Pick lines in rock gardens

How to get you and your bike safely through these trail traps

Rock gardens add both fun and fear to the trail. If you get them wrong, you’re in for a wild ride, but when you get them right, you can carry your flow and keep on smiling as you go. Here are our top tips for choosing the best way to negotiate them in safety and style.

01 Look before you leap

It’s always best to inspect a rock garden before you attempt to ride it. Choose a line that suits your ability and build up to hitting it faster and faster.

02 Vision

Potentially the most important tip for all mountain biking, and a necessity here. Keep your eyes looking where you want to go, not at the obstacles you’re riding over. This will help keep you in balance and on-line.

03 Body position

It’s important to find a central position on the bike and use the flex in your arms and legs to smooth out the rocks and holes as best you can.

04 Feet level

Striking your pedals on rocks is asking for trouble. Keeping your feet level helps avoid the rocks and will also keep you in balance and let you move around on the bike as needed.

05 Speed is your friend

Carrying speed can help smooth a rock garden out, because your wheels won’t fall into every hole. But only go as fast as your skill level allows. Gradually build up to pushing yourself faster.

06 Stay light on the bike

In small rock gardens, you can preload your suspension just before you enter and use the rebound to help unweight the bike as you hit the rocks. Get this right and you’ll glide over the top.