Tips for the Mountain

1. As always... WEAR A HELMET (or brain bucket if you prefer) Trees and boulders are not soft!

2. When you approach another rider while on single track, whoever is on the Uphill side of the trail has the right-of-way. If I'm on a flatter single track trail and I happen to approach another rider, I normally ride to the side of the trail if I can or stop and move over if I see the other person first.

3. Don't test your limits when riding solo. It's no fun getting stuck deep into a trail after crashing hard with no one around to help you out.

4. Always bring these essentials with you: Adequate water, snacks if you're going on a long ride, some sort of identification, a spare tube, tire levers and a couple of CO2 canisters.

5. Invest in a few nice apparel items. Bike shorts are a must, as well as a nice pair of full-finger padded gloves (I wear FOX gloves) and shoes with good grip (Five Ten's work great, but if you're not made of money, Vans will also do the trick).

6. Check your bike before you hit the trails. Make sure brake pads aren't ground down. If you have hydraulic disc brakes, make sure they aren't seizing up (if they are, you may have a bubble in the fluid line). Also, make sure rotors aren't bent or rusty. Make sure your tires have enough air, and make sure all front and rear shocks are fully functioning.

7. When riding downhill (especially on a trail with a lot of roots, dips, drops, boulders, etc.) try to hover over the seat. The steeper the hill, the further back you should position your behind above the seat. Sometimes a trail will be so steep that my butt is hovering over the real wheel. This helps keep my center of gravity balanced and keeps me from flying over the handlebars.

8. Challenge yourself! If you've mastered the green route, move up to the intermediate routes. You will be surprised at what you are capable of

9. Never second-guess yourself. If you are going over a stunt or jump, leave your hesitations in the car. If you start to second-guess yourself halfway through a trick, you are more likely to mess it up and injure your self. Commit 100%!

10. Grab a friend and a GoPro and have some fun! Try to catch your gnarly ride on the downhill course or your friend's sick flare over a jump.