Essential Skills For Hard Mountain Bike Trails | How To Ride Gnarly Terrain

Once you have mastered the bike park blues and reds it's time to move on to the more difficult black graded trails and gnarly natural terrain. With this comes a new set of challenges when riding your mountain bike - line choice, preserving your equipment, and committing to scary sections. Neil shows you how 🤘
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Leave us a comment below!

[@gmbn]

Did you find these tips helpful?

[@erickpeterTV]

Yes indeed. My bike skills are improving because of your videos. Thanks! 😊

[@Len4ken]

Bes tipos

[@iffy_too6465]

I only started riding a couple of months ago (hardtail) and all the trails near me are sharp rocky and dusty, the geology around where I live is really harsh. The sharp slatey/shaley rocks are often tipped on their side like blades so I dont want to come off on them. Getting faster and lighter, wheelie up a rock and even learning the smallest crappest manual has helped so much, but I really want to get some knee and elbow pads.

[@giorgoslsp]

ofc i do, keep up with the helpful videos guys!

[@danytheunicorn95]

CROMAGGNON hahahahhaha it´s pronouced "Cromáñón" or I guess "cromanion" is the closest in English, yeah, I am an expert at riding gnarly stuff now thanks to your videos, the unweighting this is vital, riding a hardtail also helps on perfecting the techique, great video!

[@BikingwithJP]

Fast, smooth, and flowy is fun - but trails like these are why I got a full suspension bike!

[@Larpy1933]

Super useful. When Neil speaks, tens of thousands of us drop what we’re doing and pay full attention. Thanks. Very well done, including the sound & video work.

[@JFTM_]

Definitely my favourite kind of riding and trails ... I can never really relate to channels that mostly showcase flow trails

[@mick4659]

GMBN one of the best channels for MTB. And Neil is a great teacher. Calm, factual, competent. Great stuff as allways. In Germany we have nothing that is comparable.

[@mjvf4555]

I wish this video came out before I snapped my collarbone

[@schnawgalawg]

Ouch 😬

[@mr.woofers393]

Ooofffffff

[@SickfoosMTB]

I literally just came back from riding trails like this in Fontana CA 👍👍 Perfect video

[@juliandlamb]

Thanks Neil, I’m pretty sure you’ve given all those tips before but they came together in this video really well.

[@menno9266]

That rock on the left at 07:40 looks like a smiling shark :)

[@J_Harker]

haha

[@gazg00]

😂😂

[@bryndon]

So good! Thanks... really useful tips and ways of looking at riding the hard stuff. I hadn't heard the specific term de-weight the bike, but that really stuck with me and ill definitely be using it in my riding.

[@paulroberts7775]

A very important tip is to look where you want to go, not at the hazard.

[@gmbn]

Yep, target fixation is real! 🎯

[@MikeHoopes]

That counts for any number of wheels.

[@keaton4054]

My instructor told me that yesterday. Look where you wanna go and not look into the doom

[@HeretiCflow]

What Neil doesn't address explicitly but still does intuitively in switchbacks is pre-turning. He approaches the corner on the inside and then places his front wheel on the outside right before the corner. That offsets your wheelpath and allows you to go around tight corners more efficiently. I recently learned about this technique on Fluidride. Great channel for riding technique.

[@CornellHarris]

Pre turns are one of the best techniques that I have learned from fluid ride mtb!

[@olliedickason3248]

‘Getting frisky with the back brake’ -Neil 2020

[@VonSC2]

Great segment, one of the most useful!

[@gmbn]

Glad it was helpful!

[@evanbarnes9984]

Hey GMBN! What if we have a Hardcore Hardtail Week soon? I've been smashing some hard trails on my Chromag Rootdown, but would also love some riding tips for conquering the terrain in this video on an aggressive hardtail. I've always loved hardtail week, but it's always felt a bit more beginner-oriented, as though hardtail are what you get before you get a "real" (full sus) bike. It would be cool to see a series on the hardcore hardtails! I'm sure there are other people like me who would be stoked for that. It's a really fun type of bike!

[@atticussarandopoulos5427]

Love Your vids. Keep it up.

[@cf5914]

This is what my local trail looks like. Good stuff!

[@brianheggie9754]

Most of the stuff I ride is gnarly rocky and shale and yes, that kind of terrain will eat your bike if not careful. A couple of chains, one derailleur hanger and derailleur over a few years you learn how to ride better. And I do it all on a hardtail. Great video and ride on!

