10 MTB Tips For Beginners | Setup And Riding

[@gmbn]

What do you wish you knew as a beginner mountain biker? Let us know in the comments 👇

[@pytek23]

Can you do video specifically about hips hinge movement.

[@HHHHSSSEA111]

Take everything said in this video, and go session the gnarliest sections of trail you dare - nothing builds skills and confidence faster

[@dereksmith3632]

I wish I knew the local clubs not only needs help with trails but wants your help. Beginners will become part of the brotherhood a lot sooner by helping out.

[@Saber-2]

How about not riding trails when they're wet? I know that's something new people wouldn't know about.

[@gmbn]

+TheDuckRace But when would people ride in the UK then? 😉 Wet trail riding has its challenges, but shouldn't be avoided.

[@hannes5234]

Cool, im about to get into mountain biking.

[@FlowFinderUSA]

Do it!

[@sushruthravishankar105]

Yeah do it and stop playing fortnite !!

[@joscram1129]

@@sushruthravishankar105 haha never did

[@cornhole9165]

i wanto but i cant.. my house is 5 mins away from the mountain and it has great potential but nobody gives a fuck about the sport...smh

[@jeffrey5421]

@@cornhole9165 you don't have to go to a mountain to ride a mountain bike haha there's thousands of trails you can go to and if you don't drive ride to one make a journey of it you won't regret.

[@leepope1662]

Thank you. Great video, really engaging and well explained. I'm a 50 Year old newbie. If only I'd watched this last week before I hit my first tree :)

[@zeta3347]

Lol

[@PugsPhotography]

50?? hell yea!

[@ThideUpSound]

Haven't hit a tree yet but have come really close. I am 50 years old also and just getting into Mountain biking.

[@daleheffernan]

Neil you forgot one of the most important bike setup checks - when you get the start of the trail or a good descent check that your fork and shock aren't still locked out! And if you have a fancy dual position fork (where you can adjust the fork length with a flip of a switch) check that it is in the maximum travel position... don't know how many times I have gotten to the end of the trail and thought to myself "man I am not feeling it today, the bike seems so twitchy and sketchy" to then look down and see that everything is still locked out from the climb......

[@Maverick92NA]

Neil is great! Clear and interesting to listen, keep up the good work!

[@natejc93]

Another big tip is to really keep an eye to the weather. If there is a big rain storm where it dumps water the night before, be careful about going on a technical trail in the morning. I made a mistake last weekend in New England in the US and went over my handlebars because there was some mud in front of a small rock. It slowed down my bike enough to not allow the bike to roll over it and the bike stopped and I kept going. If it was dry out, I would have rolled right over it, but I am still just learning. So, if you are still developing your skills like myself, take on newer, technical trails only in the best conditions. And also, ride with a friend.

[@gmbn]

Thanks for the addition Nate. Weather plays a huge part. Bad weather shouldn't necessarily be avoided, but should definitely be taken into account.

[@danielb.4205]

Thanks for all these tips. One of the best, I have not heard somewhere else for mountain biking is: Look where you want to go. When I practiced for my motorcycle license the instructor said exactly that and it saved my life already a few times. Don't look at what you are scared of but look at where you want to head.

[@TRGP331]

I like the front brake on the right. Coming from a motocross background it makes sense to me.

[@acarvahal1995]

Same, grew up riding dirt bikes and quads. So much more natural feel

[@ZOB4]

Keeping my head up and looking down the trail made the biggest difference for me. Big lightbulb moment for me - I felt like a completely different rider, and was much, much faster.

[@donavin439]

“Look where you want to be” Learned that the hard way lol

[@RMredline]

Looool

[@WorldwideCyclery]

Great info for the new guys out there!

[@alexanderwanner4360]

Ha hey guys it's alex you affiliate aka. @downhillplanet 😍♥

[@CrazyBikerGuy]

Tyre pressure add on : pressures will vary depending on body weight.

[@koltenbradshaw]

tire*

[@CIDKTANK]

Tyre**

[@chocchip4172]

tieyre*

[@SimonBauer7]

and they will vary based on bike weight aswell so total weight is the factor

[@FullMetalNapkin]

Going on my first trail this weekend.. your videos have really helped me out to prepare

[@peterward8135]

Have fun!

