Riding Bike Parks with Shredders: A Beginner’s Guide

Not a Shredder? No Problem: This Bike Park Survival Guide is for you

Bike parks are a thrill, but they can be daunting for newbies, especially if you started mountain biking later in life as I did (40), past the age of no fear and fast healing collarbones. I love the cardio/fitness side of mountain biking and my husband loves bike parks. So I have learned to enjoy them in a mellower way. It took me a few years to get there.

While social media reels are filled with huge jumps and jaw dropping speed, there is still fun to be had for those of us who do not want to go full send, but want a little "beginnermediate" thrill and action.

Sometimes I look around a park and see a majority of young males and start to spin off into existential questioning - why am I here? I don't see myself reflected here. If this happens to you, not to fear, you are not alone and you’re in the right place. The doubts will pass when you are blasting down on your own journey and emanating all the cautious, middle aged badass lady (or dude) vibes you got. 

The most important thing is to be honest with yourself and where you are.

Here are some lessons I’ve learned in traveling to bike parks with my husband.

Recognize that downhill is a unique riding style from road or cross country riding 

I have seen this firsthand and done this myself: Many inexperienced riders underestimate the park/downhill learning curve due to their prior bike experience with road or cross country. I've heard it and seen it. Please do not make this mistake.

Inexperience is not the issue - it’s awareness that downhill mountain biking is a specialized discipline with its own set of skills. Please take your time and learn and progress at your own pace and do not assume that your road or xc skills directly translate to this type of riding. Also, don't just blindly follow more experienced riders down trails they've chosen.

I made this mistake as well my first time at Spider Mountain. Having ridden the greener trails once or twice, I took a steep downhill turn way too slowly, crashed and rolled down the hill, injuring my neck. I had to be carted off and ended up on muscle relaxers for a week, which is a better outcome than it could have been. The consequences of injury are high so if you take anything away from this post, please respect that it’s a different sport and requires some competence with steeper grades and more dynamic bike handling than road biking. 

Most bike parks have coaches/ lessons available and I would recommend starting there. I do this on my first day to a big bike park when I want a refresher or feedback on my skill set.

Do Your Own Thing

In my experience, it’s best to come up with my own plan for the day if I’m joining a more advanced rider. I don’t assume we’re going to be together the whole time since we are at different skill levels. It would not be fun for either of us. We do like to take the lifts together, stop in for lunch, etc, so we can see each other.

That said, if you are a super newbie rider, it’s safer to ride with someone. If that’s a concern, sign up for a lesson and let your companion do their own thing.

To get familiar with the park, YouTube videos and online maps are a great starting point. They’ll give you an idea of the layout and what lifts are best for you. Once you’re at your destination, physical maps can be found near lifts, keep a copy on your phone, or downloading Trailforks.

Coordinating While Riding Apart

If you’re going to be riding separately, consider bringing walkie talkies. These help you stay in touch and coordinate your plans without having to try to text or hope for the best. We have been using Rocky Talkies and we love them. They work amazingly well across mountain terrain and have a long battery life.

Just set them on an agreed upon channel (avoid the channels with rescue traffic), and leave them on. I clip mine to my hydration pack. Instant communication! 

Start Small and Progress on your own Journey

Most bike parks have trails of all skill levels. Start small and remember you cannot send crazy features just watching other people do it. You have to build up to it. 

If possible, head to a smaller local bike park before you go, or plan to master the green trails well before progressing to a more difficult level. Most parks designate the level of difficulty on a spectrum, even within the same difficulty level (eg, easiest to hardest of the blues). This is for a reason. It will give you a chance to get your bearings and build your confidence. 

You can spend all day on the same green trail if you want. It is okay, I promise. 

When you’re ready to try something new or ride with your partner, many but not all advanced trails have B lines you can take instead of the big feature. If I’m intimidated, I ask my husband to ride it and report back if there are B lines and if you can roll the drops. It often opens the door for me to try something new.

Don’t Skimp on Protective Gear

While some riders choose minimal protection (see tip 1), and might get away with it once or twice, I do not recommend a half-shell helmet or lightweight trail knee pads.

Invest in a full-face helmet and study elbow and knee pads. Wear full fingered gloves. You may also choose to wear a chamois with extra padding on the hips or a chest protector.

Bike parks offer rental options if you don’t own this gear yourself. These will significantly reduce the risk of injury in case of a crash. I also wear goggles to get full eye protection. This is a personal preference.

Hydration and Nutrition 

Bike parks can be physically demanding even if you’re not pedaling per se, so it’s essential to stay hydrated and fueled. Bring plenty of water and snacks to keep your energy levels up. I don’t drink during the day, even though many riders do. I bring a hydration pack with me. Others carry a water bottle or just get a drink at the end of their laps. You can keep extras in a locker or in your car/truck in the parking lot. We bring our own lunches almost all of the time because resort food can add up quickly. 

I wear a CamelBak Chase Vest. Love this thing! It's made for cyclists, fits my smaller frame, and holds water, a walkie talkie, my phone, wallet and snacks for the day. Okay you could say I go prepared.

Summary

• Know your own limits

• Ride your own ride

• Have fun

• Be Safe

Here's a one minute journey of a 40 minute run at Trestle. Bombs away!