[@lauriewessel5978]

really helpfull!!!

[@lwittrock1]

Excellent video!

[@LuluBejot]

Epic 😃This is a great mtb video! You will get better,you just earned a new sub !

[@frigontv6083]

Nice weather. I want this.

[@A.D.D.O.C.D.T]

That was a very good video ,thanks guys. On the money there.

[@OresteCiotoli]

Nice tips👍🏻👊🏻

[@ddsgardening7437]

Really enjoyed that 🙏 thanks mate, your a top teacher

[@gmbn]

Happy to help!

[@loisbeigli]

thank you!

[@smg7281]

Thanks 🙏

[@g.ldutton1952]

It was good to see you stayed rubber side down✌

[@MarcDavison]

It would be great to see Neil do the same video but with typical UK trail conditions for this time of year, wet Rocks for the North, wet Chalk and Clay in the south and how ride with confidence on those surfaces.

[@cgriggsiv]

Awesome looking skills you got there going down those hills Unfortunately for me since I hurt both elbows on July 5th crash I can barely go back and forth to work with my left elbow not hurting in this winter I found out the hard way twice but it's still pretty well badly messed up any slight movements wrong and I'm in a shit-ton of pain

[@3piece798]

I wish I had half the skills of this guy

[@patorico_8879]

Thought it was a hard tail video, but still great nonetheless.

[@luisnick2432]

I ride sections of trails like these on a 26" hardtail with rim brakes😅

[@curtisf.r6233]

Cool video Neil 👍😎 but not as cool as my new GMBN mug that's just arrived💯😍🍵

[@bugboy152000]

#GMBN That POLE bike is seriously beautiful. If they find a way to get those cables internal this will be my next bike.

[@martusho]

Neil has gone fully flat pedals lately :)

[@Techandtoolsreviews]

Love the vids always good Neil you legend wish I had the money for good bikes like yours always nice bikes on gmbn and embn always very informative and really help me out so thank you also could you do a review on ORBEA MX50 I'd love to see some more affordable bikes too please thank you

[@joellewis759]

I need a full sus! All I've got is a bmx for now. 😂

[@harrybryson1130]

Respect for not pushing for the 10 minute mark when you easily could have

[@alunmills1543]

Awesome video. Thanks Neil and all at GMBN. Where did you say you were riding tho? I couldn’t catch it?

[@telsemtb9122]

I love challenging myself. Sometimes, don't work, 😆

[@stanrezong7225]

Damn ! I love his accent 🤗

[@core-i7413]

I paused when he started talking about flats because I wanted to do some tech, and I got a flat. Hiding it from parents and going to try to fix at like 2 am.

[@Crashtest_Fetus]

Just send it. Jk good tips and tricks 👍🏻

[@Labolas2Glasya]

im usually not a big fan of music thats used for videos but the song at 0:16 dayum that one rocks. \m/ Tigerblood Jewel - Tomahawk. if anyone wants to know

[@louiswright235]

I'm surprised you didn't hint at the fact you can endo on those switchback. At least it looks like you can

[@mtbville]

Helpful! 👍

[@filipw8050]

if it doesn't bust deraillers then it ain't a good trail.

[@MikeHoopes]

I suppose those could be termed “AXS-holes”.

[@jdwells7233]

Neil... Hammerhead

[@leonvanwetter811]

please fix that nukeproof mega 290 comp

[@EpicMTB]

would you have to do anything differently if you did it on a hardtail?

[@federicomarmolejo1952]

good tips Neil, where is that terrain?? looks like ligure

[@scottworleymtb1517]

Cro magnon at finale ligure

[@BoiseG]

Why do some guys wear knees pads, but not elbow pads? Wouldn't you want the same level of protection for your elbows?

[@calebm.5698]

Knees take more hits than elbows and knee pads aren’t too uncomfortable. Elbow pads are a lot less fun to wear, and also don’t look particularly stylish. I only wear elbow pads for lift service downhill.

[@MikeHoopes]

I’ve taken hits almost everywhere except the elbows, to the extreme chagrin of my wrists.

[@Danil-Crypto]

if I saw such lines, I would get up and walk home because I have a hardtail ((

[@1mxcompilations375]

Hi guys, my channel trailer is now online. Give it a go and let me know in the comments what you think about it!! More to come very soon

[@andrewrivera4029]

Picking a line even through the most nasty knar, no turning, keeping momentum, commitment/attack position and a dropper post are essential especially for the XC weinies helps dramatically.