[@benjamind165]

How did it go and have you caught the bug

[@chubsound]

Getting back into MTBing after about a six year hiatus; this was great as a refresher. I ride a steel hardtail, Jamis Exile with a bunch of aftermarket upgrades, when I road before I was told that putting your inside pedal lower when leaning into fast corners helped the tire knobs dig in for better traction where as putting the outer pedal lower would make the rear tire more likely to want to slide out... Your thoughts?

[@alexanderwanner4360]

Anyone else who isn't even a beginner but watches this anyways?😅

[@gmbn]

Did you still learn something? 😉

[@alexanderwanner4360]

Yep, there is always a reason to watch a new GMBN video, keep up the good work guys!!!

[@Adam-ow3mo]

Yooo crazymtbb here

[@alexanderwanner4360]

No way how do you know who I am???

[@Adam-ow3mo]

@@alexanderwanner4360 maby I'm a hacker 😉😉

[@gpulse94]

Going on my first mountain ride this weekend and this is so helpful!

[@Daniel-fo8dv]

How was it after a year

[@gpulse94]

@@Daniel-fo8dv despite Breaking my wrist on the last pass pretty good!

[@everennui1]

@@gpulse94 Did that ruin MTB for you?

[@gpulse94]

@@everennui1 no, just switched to gravel lately haven't been in a while. but will go back eventually

[@jackconnor8463]

This is exactly what I’ve been looking for. Others seem to think beginner is how to jump the bike. Whereas I’m still learning to lift the front wheel off the ground so I don’t smash into curbs and buckle my wheel.

[@schnawgalawg]

I always watch these videos once in a while just to keep myself from making too many mistakes

[@Try_n_2Tri]

Just bought my first MB today... have been doing Tri for three years and wanted to mix it up a bit. Wow... what have I gotten myself in to??!!! lol. From GTN to GMBN. Great vid. Sub'd.

[@seanp474]

I love showing my son your videos.

[@jamiefenner123]

I’ve just started mountain biking and I come from bmx roots and actually run my breaks the opposite way to most people in the uk as I’ve always ran a single brake setup on the right leaver but I don’t typically ride other people’s bikes and I warn people prior to a ride

[@aidan.22]

*lever

[@siftedsoul]

I waaashed out and Skinned meyh neh! Thanks for the great video M8! Seriously greatful Irish American here. Three Cheers to Spring!

[@aidan.22]

*grateful

[@tmomedrano]

very refreshing. almost all videos now focus on gears and pro riders but we haven't gone into basics. these kid of videos should get remade every year!

[@gmbn]

Thanks! Is there anything else you'd like to see like this?

[@leobatista9199]

Ok, this ain't new for me. Im oficially not a begginer anymore. Great vid anyway, guys!

[@rbid]

Well done. I just shared the video to my 'beginners' friends... Greetings from the Galilee.

[@frankenclouds5740]

So excited to take my first bike out today and of course it stormed early this morning and every trail in the area is closed..ugh

[@AMANkumar-eh1oe]

You and your channel is awesome! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@newlife9215]

*are awesome

[@yuurishibuya4797]

I know, I am used to rear breaks on the left hard, I didn’t expect some one to switch those basics in USA and ended up going over the handle in a comical fashion and scrapes all over my legs. 🤦🏻‍♂️💀

[@SimonBauer7]

you could change it back the way you are used to

[@monkeypolicd]

I just need a new hobby after being couped bcuz of Coronavirus

[@190Michael190]

bought mine today because of that reason

[@Anon-ft1yb]

Same... just bought a Trek Marlin 4 lol

[@alexbustos5429]

Same, just bought boardman 8.6 and have ridden around 85km in last 4 days. Love the sence of freedom a mountain bike gives you especially in these very restricting times. Stay safe.

[@saintniccage2818]

Same, just dropoed 650 on one

[@stevennomena2384]

4Gunner how do you like the marlin so far?

[@TheVegas2100]

Why is the front brake on the right side on UK Bikes? Actually makes more sense because on a motorcycle its also right hand.

[@jackhewitt7902]

Philipp is the front brake on the left hand side we’re your from ? . I think the reason why it’s on the right hand side is so that the front brake leaver is in the centre of the road.

