I was zooming down the steep hill that descends 200 feet back to the gateway of High Banks Preserve on a bright red Specialized Epic mountain bike. Its durable shocks soaked up the hardest of bumps, and the big, squishy tires made every hard rock feel like a mini trampoline, giving me milliseconds of weightlessness as I bounced down the uneven trail.
It was the tail end of my first adventure on a mountain bike, guided by Chrissy Guarino, co-president of Fats in the Cats Bicycle Club. Equal parts coach and hype woman, she’d spent the afternoon giving me a primer to mountain biking in lessons delivered as cheers as we wound our way through the preserve on two wheels.
Over the course of the ride, I crushed branches under my tires, maneuvered around tight corners carved by tree roots, and even tried (half successfully) pedaling over a narrow wooden bridge with sharp angles — challenges that were far more technical (and frankly, far more fun) than those of the road and gravel cycling I fell in love with during the COVID-19 pandemic. It demanded my full focus and made me feel more in tune with the sights, smells, and sounds of the Hudson Valley in spring.
An hour and a half with Guarino’s guidance built my confidence as a new mountain biker. So as I barreled down that final hill — sweaty, exhilarated, and maybe going a little faster than I should have on my first day on the mountain bike — I felt like it was my victory lap… until I saw a log embedded in the trail ahead. It formed a jump that looked more like an obstacle fit for Evil Knievel, not a novice mountain cyclist. But I was going too fast and it was too late to bail out — I had no choice but to commit.
“Pedal, pedal, pedal,” I heard Guarino’s lessons echo in my head. “Look where you want to go, not at the obstacle.”
And I went for it, keeping my eyes up and soaring (okay, maybe just lifting a couple of inches) over the log. When my back tire hit the ground, it wobbled a bit on the dusty path, and I was sure I was about to wipe out. But I kept pedaling, just like Guarino told me to, and stayed in control all the way down.
My first time mountain biking looked a lot different than I expected. I always imagined the sport involved being decked out in full body armor, tackling big jumps, and careening down actual mountains. But in reality, it was a relatively mellow introduction on beginner-friendly trails, with a borrowed bike, my usual helmet, and pointers from someone who’s been doing it for half her life. For me, it was a new way to experience my favorite hobby and connect with nature — and something many other cyclists might find they love just as much.
Thinking of giving it a try? Here’s some advice from Guarino that can help make your first time on a mountain bike feel less intimidating and a lot more fun, along with the top places to try it in the Hudson Valley.
Ride with an experienced, patient guide.
Your partner or best friend might be an avid mountain biker, but that doesn’t mean they’d make the best guide for your first time trying the sport. “Go with a person you can take guidance from,” says Guarino. “Going with someone you’re in a relationship with can have an added dimension that adds stress to a potential coaching relationship.” Local cycling clubs, like Fats in the Cats, can connect you with experienced riders who are used to helping beginners and know the trails well. Their members might even have a mountain bike you can borrow for the afternoon, so you don’t have to shell out thousands of dollars on equipment right off the bat.
Only ride properly maintained bikes.
A well-maintained bike is key to staying safe and having a great experience. Guarino made sure the bike she lent me was ready to hit the trails, and I gave it a test ride in the parking lot to know for certain that the brakes and gears were working as expected. “You should also bring along supplies for minor repairs, like fixing a flat or a chain,” she advises.
Keep your gaze up and toward your destination.
When you’re mountain biking, you’ll encounter all kinds of obstacles — gnarly tree roots, chunky rocks, sharp angles on trails. Your first instinct might be to stare directly at the hurdle as you ponder how you’ll cycle over or around it, but that’s a recipe for a tense, jerky ride and a potential bad ending. “Look where you want your bike to go around the obstacles, not down. Your bike will go where you’re looking,” says Guarino.
This advice proved especially important for me when I tried cycling on a narrow trail bridge. When I looked ahead and pedaled confidently, I was able to move forward almost as confidently as I do on a wide road. But as soon as a tight angle captured my attention, I lost some control of the bike and had to put my feet back on the ground to stop myself from toppling over. Lesson learned.
Don’t go beyond your comfort zone.
Like all adventure sports, mountain biking can come with some risks. Listening to your body and respecting your own boundaries — like I did when I abandoned my attempt at crossing the wooden bridge — can go a long way toward keeping you safe. There’s no shame in walking your bike through a tricky section or taking a break when you need it. The goal isn’t to prove something, it’s to build confidence and actually enjoy the ride.
Understand the different types of mountain biking.
The last time I encountered mountain biking, it was when a group of friends wearing full-face helmets and pads on every part of their body limped away from the equipment rental center after trying it in Aspen, Colorado. While they were all smiling, each had sustained a minor injury on the strictly downhill trail. That image came to mind every time I thought of the sport.
But it turns out that’s just one type of mountain biking: downhill.
There’s actually a much more accessible type of mountain biking for beginners like me: cross-country. Think of it more like hiking, but rather than trekking on two feet, you’re pedaling two wheels on mostly flat terrain (although you might encounter some hills, like I did). It’s more about long rides to enjoy trails, rather than tackling highly technical terrain or speedy descents.
Avoid riding while it’s wet.
Riding on wet rocks can be dangerous. Plus, cycling on muddy trails is irresponsible, says Guarino. It can jeopardize the trail’s surface, cause erosion, and ruin it for anyone else who wants to use it.
Choose a beginner-friendly trail.
The trail you choose to try mountain biking can make a big difference in how accessible and fun the sport is on your first try. Guarino, who has been mountain biking in the Hudson Valley for more than 25 years, took me to High Banks Preserve in Ulster Park because its mostly flat, relatively wide trails are doable for novices and offer lots of scenic beauty. For other beginner-friendly mountain biking trails, she recommends Sterling Forest State Park in Tuxedo Park, Stewart State Forest in Orange County, and the Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Area (nicknamed the “909” by mountain bikers) in Pleasant Valley.
After my first time mountain biking, I found I liked it even more than I enjoyed hiking or other types of cycling. There was something zen about a technical trail requiring my full focus and refreshing being deep in nature, away from the traffic and noise. I may not have been able to balance all the way across that wooden bridge, but I left the trail feeling strong and invigorated. And that was more than enough to make me want to go again.
