How-To: Beginner Mountain Bike Tricks & Style Pointers

If you're new to mountain biking, there are some basic, non-threatening tricks you can learn to add style to your riding technique and increase the fun factor when you're on the trail.

The Turnbar is something you can easily work on as you learn to jump your bike. Start small with tiny tweaks of the bar, making sure to always bring your wheel back straight. The more air time you get, the more turned your bars can get. Keep your knees tucked into the top tube and start developing that bike lean with it! If you're doing this on a hip jump and turn the bars down, into the hip, you're working on a Euro Table. If you turn the bars away from the hip, counter-steering, you're on the way to a classic table top. Just like with your bar turn, work on getting the bike flat in the air too, to avoid the dreaded Schleybletop. As you get more experienced, you'll unconsciously be doing turnbars to counteract forces of your bike and body on the trail, looking like a pro.

Push into a turn and use the rebound on your compressed fork to pop the front end of the bike up into the air. This motion along with pedaling momentum helps shift your weight backwards to find the perfect balance as you crank the front end into a wheelie. Fun power wheelie games involve aiming for different obstacles on the trail as landing spots for your airborne front wheel.

If you're filming for an Instagram edit or a sponsor-me tape, the Power Wheelie out of a turn is a must for maximum style points, even if the move makes you slower.

As your jumping progresses, start releasing the grips in the air. Begin by just letting your fingers go loose on the grips and work your way up to a full one-hander. Eventually you can start taking two hands off the bar. If you squeeze the seat and throw your hands back, you're going for the Suicide No-Hander. If you pull the stem up into your chest, with chin over the front wheels while posting your arms out like bird wings, you're in Tuck No-Hander territory. One-handers can morph into tire grabs if you get brave.

Manual your bike right up to the take-off of a jump you're comfortable with. Drop the wheel right on the top of the lip and use the bounce in your fork to spring you up and over the jump! Remember to start small and work your way bigger. You still need the same amount of speed and lift as normal so do it on a jump you're familiar with that isn't too steep!