Skills videos and resources to level up your riding
Nov 24, 2024
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We've curated this list of the best videos online to help riders level up their riding skills, learn racing tactics, and maintain their mountain bike. There is something here for everyone, so revisit this page when you're looking to improve a specific skill.
Quick Links: Essential MTB Skills | Racing Tips | Mindset | Nutrition | Mechanical | Being Prepared for Rides
Essential MTB Skills
Dialing in bike fit
Riding body position
Flat cornering, body position in turns
Climbing switchbacks
Line choice
Riding loose terrain
Advanced technical climbing drills
Riding roots
Riding steep descents
Riding rock gardens
Riding drops
What to wear on rides
Quick Links: Essential MTB Skills | Racing Tips | Mindset | Nutrition | Mechanical | Being Prepared for Rides
Racing Tips
XC racing tips
Getting up to race speed
Where to attack / pass in a race
What is a NICA race like?
Quick Links: Essential MTB Skills | Racing Tips | Mindset | Nutrition | Mechanical | Being Prepared for Rides
Mindset
Make the pain cave bigger
Rule of thirds
Not giving up
Quick Links: Essential MTB Skills | Racing Tips | Mindset | Nutrition | Mechanical | Being Prepared for Rides
Nutrition
Performance impact of 100g+ carbs per hour on race day
Race nutrition
Quick Links: Essential MTB Skills | Racing Tips | Mindset | Nutrition | Mechanical | Being Prepared for Rides
Mechanical
Quick bike check
Basic bike maintenance
Wash your bike!
Fix a flat
Carry tools and spares
Quick Links: Essential MTB Skills | Racing Tips | Mindset | Nutrition | Mechanical | Being Prepared for Rides
Being Prepared for Rides
Essential Riding Gear
A mountain bike that fits you, and is in good condition
Helmet
Bike shoes
Weather-appropriate riding clothing (no cotton shirts, no jeans, etc.)
Eye protection (regular glasses, sunglasses, safety glasses from a hardware store, etc.)
Gloves (optional)
Ride nutrition and fuel
Water: Bring 500ml (spring) to 1L (summer) water w/ electrolyte mix per hour of ride time in water bottles or hydration pack
Fuel: Bring food to keep your energy up — plan for 50-100g of carbohydrates per hour of ride time
Tools
Mountain biking encourages self sufficiency. Every cyclist should be prepared to fix flats and manage basic bike repair on their own. Coaches are here to assist and help develop these skills, but are not carrying enough spare bits for the whole team.
Multi-Tool (Crank Brothers M19)
Pump (Lezyne Pocket Drive Pump - or whatever you can carry or pack)
Bacon Strips (Any will do, light and thin rubber “bacon” to plug tubeless tires)
Tire Lever (Park Tool TL-4.2C - most will do, though)
Spare Tube (any, or Tubolito if you’re fancy)
Spare chain lube
Something to pack it all in — saddle bag, frame bag, backpack, etc.
Extra Bonus Items:
Master Link pliers with spare master links (Wolf Tooth Pack Pliers w/ spare master links for your speed drivetrain)
Tire Boot (cover large cuts/punctures to protect your tube after a bad flat — Park Tool TB-2)
Tire Plugs (Dynaplug Racer, etc.)
Spare tubeless valve with spare valve cores (pack ‘em and you’ll never need ‘em)
Presta-Shrader adapter (pump up your tires at any gas station with this one weird trick)
Zip ties — because you never know