Getting on and off your bike quickly and safely: Its best just to put one foot down, do this by leaning your bike to the side as you are about to get off it. If the seat is high or the bike is a bit big for you then you will need to lean even more over to the side. Don’t panic when your falling as your foot will eventually touch the ground. After touching down with the first foot, swing your other leg back behind the back wheel and over the bike.

Braking on the straights: Brake on the straight before it’s too late! Don’t leave your braking to the last minute. Plan ahead and brake before you get to the corners. This will mean that it will be easier for you to turn when you get to the corner. Turning under brake pressure is very difficult to do and will make it harder for you to balance on your bike.

Being stable on loose or gravelly terrain:  Cats are a good example of how it is possible to use arms and legs to absorb shocks when landing from a height. Use this idea to transform your arms and legs into useable suspension. To do this, try to move your body with the shape of the terrain. You need to remain strong, but be ready to move with the angles of the land. Your arms and legs are levers and will control the movements that your bike makes below you. On loose terrain you need to maintain control of the bike, often you need to stand up above the seat with slightly bent legs. By doing this you will help your bike to stay as light as possible which will make the bumps seem less bumpy. The track will feel smoother, and coincidently you will go faster over the terrain.

Excelling in mud and slippery conditions: This skill is the same as skiing and snowboarding, if you have your weight over the front wheel your front wheel will dig into the ground and you will have no traction for the back wheel. As well as this your pedaling grip and speed will be reduced as your rear wheel loses traction. It is important to lean back lots, with your butt right over the back wheel. Keep your elbows and arms strong, but make sure you are ready if your bike hits solid ground under the mud. The more weight you have over your back wheel the better your pedaling will be.

Loading- Pre-loading and Unloading: This is a skill that is generally used to aid another, for example when going over large obstacles, off-camber surfaces, drop-offs, pumping. A really great way to practice ‘weighting’ on your bike is to go street riding on flat ground. You will need to un-weight over curbs, jump benches, pump roll over’s. A skate park is a good place to feel the effect that gravity has on your bike and the different weight changes that occur depending on whether you are going over a mound, or into a pipe. Practice moving your weight around and notice how the wheel traction changes depending on where your weight is on the bike.