Climbing technical trails with your mountain bike without losing your balance is a high-level technical challenge. These types of sections, both on technical mountain bike routes and on other more demanding courses, combine a series of obstacles and technical difficulties that make them harder: steep slopes, loose dirt, rocks, gravel, or even cracks. In short, technical trails are characterized by unstable terrain where tire grip is lost, while the steepness of the slope exerts its force to throw you off balance.
But with lots of practice and by applying certain tricks, you can master them without putting a foot down or falling. If you ride mountain bikes regularly and want to improve your bike handling skills, you'll need to learn to confidently master these sections, both uphill and downhill.
If you're more of a road bike enthusiast, keep in mind that these skills are also useful on mixed routes, where you can combine flatter stretches with technical areas that require finer handling. On this occasion, we’ll explain some basic rules and tricks to help you overcome your fear and dare to climb technical trails in a quick and safe way.
Rule number 1: prepare your bike
If you already know in advance that the route you’re going to take will have uphill technical trails, it’s a good idea to make some simple adjustments to your mountain bike to get extra support for climbing comfortably, safely, and to avoid losing your balance:
Tires
Slightly reduce the usual pressure of your tires. On average, lower the front tire by 0.1 bar and the rear tire by 0.2 to 0.3 bar, since the rear will skid more and cause imbalance. The drag on flat terrain won't be very noticeable and in the end, you'll gain grip on the technical trail.
Saddle
Make sure it is well-leveled and at a neutral distance from the handlebars. It shouldn’t be too far forward or too far back. Your seated position on the saddle will be key for managing balance and moving forward on the technical trail.
Pedals
Give your clipless pedals a quick clean and lubrication. It's important that they clip in and out easily. Also check the tension of the fastening and adjust it to your preferences by tightening or loosening the corresponding screw. This will prevent your foot from slipping while pedaling or from not being able to unclip in time. Ultimately, the goal is to avoid losing your balance and falling. If you’re not very used to or don’t feel confident with clipless pedals, using platform pedals makes it easier to put your foot on the ground if you lose balance, but at the same time, you run a higher risk of your foot slipping off the pedal.
Rule number 2: anticipation
The first technical climb is approaching and you need to get ready to tackle it successfully before it begins. Adjust your gear, don't wait to shift once the climb has already started. To do this, keep your eyes ahead, visualize and memorize all the elements at the start of the trail section several seconds before you get there. Once you've identified the type of trail you're about to climb (steep, rocky, loose dirt, etc.), it's time to shift to larger cogs or drop the big chainring if you're using a double chainring. Then, accelerate to enter the climb with some momentum, without ever stopping pedaling.
Rule number 3: forward position
With the lightest and smoothest gear possible, it's time to climb following a specific line. To maintain balance, posture is fundamental. Try to place your rear towards the front of the saddle, but not on the tip. It's better to sit at the beginning of the nose to keep part of your body weight over the rear section and prevent the back wheel from skidding. At the same time, shift your torso and arms slightly over the handlebars. The steeper the slope, the more your body should move forward. But don't forget to always keep part of your rear at the beginning of the saddle nose whenever possible. And finally, remember a basic rule: never stand up when climbing a technical trail. The risk of losing balance triples.
Rule number 4: avoid abrupt pedaling
It may sound like a cliché, but when handling technical climbs on a mountain bike, skill is more important than strength. Avoid abrupt accelerations or stomping on the pedals. Pedal with a steady but firm rhythm, with a smooth and even pedal stroke. To achieve this, remember rule number two about anticipation, where we emphasized the need to shift to a climbing gear, more agile and smooth.
Rule number 5: manage your strength
The last trick to reach the end of the trail section without putting your foot down is to manage your strength. This means pedaling at a constant pace, with a cadence that is agile but balanced. Plus, this extra strength always comes in handy in case you need to give an extra push to get over a step, overcome an obstacle, a root, etc.
Anticipation, posture, and pedaling
Working on these three aspects is fundamental to overcome most technical trail sections with your mountain bike. Visualizing and studying the segment, maintaining a balanced posture on the bike (but slightly forward), and shifting to a comfortable and smooth gear will allow you to climb with confidence. Also, if you adjust certain elements of your bike, such as tire pressure or pedal tension, you'll gain extra comfort and safety, which will boost your confidence.
Tuvalum Team
