In the past I’ve never been convinced that you can learn physical skills from a book.
Can a book teach you how to throw a dart, and hit a treble twenty every time? Can a book teach you how kick a football so it hits the top corner on demand? I’ve always thought no in the past, it takes learning through practise for that kind of thing. Lots and lots and lots of practise…
Well, I still agree with that to a certain extent, it’s always going to take practise. No book could teach you how to nail a free kick or toss a dart overnight, but in some areas, I’m beginning to see, it can certainly cut down the time needed.
The book I’m talking about today is one of the first that convinced me of this and is a great technical manual on how to do just about anything to do with Mountain Biking. It explains clearly what’s happening when the pros ride their bikes – how they zip round a corner, where they’re putting their weight and how they’re handling their bikes to allow it to rail it without sliding. I’m still far, far from mastering the techniques it describes in this book but after reading the detailed descriptions and checking out the photos I at least feel when I go out and ride that I’m practising the right moves and making my way up the skill ladder.
The book’s really well written and is a really easy read. Brian Lopes is the main author and he’s ultimately qualified to pass on the skills having won a multitude of World and National championships. He’s also a good writer and if you forgive him the american dudeness of it all a lot of the book is actually quite funny.
The skills chapters range from the simplest biking elements such as how to pedal properly (far more complicated than you’d imagine, trust me) and how to sit your bike, right up to huge jumping techniques and conquering corners at the highest speed possible. He also goes into the techniques that made him a world class 4x rider and how to race cross country so it’s a pretty comprehensive book, suited to weekend warriors and racing snakes alike.
I have to admit that I haven’t read any other bike skills books, so if anyone knows of a good one feel free to leave me a comment. I’d be happy to recommend Brian Lopes’ to everyone though, and I guarantee (not legally binding…) that if you read your way through it then your riding can’t help but improve.
So, I proved myself wrong, books do work for honing your skills. But I have to admit, I’ve yet to see the miracle manuscript that’ll teach me to chuck a dart…
[tags] mountain biking skills, book, mountain bike book[/tags]
There’s a new MTB skills book out in a couple of weeks, written by Chris Ball from Dirt School. Features insight from a bunch of top riders … Steve Peat, Greg Minnaar, Gee Atherton, Sam Hill, Cam McCaul, Danny Mac.