I've been riding for almost 3 years now most of them on local trails. .. but here's the thing... I'd like to step it up a bit... I'd like to get into a more competitive level that includes down hills and jumps... is anyone out there able to teach me?, anyone that's able to help with this??.... any mentor/mogul/godfather willing to share the knowledge?!?!? :exclamation

^^^^ What he said!  No secret sauce, just do it... but educate yourself before doing it (youtube, web).  Start small and work your way up.  Watch ton's of vids and imitate what you see, search the interwebs/youtube on tutorials, etc.   Practice, get on the bike often, even off the trail.  Once you think you got it figured out... take it to the trail and commit it, go session the trails.  Ride all the options/advanced loops on the local trails over and over... adding speed and air as you get comfy.  I've been riding for about a year... I'm not great, but feel fairly comfy with all the trails/options on the trails... so, just sharing my experience.  Hard for me to get up with groups or other riders as my riding time is limited so I usually do my riding alone.  As always, wear protective gear... be willing to accept fails, getting hurt. 

if you can't get to Pisgha go to Uwharrie or Poston, great place to learn about hills if you can't get to the mtns. You really have to pay attention to your comfort zone and your soroundings. Know the trail and know your level. Yes videos help but you have to go out and ride anything and everything even if it is your local trail. To me BYT is funland. It will home in your skills fully so when you do go to the mtns. you will have some idea of what and how to handle certain terrains. I am no expert for I am 3 years deep into it and come from 25 years of sk8brding which helped me on the crossover due to transition from riding bowls and vert ramps. Basically , you are going to falll and get mad and wonder why you are doing this and that is when you start to question your choice of riding. It is a ride to ride thing. Learn how to ride your bike first then go and have fun..remember FUN>>> OH yeah wear saftey gear...important and if riding somewhere where there is hills make sure you have a buddy with you that way incase something happens he or she can help you out..Now go ride your bike and watch PinkBike videos...The end..

Pisgah is a great starting point...farlow and pilot are amazingly fun and techy. If you havent ridden in the mountains, just get out to. Pisgah, dupont, or bent creek. If youre comfortable with what they have to offer than in the spring head up to snowshoe and rent a DH bike... Beech is great, but if youre not comfortable with some techy trails, it may be a little much.

My suggestion. Is to go bigger Incrementally...dont jump in head first...trust me, that can hurt

Do you ever hit the jump line at byt, or any of the fun ones out at poston? If you. Havent, best to start with local sized jumps...plan a play day at either mentioned trails and just go hit the jumps 10-15x each in a row... If you need someone to go. Jump with you local hit up me or slayemf as were always down to play...

hudsontp wrote on 12/09/13 at 2:00am:


I usually ride alone due to time contraints/family (Usually early morning, get in, get out).  Would love to get up with some better riders to improve my riding.  Would like to tag along sometime if you guys ever get out about those times or when you guys go.  Been riding locally for about a year and really have not met any of the folks on the forums.

I ride along with a group... we are 3 most of the times... and we usually go early on weekends or afternoon  on weekends around 3 or 4 pm.... mostly local... BYT, renaissance park, WWC, or fisher farms.... sometimes we plan trips to rocky knob or some other places...