Ready for your first ride? Just remember the following things.

• Wear A Helmet - Sooner or later you will fall. It’s better that you accept it now and put something between your head and that rock that wants to make an impression in your cranium!
• Relax And Loosen Up - Keep your elbows slightly bent. This will prevent your arms from stiffening which translates to more shock being transferred to your neck.
• Take A Break - At the start, you should stop frequently to stretch your back and neck muscles. This will help you avoid injury.
• Find A Rhythm - You can go farther and avoid early fatigue by finding the right cadence for your pedaling. Many agree that the most efficient cadence is between 60 to 80 revolutions per minute. Try to get yourself into the rpm efficiency window and maintain consistency.
• Look Ahead - Don’t stare at the front wheel. You may find yourself in a close encounter with a trail obstacle this way. Look at the trail ahead of you. This will give you a few seconds to avoid obstacles or change gears to compensate for trail changes.
• STOP! - Braking in mountain biking is an art to itself. Just remeber that a sliding tire is an out of control tire. Always use both front and rear brakes when stopping. Be very careful when applying the brakes in a corner. Develop a feathering technique to braking. Apply the brakes lightly by squeezing them gently and feeling for tire slide.
• Lift That Butt - When going over small obstacles, put your pedals in a horizontal position and lift yourself off the saddle with your legs. Don’t push yourself up with your arms. This will just transfer shock through your arms to your neck.

Well, you’re ready. Go out there and ride!