The first definition of Grace is, elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action. Right about now some of you are wondering, “Just where is he going with this?” You might not see anything in that term that relates to riding a mountain bike. After all, mountain biking is about riding a rugged, gnarly bike, through rough terrain, over bumps, rocks, and roots. What’s graceful about that?
Actually, it can be done gracefully. In fact, that’s a worthy goal. Initially, it’s all combat. One fights the bike, and then the terrain. It’s grueling. Sure, it can be fun, in the same sense that a particularly vicious amusement park ride can be fun. But it’s rough on the body, the bike, and the landscape. The path to grace is through relaxation, and a lot of small discoveries. Gradually the wise rider stops fighting the trail, and learns to ride with it. At that point, things start to align, and one smooth transition leads to the next.
Then an odd thing happens. Just as we are sitting back, a smile on our silly faces, giving ourselves a congratulatory pat on the back for mastering this stuff… Whammo! Grace departs, and everything comes undone.
When that happens, please do not despair. Grace will return. Work on the fundamentals, have fun, relax, and enjoy the ride.
Today’s Term(s):
Superman Dismount: To fly off of the bike, over the front, arms extended.
Bail: Bailout: A rapid dismount of the bike in the midst of a crash. Departing the trail on the bike, rather than continuing into a very difficult obstacle or situation. To avoid showing up for a ride, because of fear, or simple laziness.
Bomb: to ride with wild disregard for personal safety
Carve: Riding fast, but smoothly, as if drawing a line on the trail with a scalpel.
Elegant: A style. Riding with precision. Retrieving stability from an apparent near crash. Always in control, even when it doesn’t look like it. Executing the assigned maneuver, the successful completion thereof never being in serious doubt.
This series, running every Tuesday, is intended to help those who are new to mountain bike riding. By no means is it an exhaustive treatment, but it is our fond hope that it will help you, the beginner, to begin to enjoy riding your bike off road.
Future Topics:
Track Stand
Bunny Hop
Wheelie
Hydration
More on Carrying “Stuff”
Bike Types
Trail Care & Maintenance
“Cleaning” the mud
Your next mountain bike or Mountain Biking 201
So it took me long enough, but I finally got your old Scout 29er out on the Stinky Trail. I had been using it as my path/riding with kids bike, but I finally got the guts to go off road. I had a BLAST, and I even managed to stay upright (though not always on the bike, or moving forward). Thanks again!
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