It always seems a little strange when you watch different riders tackling the same rocky section of trail; there are those who seem to effortlessly glide over the rocks as if they weren’t there, making the trail look as though it was perfectly smooth, not losing an ounce of speed in the process.

Then of course there are those at the other end of the scale, who grind to a halt at the mere thought of tackling those evil boulders, and then try in vein to thread their way at virtually zero speed through the rocks, dabbing and floundering every few metres—it can be painful to watch at times.

Most of us linger somewhere in between these two extremes, which means there’s plenty of room for improvement, and mastering the rocks can greatly benefit your everyday trail riding. Not only will it make you faster, it will make you a whole lot safer, reduce punctures and other potential bike damage, and make the whole experience a lot more fun.

There are numerous factors to be worked on when it comes to mastering rocky rides, and when broken down and dealt with individually they become easier to improve on, and then combine them all together until the whole thing becomes second nature. Job done!

Bike Set-up

If you are heading out on a particularly rocky ride then there’s no doubting that a full suspension bike could save you a whole heap of energy and iron out a multitude of errors, although many a purist would still prefer a hardtail for its razor sharp handling.

Your suspension shouldn’t be too soft for normal rocky trail riding, and your position should be fairly upright to help in keeping your weight off the front wheel. It’s also a good idea to make sure your pedals aren’t adjusted too tightly, as you may well need to get your foot out in a hurry.

Fatter tyres are a definite plus on rocky ground. Not only do they take more rock impact without puncturing, they also take a lot of the jarring out of the trail, saving your wrists from extra pounding; 2.1 to 2.4 inch wide tyres are ideal.

Selecting tyre pressures is a real balancing act. Lower pressures will help to smooth the ride and improve traction but will also substantially increase the risk of pinch flat punctures and rim damage. For this reason it usually best to increase your tyre pressures when riding rocky terrain.

Skilled riders (the ones who finesse their way effortlessly through the boulder fields) can get away with standard or lower air pressure—as long as they don’t make any mistakes. Tubeless tyre systems will allow you to use lower pressures but you still run the risk of rim damage. If in doubt, put an extra 5psi in your tyres for particularly rocky terrain.

Body Position

Your upper body and how you use it is a huge factor in mastering tricky rocks. First and foremost is to remain relaxed and fairly upright to allow you to manoeuvre around and look ahead. The idea is then to use your body to stabilise the bike and keep traction without getting hammered by the blows from the rocks.

Keep the bars held firmly without clamping them—you don’t want to get the dreaded ‘death grip’ as this tends to lock your upper body solid. Your wrists and elbows should remain flexible and allow the bike to move around and roll over the rocks, not plough into them. Your arms and legs remain your most effective suspension no matter what sort of bike you ride.

On downhills or fast sections you should try and stand off the saddle and push your weight back with your knees slightly bent, allowing the bike to do its own thing beneath you.

On flatter trail you will need to pedal to maintain momentum. Rather than standing completely, use the pressure that you are putting on the pedals to force your backside slightly off the saddle. The idea is to hover just above the saddle, allowing the bike to move underneath you whilst you pedal.

On steep climbs you will need to pull your weight forward. Use the effort of pushing on the pedals to drive the rear wheel into the ground for traction. Either stand or hover a fraction above the saddle to allow the bike to move under you and clamber over the rocks.

Gear Selection

You really need to look ahead and pre-empt your gear selection when approaching a rocky section of trail. You are usually committed to that gear once you’re in the thick of things, and changing can be a struggle.

Chain tension is a big issue, especially on downhill and fast sections; try and keep as much tension as possible by using the big chain ring and lower rear gears, to prevent unshipping due to vibration.

On most rocky sections it pays to use a bigger gear than normal and to blast through—this keeps your weight off the saddle, keeps momentum high and helps with traction.

Spinning a small gear encourages you to stay seated and is a sure-fire way to lose momentum when you need it most. It’s only on longer and uphill sections where you may need to switch down a gear to pick your line through.

Picking Lines

The smoothest and fastest route is always the objective. Look well ahead and focus on where you want to go, not where you want to avoid; because as sure as eggs are eggs you’ll go where you’re looking.

At higher speeds and on smaller rocks it’s important to commit fairly rigidly to one line, as switching course every few seconds will get you into trouble. On uphills or large solid rock sections you can pick and chose a little more as you go, but try to avoid extreme movements.

Try to break the trail in to 3-5 metre sections and piece them together mentally so you end up in the right place for each section.

Front End

Keeping your front end light and free, but under control, is very important. Try and keep fairly straight ahead as much as possible—avoid sharp turns that can throw everything out of sync or make the front wheel dig in and throw you off.

Stay relaxed and allow the front end to be light. You pretty much want the front wheel to do its own thing with just a little pilot guidance to lift the front end and assist it in rolling over any bigger rocks. On the up hills, the front wheel can be hoisted skywards with hard pedal stroke and a brief weight shift to the rear.

