Mountain biking is an incredible sport. It is physically, mentally and emotionally demanding and I love every minute of it. Best of all, it’s something you can do with friends.
It is a highly technical sport, demanding balance, strength, agility, alertness and cardiovascular fitness. It is also a highly artistic sport, requiring finesse, creativity and individual flair. That said, there are certain fundamentals or underlying principles that I have learned cannot be ignored without consequence.
One of the more important principles in this sport relates to the simple yet elusive matter of balance. Though I am only a beginner, I’ve repeatedly taken note of the value of having “heavy” feet and “light” hands. This principle may be familiar to those of you who ride horses, though your feet are clipped to pedals instead of suspended in stirrups. The temptation is to muscle your way around using your hands and arms (abusing the handlebar or the reins), but that causes unhelpful tension throughout the rest of your body and displaces your center of gravity.
Another key point is the principle of relaxation. Racing through the woods on two wheels is exhilarating and if you’re not mindful you’ll reflexively hold your breath during the trickier moments, say in a particularly challenging downhill or on a switchback. Your body naturally tenses up when you hold your breath and tension on a bicycle, as on a horse or even in life, is your enemy.
If you are contemplating or in the middle of trying something new, take the time necessary to familiarize yourself with the basic principles governing that activity as best you can given your limited knowledge and experience. It will shorten your learning curve and improve your chances for a safe and positive outcome.
Gregory Hake 
Sometimes when you make a mistake the damage is hidden and you might never know of it. Other times, the mistake hits you like a ton of bricks. I think mountain biking falls into the second category.
I appreciate the instant lessons some of these activities give you. While they might hurt at the time (and usually for a while after as well), the instruction that you get from them easily carries over to other life activities.
LikeLike
You mention tension being our enemy, and I couldn’t agree more Gregg. I have noticed, for example, if there is tension during the sales process than the outcome is likely to be unsatisfactory to all involved. On the other hand, when there is an understanding and application of the principles at work than the experience is likely to be joyous for all involved.
In past years I played a lot of sports and I always observed, both from my own experiences and those of others as well, that when one was relaxed they were much more likely to realize their potential, and when they weren’t relaxed it was a struggle.
Taking the time to learn, understand, and apply the principles assures one of having a far more enjoyable and significant experience doesn’t it!
LikeLike
I was laughing with a friend yesterday about a simple step that many seem to ignore. When it’s available “read the manual”! Seems obvious but it’s been so helpful to me in many endeavors. If there’s no manual get a book or do an Internet search. In this era of sharing knowledge and personal experience chances are there is some advantageous information that will help to shorten the initial learning curve. In any case I love to read about my interests, in addition to doing them, it’s frosting on the cake! Your new sport sounds like great fun!
LikeLike
Good follow up points to Greg’s words. Yes the information is usually very much available to learn more and know more the fundamentals of whatever your area of constructive interest is.
LikeLike
good advice, thanks!
LikeLike