Biking in a natural setting at your vacation destination is a fun activity for a group. Absorb these beneficial tips for cycling on rough terrain to stay safe.
A fun activity you might try on a group travel trip is biking through areas full of natural beauty. While this means that you will get to witness all kinds of wonderful and unique environments, you’ll also need to prepare for the bike-friendly nature trails and uneven paths you might come across during your outing. With soil, stones, sticks, and other debris in your way, it can be easier to fall if you aren’t careful. Get the most out of your future vacations after the COVID-19 situation comes to a resolution and avoid injury with these beneficial tips for cycling on rough terrain.
Decrease Tire Pressure
If the ground you are riding on is going to be soft and bumpy, you are probably going to use bikes that have wider tires with more traction. Unlike narrow road bike tires, these should have relatively lower pressure. When you hit the coarse ground, they’ll be able to grip with a wider surface area and the increase in resistance to your pedaling will be negligible. The lower pressure on your tires will also mean that you achieve a smooth ride, rather than an unstable one full of constant bouncing.
Pick a Line
You can also take beneficial tips for cycling on rough terrain from the way mountain bikers approach riding. When the path before you is irregular, you should look ahead and map out a mental line to follow as you proceed. This gives you time to prepare for getting around obstacles such as rocks, branches, roots, and puddles. You can take in the most information from your surroundings by moving your gaze between a point around fifteen or twenty feet away and the point right before your front tire. As with driving a car, moving your eyes instead of focusing only on one spot will diminish the chance that you’ll be surprised by an obstruction. If you’re riding an all-wheel drive e-bike due to its beneficial steadiness on difficult terrain, the foresight you gain by picking a line will also allow you to determine when to turn off or increase the amount of motor assistance you’re using.
Know How to Brake
A continuous ride through scenic trails is nice, but there may be instances where you must brake and walk for a short distance. Since you’ll be in a group, braking is also important for maneuvering while near others. The important thing to remember with braking on rough terrain is that you should do so gradually and smoothly. A sudden hard brake can cause you to lose balance and may even make you fly over your bike as the momentum forces you forward. Bend your arms and legs and move your hips back while braking to give yourself more control. Remember also to apply your brakes when you approach turns on the path to stay safe and keep from moving off-track.