On faster terrain, you should lift or unweight your front wheel by throwing your body weight towards the back of the bike. Always remember that if your front wheel makes it over a rock, 90% of the time your back wheel is going to follow through. Just keep light on the saddle or stand up and let the back wheel roll through.

Mind Over Matter

Perhaps the biggest factor in being a successful rock rider is how you approach things mentally, which largely boils down to confidence. When we’re younger many of us have far too much confidence for our own good.

Over time wisdom tempers this exuberance—or at least that’s what we like to think. But a sensible level of confidence plays a big part in how you ride rocks, and this can be boosted a whole lot by working on the other elements until you know your limits—and then learning to push them some.

Having the confidence to head in to a rocky section and to commit your mind and body to the task ahead is vital. If you seize up and slow down on entry, just waiting to put that foot down, then that’s what you will do—worse still you could end up in a heap. The key is to relax and believe a little more.

Image: Steve Thomas

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For great cycling features, body and bike technology articles, where to ride and heaps of biking news and reviews, or to take advantage of FREE BIKE CLASSIFIEDS visit our new website www.bicyclingaustralia.com
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When you think of Bali ‘great mountain biking’ doesn’t immediately spring to mind—but this island paradise is home to some of Asia’s best trails, and it’s right on your doorstep.

Knowing exactly what to expect when first arriving in a strange land is always a bit of mixed bag; a blend of intrigue, excitement, and at times fear all mix together.

Although I know much of Southeast Asia inside out, for some reason I’d never been to Bali. Sure enough I‘d considered it a few times, all be it vaguely. But I guess it’s one of those situations where preconceptions take over, if you let them.

Bali; when you mention Bali so many conflicting images spring to mind. For most it’s images of a bustling beach resort with nightclubs and neon lights that jump out. To others it’s images of tranquil sandy escapes, while to some it’s spas and holy retreats. Well, within a couple of days on the island you’ll find that it is all of these and so much more. The beauty of the place is that you can take whichever slice you desire and leave the rest of the cake on the side, or scoff the whole lot if you like.

You can party, relax, find solace, get culturally enlightened, and ride awesome singletrack—all in the same day. Early explorers termed Bali ‘the perfect island’. And in many ways it is.

Alternative Holiday

Not being much of a beach bum, my reasons for heading to Bali were to get in some decent mountain biking, to see what the cultural and natural side were like, and of course to sample the local brews—something of a passion of mine. It’s always tough trying to find trails and information when travelling to destinations like Bali, where mountain biking is often an alien concept.

With this in mind I’d done plenty or research, and teamed up with Clare from the ‘Bali Trailblazers’. She is an ex-pat Pom who knows just about every padi field and volcano trail in this neck of the woods, thus guaranteeing that the great riding would be laid on and made easy to find.

Having poured over various maps of the island before my trip, I’d figured that Bali is more or less like a huge ‘wedge’ with towering volcanoes at the top end. These peaks peter out as travel closer to the densely populated south—I wasn’t far wrong.

Most of the islands trails are located on the sparsely populated northern and eastern flanks, around the two major volcanoes—Batur and Agung, impressive sights that dominate the vista on a clear day.

As we had only a couple of days to spare, cherry picking the rides was key—this meant hopping in the truck to get to the trails. It doesn’t take long on the road to get a feel for what Bali is all about; this place has more temples than you can shake your pump at. Every few seconds you’ll see some stone carved effigy or temple. The typical picture postcard images of colourful ladies carrying baskets on their heads, lush green terraced hillsides and smiley faces abound. It truly is a captivating place.

Lakes & Volcanos

Our first ride was a loop based around the impressive crater of Batur. Things start off around the caldera rim, and the outlook is stunning; a huge lake spans the carter base, peppered with fishing villages and a patchwork of agricultural lands. As you descend steeply into the crater these sights rapidly become life size and the trail winds around the lake before climbing to a near perfect ridgeline singletrack. These are trails used by locals and mountain bikers are a rarity, so you get that pioneering feel that is often lost in modern biking.

The lake is shadowed by the smouldering dormant volcano, and our route took us right through a lunar like lava field beneath it—great riding and not at all what I’d expected to find on Bali. But for me the best thing about the ride was getting into the heart of the country, seeing the small villages, and stopping to chew the turkey with the locals as they prepared for Galangal, their twice-yearly religious festival. They are seriously friendly people who are fascinated at the concept of mountain biking.

Batur had been a great introduction to Bali’s trails. I have to say they were better from a pure biking point of view than I’d imagined. But it was the following days riding that really stuck with me.

After following the coastal road to the eastern slopes of Agung volcano, we wove our way up an amazing hillside, which was a mass of wet padi fields, all neatly stitched together to make use of every patch of land. The trail wound it’s way up through the fields, and as we climbed higher the stronger the images became. Every few minutes we’d pass a small train of locals walking between villages, all brightly clad with baskets on their heads and all happy to see us. As for the descent, well it was awesome! Bali is so much more than you’d imagine and it is a really great place for every kind of mountain biking!

