How To Improve Your Skills When Mountain Biking Alps Trails

For most cycling enthusiasts, the prospect of downhill biking can be, at once, enticing and daunting. On the one hand, the adrenaline rush resulting from whisking down the side of a mountain at breakneck speed over rough terrain is undeniable; on the other hand, most enthusiasts are acutely aware of the risks this particular variant of their favourite sport entails, which can sometimes contribute to put them off giving it a try.

These feelings may be intensified when mountain biking Alps trails. There is a reason Alpine slopes are famous amongst winter sports aficionados, and while those factors also help make them appealing to avid mountain bikers, they can just as easily scare less experienced practitioners out of attempting a downhill run at an Alpine location.

There is, however, no reason why attempting downhill when mountain biking Alps courses should be any more frightening than doing so at any other location in the world; on the contrary, the difficult nature of most of the runs found in locations like Morzine provides rookies with an excellent chance to improve their downhill technique. Below are just a few of the areas where Alpine trails can help novices improve.

Perception

Most people would agree that ‘perception is key’, and this is even more true when hurtling down a steep slope at the controls of a sensitive piece of equipment like a mountain bike. Therefore, downhill biking can help rookies develop their instincts and sense of perception, as it forces them to always be one step ahead of their bike.

This is especially true when mountain biking Alps downhill courses, due to their obstacle-laden nature. Beginners tackling the slopes of Morzine and similar resorts are therefore advised to practice keeping their vision 30ft ahead of them, so that they may steer the bike past an oncoming obstacle rather than onto it.

Posture

A downhill biker must not be stiff – the recommended posture is one of loose-limbed relaxation, although obviously a certain degree of control is necessary to keep the bike in check and negotiate the paths. Cycling some of the more challenging paths in the French Alps can help beginners learn how to loosen their grip on the bike handles when going downhill, as well as how to position their body in the correct way to absorb a potential impact (slightly crouched over the pedals).

Balance

But perhaps the most important area in which mountain biking Alps trails can help a rookie downhill cyclist is with his or her balance. Balance is essential to all forms of cycling, and never more so than when going downhill at a good rate of knots. Ideally, the downhill cyclist should try to keep his or her weight evenly balanced between the wheels and lean slightly backwards, so that their body will not reach the end of the trail before the bike does and cause an accident.

Beginners seeking to become better at downhill biking should not be scared to tackle the slopes of Morzine or other Alpine resorts; in fact, they will only serve to help them improve their fledgling skills.

Liz Olkowicz is the Business Development Manager for Ski and Summer Morzine, a tour operator, based in Surrey, offering tailor-made holidays. If you're looking for a thrilling holiday mountain biking, Alps routes offer a diverse and challenging terrain. Morzine is the perfect location from which to explore the French Alps on a mountain bike, so for a great-value Alpine holiday, call us.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.