| When encountering a rock garden, it can be intimidating | | | | rocks that are right in front of you or the ones you are |
| for many of us and we may resort to hiking our bikes | | | | trying to avoid. Look at the trail several feet ahead of |
| through the rocks. With the following tips and some | | | | you. |
| practice, however, riding rock gardens can be a very | | | | 7. Avoid granny gear: If possible, have your gear in |
| fun, adrenaline boosting experience that improves your | | | | either the smallest front chain ring combined with a |
| confidence and mountain biking abilities. | | | | midrange rear sprocket or the middle front chain ring |
| 1. Trust your bike: Your mountain bike suspension is | | | | combined with the small rear sprocket. This makes it |
| made to handle rough terrain. The shocks and other | | | | easier to power through obstacles. |
| components are built to absorb bumps and hits. | | | | 8. Push your handlebars forward with your arms to |
| 2. Find the best line: Before riding the rock garden, get | | | | get over rocks when necessary. |
| off your bike and roll it through the rock garden to | | | | 9. Chill out! It is natural to feel some anxiety when |
| determine a good line, but if you deviate from the line | | | | approaching technical sections. Try to stay loose, but |
| when you are riding, keep motoring through. | | | | strong with a firm grip on the handlebars so that you |
| 3. Keep your momentum through the rocks. If you can | | | | have control. If you are rigid with fear and unable to |
| not do full pedal strokes because of obstacles, move | | | | relax, you will crash and it is best to try the challenge |
| your pedals in a ratcheting motion to keep moving. If | | | | another day or start with something less intimidating. |
| you get off course and are not on your line anymore, | | | | 10. Strength and balance are very important for |
| keep going. Follow where your bike takes you. Avoid | | | | mountain biking over obstacles. Weight lifting and cross |
| forcing sudden changes in direction. | | | | training will help increase strength to power over rocks |
| 4. Maintain a medium speed when approaching the | | | | and other obstacles. Practicing the trackstand and |
| rocks. This can be scary because it feels like you are | | | | other exercises will help to improve balance. |
| going to fly over the handlebars when you hit the | | | | If you are a beginner, do not go crazy and start with |
| rocks, but this is more likely to happen if you are going | | | | the extreme terrain right away. Start small and work |
| too slow. | | | | your way up as you gain more confidence. You may |
| 5. Keep your arms and legs bent to absorb bumps | | | | want to start with what are commonly referred to as |
| and hits. Stay back on your seat so you do not go | | | | "baby-head rocks." These are the rocks that are |
| over the handlebars. Get way back and drop your | | | | around the size and shape of a toddler's head. Once |
| seatpost a few inches if you are going downhill. | | | | you are comfortable with these, try more difficult |
| 6. Focus on where you want to go and not on the | | | | terrain. |