Bike parks are considered by many to be the pinnacle of mountain biking. Nowhere is so much demanded of you, nowhere else do you have so much fun. But is that really the case? And is a trip to the nearest park worth it for beginners? Velomotion volunteer Leo is new to MTB and bike parks – we accompanied him on his first visit to the park.
bike and equipment
It is a beautiful late summer day when Leo and I arrive at the Geißkopf parking lot at lunchtime. With increasing anticipation, the bikes are freed from the roof rack and the equipment is checked again. Leo will be doing his first steps in the park on a Focus Sam 3.0 (with us in the Test) make. Many beginners are already faced with a big question mark when choosing the right bike. Which bike is the right one? Can I also go to the park with my touring hardtail? The online forums are full of such questions. A general statement is difficult, as it also varies individually depending on the park and route. Nevertheless, the following applies: For beginners in particular, the choice of a fully with 160mm spring travel or more should probably be the right one. Many routes can certainly be mastered with less suspension travel, but this requires far more riding technique. If you don't have the right bike in the garage at home, a suitable bike can be hired from any park.
The rest of the equipment is similar to the selection of the bike. Shoes, protectors, helmet, goggles. At some parks there are strict requirements as to what protective equipment the riders should wear, at other parks it is up to the bikers themselves. In general, it is the subjective sense of security that decides. Better a little too much than too little. Whether a full-face helmet or a half-shell also depends heavily on the routes to be traveled. Leo chooses the IXS Trail RS Enduro helmet (Im Test at Velomotion) and a protective jacket from Sixsixone. As with the bikes, the appropriate protective equipment can also be hired in every park. There is often an all-round package consisting of bike and protective equipment at a reduced price.
The first time
Equipment checked, bike ready to ride - let's go to the lift. Quickly bought a lift ticket and we're on our way up. The journey time in the lift varies, on the Geißkopf you sit for a long 12 minutes, which you can use either for relaxation or to get in the mood. Once at the top, you should first get an overview of the available routes. Usually there is a map on which the different lines and their degrees of difficulty are entered. After a few dry runs directly at the lift, you can start. Saddle down and hit the trail. We choose the popular Flow Country Trail. This route is made for beginners. Mostly level ground, never really steep, never really narrow. In most parks you can now find such so-called flow trails. When you ride a track for the first time, take your time, don't go flat out, get to know the track a bit first and maybe get a feel for the bike first. In any case, Leo is doing remarkably well.
With safety comes fun
Many newcomers initially struggle with nervousness and insecurity. The result is that they cramp up on the bike. It's no coincidence that Leo complains of pain in his fingers after the first ride - of course, hands and feet cramp first. Therefore, it is important to gain security. Get to know the route and the bike and ride at your own pace. Don't let yourself be irritated by any faster drivers behind you. If you have the opportunity to make room, drive to the edge for a moment. Otherwise just go at your own speed. The park visitors are really understanding here, after all, everyone started once. With every ride you get to know the route better and also start to have more confidence. As with the speed, it is also important here: Don't let others influence you, but drive as you feel comfortable. After the second or third ride, Leo is already tentatively attempting one or the other jump – "It's really fun now," he says. So what.
experiment successful
At the end of the day we are both happy and exhausted. You should also know your limits here. With increasing exhaustion, the concentration that is absolutely necessary in the park also decreases. So treat yourself to a break every now and then and if you're just flat, call it a day. In any case, Leo was enthusiastic about his first visit to the park - his conclusion: "The best thing you can do with a mountain bike." Let's just leave it at that.
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