subject: Cycling On Sand And The Techniques Used [print this page] Mountain bikes can be used on any terrains known to men. One of the surfaces is the sand. For beginners, this might take some training to do. This is because it can be tough when cycling on sandy areas.
In fact, a beginner cyclist should always train his abilities first by cycling on these sandy areas first. This is a wise training move before venturing into more dangerous outdoor parts like the jungle and hill trails. You will find that sand is everywhere.
The rule of thumb is to confront sand directly instead of going gentle with it. You should always shift your gears one or two levels higher before reaching the sand. Then maintain your speed and keep the momentum going. Right as you are about to approach the sand, move your weight to the back. You should stand up when doing this.
Most mountain bikes come with bar ends. However, do not use those. Stick to the usual handle bar rubber grips. When you position yourself this way, you are getting more friction and pressure onto the rear wheel. This results in better traction. The rear wheel will do most of the work when it comes to riding in the sand. But the most important part is to maintaining the momentum. Use the same approach for those sandy areas with deep and soft sands.
You have to know that if you stop pedaling, your front wheel will sink. If you can, cycle on the harder-looking surfaces of the sand. If you notice you are going to get stuck, increase your traction to the rear wheel by performing a "wheelie" and pedal at the same time. This should power your way through difficult areas. If you can, minimize steering.
You should be keep a straight path whenever you can. Avoid sudden movements or steering. It will only get your wheel buried in the sand. What happens is you will lose momentum, which is a bad thing. If you do lose momentum, it can be tough to start again on the sand.
When cornering, you should speed up and not slow down. Remember, this is the sand area, not the road. This is because the sand will already slow you down. Braking will make things worse and destroy your momentum. When you do corner, perform the corner as if you are undergoing a big arc. This is contrary to making square-like turnings. In effect, you will get a more stable cornering and avoid sinking problems.
At times, you will have to use the brakes even in the sand. However, you should only use the rear brake. If you use the front brake, you will only make the front wheel sink immediately.
