Mtn. Biking Tips for Autumn

By Erik Skarvan

September and early October are my absolute favorite times of year for mountain biking. The gloriously golden fall colors splash across the mountainsides, the average temperature drops to an aerobically-comfy range and I have the singletracks all to myself.

It’s apparent why so many locals don’t like to tell visitors about early fall, our oh-so-sweet “sleeper season.” But the word about our amazing autumns has gotten out! I recently had the good fortune of meeting two brothers who not only share my enthusiasm for spectacular fall beauty and solitude but also a passion for mountain biking. They were visiting Aspen a few weeks ago on their annual boys’ adventure trip. In order to fully enjoy their mountain biking experience, I shared the key skills to help them master technical trail riding. Around Aspen, “technical” means steeps, rocky terrain and super tight switchbacks.

“You go where you look guys!” I bellow like Thor with my big Nordic mouth. Visual focus—focusing like a laser beam on exactly where you want your front tire to go—is extremely helpful in nailing the best (i.e. the smoothest) line through rocky sections. On tight turns or switchbacks, focusing on the outside line gives you maximum room to make the turn, much like a racecar driver hits the high line on a racing track. The faster you go, the farther you should look ahead to prepare for what’s coming up.

“Relax mon, as they say in Jamaica,” I relay to the adventurous brothers in my most irie Rasta accent. Relaxing the upper body by dropping your shoulders will loosen up your arms and hands as well. “Linguini arms” will not only help you be more efficient with your energy but help you absorb the bumps much like a proficient mogul skier absorbs with his legs (visualize a good mogul skier skiing towards you). Your arms are your main shock absorbers, no matter what your local bike shop guy says about the “awesome full-suspension bikes, dude.”

“Get your butt back on the downhills and your chin over the bars on the climbs,” I preach to the eager born-again biking bros. The steeper the descents, the farther you’ll need to get your butt back on the saddle—even over the rear tire on butt puckering drops. Likewise, on the steeper climbs, your chinny chin chin will need to be over the handlebars or the front tire. You might try sliding forward to the nose of your saddle as well, to gain more pressure/control over the front tire.

Combine effective visual focus and body relaxation/positioning to make the most of your autumn rides. It’s much easier to enjoy fall without all the falls!

Erik Skarvan founded Sun Dog Athletics, “Aspen’s Adventure Sports School,” in 1996. As a long-time local competitive athlete, he helped pioneer mountain- and road-biking instruction and airboarding (aka. snow body-boarding) in the Roaring Fork Valley and mountain biking instruction in the Grand Valley (Fruita, CO). For info, visit: www.sundogathletics.com.