[@jonas1630]

But on a Motorcycle the Clutch needs to be on the left so the front brake needs to be right....so it has nothing to do with the bike

[@pranavr2256]

@@jonas1630 even on automatic scooters front is on right & rear on left

[@sdm000]

this is a crucial thing to check, I've once swapped a bike with my friend which has the opposites of mine, and we both ended up badly 😅

[@pranavr2256]

@@sdm000 thats just exaggeration first thing u do when u get a bike is slide the rear, u notice the difference immediately

[@derekdeclercq]

Great video. It would be great if you can do more of these. Maybe some drills you can do daily to improve more

[@MTBradley]

Did you find any drills to work on daily? It's been a couple years since you asked, but there are several out there. Is there something specific you're interested in learning?

[@jf8534]

I'll be watching this video over and over as I teach my 7 year old. Thank you for a great video

[@Danielwest17]

This is awesome, exactly what I needed right now. Will be watching a few times to really get a 'handle' of it. Been going on a few intermediate trails as a beginner, feel like I needed to step back and get a better understanding! The video really helped, thank you! One question - i have a 1*11 gear track... is there a specific way to utilize this on different parts of the trail (cornering, uphill, downhill, etc)?

[@hcc2891]

Nice video -- summary at the end is a useful touch.

[@tyreecefurnival8337]

I love your videos guys and I would like to suggest that if you could make a video for younger viewers which so kids mtbs or something related to that

[@alexvaneymtb2221]

Tyreece Furnival yep

[@b_unique_PR]

love the tips, I have not been on a mountain bike in a while, am doing everything I loved doing as a kid❤💯and more‼️😁

[@asceticscorpio972]

Getting a pair of flat pedals is on my opinion one of the best ways for beginners to improve their technique and skill. It's very easy when you're first starting and you really want to be as fast as your buddies who've been riding for longer, to rely on clips for a lot of different things. I know when I first started I would see a Rock Garden and not think about line choice, dynamic weighting and unweighting the pedals, possibility of popping off of one and then hop over the majority, etc. etc. etc. I would just start mashing on the pedals right when I saw the rock garden cool, like I'd drop my saddle and sprint and then throw my weight over the rear tire bent at the hips and I just pull up with my feet. . . Just one of many bad habits you will pick up if you start writing with clips immediately

[@MommeeMadre1]

Iv have been riding a bike for years.... MTB for only a few weeks! Thank you for making this understand for people like me!

[@thatchanguy]

I watched this because I felt woefully unprepared and didn’t want to die. Thanks for this master class!

[@idanandress3891]

Just tryna get in shape in a fun way :D

[@bonoki3870]

i love your saddle... makes me want to go out & purchase another bike with that specific option.

[@devalazer2938]

Learning how to use the brakes and leaning back....definitely would’ve helped before I went mountain biking. Flew into a tree

[@elvisrambauli7910]

Oh my word!.that BIKE IS SO BEAUTIFUL! 😊🤗

[@slickwilly4613]

I am an old fart who decided to buy a emtb after not riding bike for almost 20 years... I'm 60 now. I feel SO inadequate ! I was on a small trail off the main bike path yesterday and was afraid to ride over some 4 inch tall roots. Come here and watch these guys and it just makes me want to give the bike away. Even if I was 20 years younger I would still suck compared to these guys. They make it look soooo easy

[@SALZHERZ]

Great advice. To the point, no nonsense. Thank you.

[@edwardfrisby4868]

a good tip that you missed for setting up seat height with a non dropper seat post is to mark the seat post with keys or a screw driver so you know where to put it back to if you put it down for a decent

[@antjoshwww]

Seat posts have numbers at the back

[@edwardfrisby4868]

Not all of them do and it's quicker to put it to a marked line rather than finding the right number

[@sucretabkha]

Thank you very much! I live in Peru and we have so much terrain for MTB but im just getting into the hobby and some routes are barbaric! I need to get my ride right because last week I had a very bad fall.

[@santiagopeschiera1743]

¿Como estas ahora? Yo solia montar en las afueras de Lima por los huaicos hace aaaños pero ahora estoy en Nueva Jersey. Hay hartas rutas por donde estas seguro, ¿no?

[@jamariuswalker1712]

I haven't rode a bike in yrs I'm rusty asf but I know this video gon help me get back in shape!

