Central Otago's Phil Oliver in his happy place

Look ahead, not down
When riding look up and ahead about 8-10 metres in front of your bike's handlebars. Many riders look down at their front wheel or just in front, which makes you more unstable on your bike with a small field to view.

Relax 
Relax and enjoy your ride. The more tense or overwhelmed  you get, the more it will start affecting your riding ability. Just relax.

Stay left
Keep left - it's simple but many riders seem to forget it, especially on busy two-way trails. It's also wise to sound your bell on blind corners.

Use your gears
Gears are for changing so use them. Keep spinning a nice cadence and if you feel your crank's loading up, change down a few gears and spin up that hill. Don't forget to change back to a higher gear once you get over the top, especially if you're an e-biker. It's not all about the power button.

Choose your trails wisely 
Trail choice is important. Ride within your abilities until you are confident you have that trail sorted. Always look for the next challenge, the next Great Ride that will improve you riding. Don’t just ride the same trails over and over, or you won't progress. 

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