Bali Fact File

Country – Indonesia
Capital & airport – Denpasar
Language – Bahasa Indonesia
Religion – mainly Hindu
Climate – tropical/equatorial
Country IDD code +62
Currency – IDR (Indonesian Rupee) approx $1 = Rp 7,888
Recommended reading – Lonely Planet
Electric – 127/230v with two pin and three peg style plugs.
Time zone – GMT +8hr
Population – 3,160,000
Area – 5,620km

Getting There – there are numerous flights from major airports to Bali, both direct and scheduled flights that go via Jakarta. For most it is closer than flying from Sydney to Perth, so rates are competitive.

Visas & Paperwork – A visa is required for entry to Bali, these can be obtained in advance from Indonesian Embassy offices, or easier still on arrival at the airport. The procedure is pretty straightforward and you can obtain visas lasting from 1 week through to 1 month. Payment is in US Dollars ($10-$25). You will also need to pay a departure tax of Rp100, 000 (around AUS$12).

When to Go – Bali is very much a year round destination. The main resorts can get very busy during the Christmas period. Between June and September would generally be considered the best time for mountain biking, as these are the drier months. However, in recent years the weather has become pretty similar all year round, so it isn’t a major worry.

Eating & Drinking – You can get more or less any kind of food and drink in Bali—from western style food to traditional Balinese dishes. Around the towns and coastal areas you’ll find loads of great restaurants, and as you venture inland the fare becomes more typical with noodles, curry, seafood, and on special occasions suckling pig is popular. Bali is unusual in Indonesian terms as it is not Islamicly nurtured, so alcohol is also easily obtainable. Costs in general are around 20-40% less than in Australia.

Accommodation – There is a huge and varied array of accommodation available on the island. Along the busy coastal areas there are lots of high-end hotels, and also cheaper options. Head inland and prices decrease a little, but there is still plenty of choice, especially around Ubud, which is well known for it’s Balinese spa hotels and retreats—it is a favourite hangout of the rich and famous. At around $50 a night for a three star hotel, you certainly don’t have to be rich to stay here. For listings check out the Lonely planet guide or go to www.balitravelportal.com or www.visionbali.net. Alternatively ask Bali Trailblazers to make arrangements to suit your budget.

Bali Trailblazers

Bali Trailblazers is a company based in Denpasar that specialise is short to medium length mountain bike holidays. The owner is a Brit who has lived on the island for some time, and has probably the best knowledge available of the islands trail network.

The company can arrange just about anything you want; be it a day trip with bike hire included, or a two week long epic guided tour of the islands finest trails—and believe me you will need a guide to find the best trails as they are not marked.

For details check out www.bali-trailblazers.com or for general info go to www.baliguide.com

Bike Shops

There are a couple of decent bike shops in Denpasar, check out www.roadlink.com

Article and Image: Steve Thomas

Looking for more great articles on body and bike technology, where to ride, plus heaps of feature stories and bike reviews visit www.bicyclingaustralia.com

MTB’s have more fun!

The enthusiasm of our readers never ceases to amaze me. Mountain bikers just seem to get so immersed in their sport. We get so many reader letters, at Mountain Biking Australia, that we rarely fit them all in the magazine. Likewise, we could fill four pages with our photo competition entries – if we had the space to spare! You only have to read a few of the letters to see just how keen people are.

The editor of our sister road magazine wishes he had the same volume of enthusiastic feedback. Then again, it may be unrealistic to expect people to get overly excited about road riding – I have done plenty of roadie miles over the years and I can report that for the most part, it doesn’t offer the same level of fulfilment.

So, what is it that gets people so hooked?

Check out the Be my guest page, each week and see why people from around the globe love the sport so much.

I believe mountain biking is so addictive because it appeals on so many levels. It is well known that physical activity can be addictive; endorphins go to brain and you feel good (at least when you stop hurting). Road riding achieves this as well, as does running and other similar sports.

But mountain biking also rewards with the sheer fun of piloting a bike down a narrow trail – much more fun than hugging the white line on the fringe of the tarmac trying not to get bumped off.

The nature of mountain biking also means that we get to ride in some beautiful surroundings. Want more?

Well you can also add the sense of adventure that you get from heading bush on an epic through sometimes isolated country.

My wife, Amber, used to be a gym junkie and picked up a mountain bike around five years ago. I have watched as she gained the same ‘MTB affliction’ that so many of our readers seem to suffer from. She gets the same health and fitness rewards of going to the gym combined with the addictive fun of hitting the trails.

After having our first child (Ellie), Amber couldn’t wait to get back on the mountain bike. She returned to the trails just two and a half weeks after giving birth and is more enthusiastic than ever. It seems to be a common tale amongst our readers. As the editor of Mountain Biking Australia, I can only say that it is a good feeling to be involved with such a fanatical and passionate group of people. I hope that this blog gives you further fuel to feed your obsessions!

Editor John Hardwick: Mountain Biking Australia

Are you passionate about mountain biking? Leave a comment and tell us what you love so much about it.

Don’t leave here without reading about Steve Jurvetson’s escapades at Be My Guest