[@MikeGlorfindel]

I am just getting a new mountain bike and looking to get off road again after not biking since my Orange Clockwork got stollen in around 1993 and I am pleased to say this video reminded me of a ton of things I used to do! Good to know the techniques are still the same so I should be good to go. 😀

[@bazsawow]

Haha I just had my first serious mtb ride today at this exact park. Bristol ftw

[@timfry5861]

Ashton Gate in the background

[@icollinsmtbreno]

I took my mountain bike out today for the first time, I chose a very steep rocky mining trail... Ended up over the handle bars, bloodied up my knee, bruised my palm and put a nice dent in my helmet. Now I'm icing my wounds and studying the basics of mountain biking. Thanks for the video.

[@gmbn]

Ouch 🤕 We're glad you came out of it relatively unscathed. Don't forget to pick up a new helmet before heading out on your bike again!

[@BipBun]

This was really helpful thank you! Answered all the questions I didn't know I needed to ask.

[@darrenchard2221]

I was at Ashton court, I am admittedly about as fast as a dead cat! You went steaming past me 🤣👍 great videos

[@nman2008]

This is a VERY informative and useful video! Thanks so much for making this!

[@johnsguitarmusicanddemos]

Thank you for uploading. These videos help me a lot.

[@gmbn]

Thanks for watching JB!

[@charlescraigwells]

Your videos have increased my enjoyment ten fold. Thumbs up

[@anthonycolon222]

I just did my 1 time on a mtb trail yesterday and I completely wiped out flew over the handlebars off a jump. Im glad i found this channel so I can learn the techniques so I can be able to ride with more confidence. I was laughing when I wiped out because I didn't break anything lol it could've been worst. But now I know for next time when I ride the trail again

[@aidan.22]

I wouldn’t suggest going for a jump on your first ride

[@anthonycolon222]

@@aidan.22 it was by accident because I didn't look ahead like how people teach when you're on a trail to always look ahead so I wiped out but luckily nothing happened to me besides a lesson learned lol

[@alexw7629]

I recognise that place he’s at that’s in my city I’ll definitely go there when quarantines over

[@tcgeddes6691]

Thanks for this vid, looks like it is going to be very useful

[@gmbn]

Excellent!

[@DazzaOnGoogle]

A comment about tyre pressures. Suggesting an absolute pressure only makes sense if everyone is a 60kg whippet. To get the same tyre behaviour across a variety of rider weights, the tyre pressure must vary in proportion to the weight. Your 25 PSI is likely to be 40 PSI for me, as I probably weigh 50% more than you (at the minute, but even when relatively lean, I'll be 80kg, so will want 25% extra PSI over a 60kg rider - around 35 PSI).

[@jimhunt1230]

Also whether you have tubeless ties is a factor too right? Thanks for the great video.

[@addkvvs]

Love gmbn

[@GDoggProductions]

Thank you for this video XD! super first timer here! suer excited to get into all of this!

[@chm1ata]

Cool vid👍 really helping the beginners

[@FlowFinderUSA]

Great video...always good to get back to basics!

[@christonamtb4089]

Can't quit👌🏼

[@tash777k2]

Thanks for the tips.I can finally mountain bike properly

[@reinterpret_cast]

Never would imagine that they switched places for front and rear brake in the UK!

[@jkou5549]

Just starting to MB and with my youngest so thanks for all the great tips!

[@Sheldinator]

just bought a second hand 2013 kona process, pretty freakin exited to go pick it up tomorrow, wish me luck !

[@brian_8852]

hows the bike 😂

[@whatmichaelfilmed]

Hey man thanks for this I’m literally just starting out They are all pretty obvious now you’ve said them but didn’t know any of these tbh

[@architraturi3019]

I'm getting a mountain bike for Christmas can't wait to start riding

[@olegpetelevitch4443]

In Australia the right one is front back is the left one ! mine is and all the guys i ride with .

[@MrDblStop]

And in the UK. Can't imagine why anyone would have it different than motorbikes with the front brake on the right bar.

[@arunmaurya9996]

Thanks it helps me on hard tail.

[@nagylevi3827]

Don't know about anyone else, but I'd like some more hardcore advice as well, like what to do when you dislocate your knee or when you break a collar bone. Also, how to build a rudimentary stretcher. Thanks in advance.

