wisely.

Always wear your helmet.

For more information on Mens Mountain Bikes, please visit http://www.MensMountainBikesReview.com/ which is an educational website devoted to helping people understand how to make a good selection on mountain bike equipment.