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Now that you know the basics of mountain biking, you may have to go a little further in your practice. With that in mind, today we're taking a look at the technique for learning how to jump on a mountain bike.
Before the jump
What mountain biker hasn't dreamed of making a jump on a bike? To put your mind at ease, it's important to go gradually, not to overestimate your level and to start with small, easy jumps whose difficulty you will gradually increase.
Before you jump, take the time to check your bike and equipment (for safety, don't forget to bring a helmet), then analyze your surroundings to define your trajectory before, during and after the jump. This will allow you to arrive with confidence and know exactly how to present yourself on the obstacle.
To approach the obstacle, make sure you arrive perpendicular to it, pedals level, with some speed, while having stopped pedaling a few meters before the call phase.
Just before the jump phase, prepare for takeoff by bending your arms and legs slightly while applying pressure to the ground and then, like a spring, stretch your arms and legs simultaneously while holding the handlebars firmly to take off.
During the jump
During the phase when you are in the air, continue to hold the handlebars firmly while looking as far ahead as possible in order to prepare for your landing and identify the area where you want to land.
Be sure to keep your bike centered under your body and take a deep breath. You want your bike to be as parallel to the ground and landing area as possible.
The jump landing
Just before landing, bend your arms and legs slightly which will allow your body to better absorb the shock upon landing.
Most importantly, make sure your front wheel and back wheel touch the ground at the same time to avoid being off balance. If your front wheel hits the ground first, you're bound to fall. When you are more experienced, you can practice landing on the back wheel. But first things first.
Finally, as soon as you hit the ground, remember to turn your front wheel in the direction you want to go.
Now that you know the technique for learning to jump on a mountain bike, how about learning the basics of downhill mountain biking and how to learn trial mountain biking?
