Wild Ride Page 3

  Taking corners while coming down a hill can be tricky. To corner safely, brake before you start to turn. That way, you’re less likely to lose control. Leaning into a turn can help keep you stable, too. And keep your eyes on the trail! The brain has a way of telling the rest of the body to follow where the eyes lead. If you’re looking somewhere else, you may steer your bike off the trail without even knowing it.

  On your way down the mountain, you’re likely to run into obstacles such as fallen branches, roots, rocks, and holes. If you’re a beginner, your best bet is to swerve around them if you can. If you can’t, shift your weight backward so that your front wheel can pass over the obstacle more easily. Since the front wheel is connected to the handlebars, riders can lose control of the bike if the front wheel hits something hard enough.

  More advanced riders can loft or bunny hop — lift the front or the front and back wheels — over obstacles. However, these moves take weeks to master. To learn how to do these and other moves, join a mountain-biking club, pair up with an experienced rider, or research these techniques at your local library. But before you attempt any of them on a trail, be sure to practice, practice, practice!

  The Extreme Team

  #1 ONE SMOOTH MOVE

  #2 DAY OF THE DRAGON

  #3 ROLLER HOCKEY RUMBLE

  #4 ON THIN ICE

  #5 ROCK ON

  #6 INTO THE DANGER ZONE

  #7 WILD RIDE