[@cHackz18]

pretty dang sure this is at ashton court on the nova trail! was there this weekend!

[@migatron1]

Go and do a lap of the whole loop and upload it Neil, with someone riding behind you for some perspective brah.

[@wangsean2484]

This is a VERY informative and useful video! Thanks so much for making this, benefited a lot from this!

[@The-Lie-We-Live]

Thanks for the tips and new skills. I am going to save up for a Marin.

[@pretz5584]

on my bike if i go down a 3 to 4 inch curb or stair the chain will come right off, but luckily the trail in this park near me is not too rough

[@karlvincentcaerlang5545]

I bought my father a mountain bike. But in curiosity I would like to use it also because I didn't even use a bike for even 10 years and I'm only using a bmx one. So I think watching this video makes me feel confident with what I can do again.

[@destinyplayer5936]

i saw you at forest of dean today

[@donnchadhcullinan362]

PLZ go to Ireland I really enjoy yer videos and Ireland has some great trails

[@emck7225]

Have you ever been to Garvagh forest.

[@CaitlinTube]

Not a beginner but always learning new things 😂

[@Elise6385]

Hey was this video filmed In the Forest of Dean ? I love the vids and I met you there yesterday

[@migatron1]

No. This is Ashton Court

[@anchorite21]

great video, lots of helpful info!

[@FloridaBoilermaker]

I live in Florida of the U.S. and I switched the breaks when I got my bike. I done this cause I ride a motorcycle and the front break is on the right side of it. It was just a natural and sensible switch for me. Keep up the good work from across the pond.

[@calmchaos.]

I used my brothers mountain bike yesterday and I'm hooked buying my first bike today

[@mike_g7041]

My friends say that my tire preasure is way to low (around 25 psi) they have mtb's, but they don't do trails my friend then said he runs about 45 psi then I was behind him and the smallest stick ever just popped strait through

[@i_like_blue_stuff]

A lower psi will mostly increase the likelihood of pinch flats, where the tube gets pinched against the rim, and also will run you the risk of hitting the rim against rocks and sharp corners. But with any type of risk it does not mean it will always be the case. If you feel comfortable running your tires at 25 psi and don't have many issues with flats then that's perfectly fine. Though I would consider trying out other pressures on some rides, just so that you can get an idea of how they feel. Who knows, maybe 30 or 40 psi allow you to be more quick and nimble while riding, or maybe they just end up causing you to slip on turns. Won't know until you test it out though.

[@soulschizm4427]

New to mtb, Just put a down deposit on a fathom 2 so thank you for these tips :D

[@hunteringleton7500]

thanks for the tips mate really appreciate it. Still cant get over how sick that bike is my goal is to one day own a bike like that

[@123italiano321]

Great tips! I bought an MTB monday and went for a ride twice... Was tired after 15 min... My condition is so bad haha

[@icollinsmtbreno]

I wish I knew more about application of different tires, tire pressure and braking.

[@letsgo_inc]

Literally want to start after corona...gonna outfit the helmet, gloves and everything this weekend, grabbing the bike soon after

[@jamespilar9840]

Thank you for the info,it really is helpful.

[@jeffv.akaonsjeffke9865]

i got into mtb last year as I bought an ebike just to check it out. It turned out to be so much fun, that I even sold my enduro motorbike after being 20 years in that sport. Sold my ebike and swicht over to a decent enduro mtb. I never though mtb would be such a pleasure to do. Before I was of opinion that motorbikes where the max, but biking you can do that anywhere at my aerea, and enduro moto gets banned fierce buy law and public in the country side. On a motorbike you're are an outlaw, on a mtb you can go anywhere

[@RahulMPrathap]

Great tips. Thanks

[@Super_Naught]

Thanks alot for this. I understand my mistakes now

[@GNX157]

The reason you leave your control lever bolts not too tight isn't about the threads stripping. You want them tight enough to not move under normal use, but loose enough that if you crash, the controls will move on the bar instead of breaking.

[@jaredstaley6854]

Neil I challenge you to the trans Baviaans in South Africa! It’s a 230km single stage race!! And love your videos!! Please also make a video on how to train for those longer events?

[@SF-mz3rw]

Great video, thanks! I love your channel!