[@canneriacerveza965]

Trails are getting harder and harder, trying to commit lol

[@Silverripples]

Where is this vid taken the terrain looks a bit alps/dolomites like?

[@scottw6598]

Good video

[@EmeraldRaven91]

But how do you kick your back wheel around when using flat peddles?

[@cadenthompson8013]

When your turning use your rear brake so it loses traction swings outward

[@shaquilleoatmeal2654]

Is there a reason why the pole sounds so loud on the microphone is sounds all rickety

[@freestylefun1]

what do you guys think, canyon strive or nukeproof mega?

[@BoomKillerE]

Strive

[@patorico_8879]

Strive and then add nukeproof parts. I'm a sucker for those nukeproof bits especially the copper ones...

[@colemitchmtb]

Strive’s geo is quite a bit more dated, but it’s got that cool shapeshifter, hard choice! They both offer great value, so it’s kinda what you want in the bike. The mega will be great at point and shoot flat out riding while the strive will be better on all around trail riding.

[@xxxbadmanxx]

Anyone maybe knows which rear tyre does he have ?

[@hardtail_reapers_mtb8014]

Vittoria Morsa

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

I always rode a hardtail until I moved to the side of a volcano in the Rocky Mountains. Some trails are more rock than dirt. Instead of denoting a rock garden, thats just the base trail surface, it’s more interesting to point out a patch of smooth dirt. A rarity. Bought a full suspension trail bike just to be able to stay on the thing over sharp tuff and basaltic flows. When I look at a lot of the wide UK trails in these videos with loamy soil, flowy corners, and actual space between rocky outcrops, I wonder if you can even classify it as “mountain” biking. This trail does look properly difficult here. Fun though.

[@bsmooth5487]

No issues with assembly for me kzbin.infoUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L but I could see where some might benefit from using an experienced bike assembler/mechanic. I'm an older rider starting back after a 10 year break. This bike exceeds my capabilities and has been easy to get comfortable riding. I'm mostly on easy trails with almost no street riding and have not been disappointed with the performance of the bike. My fitness level is far below what I previously rode with and because of that the mileage is going on the bike slowly. While I'm losing weight slowly, the bike seems to tolerate my 220 pounds just fine. The bike has been used by several family members ranging from 5'5" - 5'9".

[@jontiummorkimus7111]

It's a shame the really nasty rocky big drop-offy washed out insanely steep bits at my local trail have no easier equivalents to train on, feels like it's noddy blue or insane technical with (for me) a very high probability of getting it horribly wrong. Just not worth broken bones and a lifetime of pain. Those bits you showed seem like they flow really well by comparison.

[@mtbmaster4528]

I dont watch these for the tutorials, just for the great content

[@migatron1]

Peets Ykcor Rang

[@rohanchivukula2809]

Im just bad at mountain biking :(

[@gunjamed93]

YEW

[@sexygirl8307]

" Nice!! video"

[@samanlamsal6031]

Don't really want to know the skills but passing time watching someone ride

[@BikingwithJP]

Sometimes it’s nice just to watch!

[@Cous1nJack]

3:10 skids are for kids

[@JamesRobertMTB]

Sounds terrible compared to, Fast, smooth and flowy 😍

[@coolpog9674]

Ohh I can get a comment with likes since I’m early like if u ride mtb

[@therandomchannel7377]

can i pay other money currensy when i buy on the gmbn shop?

[@trailrider3625]

I never get a puncture........... Thats a lie

[@coolpog9674]

First lol

[@cookiemuncher9448]

haha first likemhuhhahahahhaaaa

[@NadeemVlogs]

Nice Job Brother- #nadeemvlogs

[@franlafosse]

Great video!

[@bgib23451]

No issues with assembly for me kzbin.infoUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L but I could see where some might benefit from using an experienced bike assembler/mechanic. I'm an older rider starting back after a 10 year break. This bike exceeds my capabilities and has been easy to get comfortable riding. I'm mostly on easy trails with almost no street riding and have not been disappointed with the performance of the bike. My fitness level is far below what I previously rode with and because of that the mileage is going on the bike slowly. While I'm losing weight slowly, the bike seems to tolerate my 220 pounds just fine. The bike has been used by several family members ranging from 5'5" - 5'9".

[@sexygirl7191]

" Nice!! video"