Whether wet or dry, roots can be intimidating. Their uneven surface and odd angles demand precision in form and technique. A foggy morning or leftover condensation from the previous day can make things even more challenging. They can become slick as ice, and it is even more difficult to place the bike so that you travel straight over them without being thrown to one side or the other.

Whether you’re a seasoned mountain biker or a novice, you’re bound to come across gnarly roots on the trail. These tips will help you tackle these sketchy trail features with confidence.

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Roots Can Be Tricky

Understanding why roots cause their bikes to get squirrely is crucial for riders. Roots help narrow down what causes the bobbles. Poor body position is usually the result of a rider’s fear of riding over a feature that intimidates them. Whenever something scares or surprises us on the bike, we stiffen up, scoot back to get away from it and close our elbows and knees. More novice riders can also panic and hit the brakes when faced with a startling bump that almost always results in the dreaded endo.

Rather than stiffening up when approaching roots, first, try to train your reaction to them. Get low, wide, and centered so you and the bike can move together. You’re still in control, even if a root kicks you around a few inches.

Find Your Line

Focus on your line choice next. Get those eyes up and identify the more disruptive roots rather than trying to eliminate them all at once. The disruptors are those that are taller and off-angle. Imagine how badly some 45-degree roots have treated you. If possible, choose a line that hits the roots perpendicularly. Once you pick a line through wet roots, they become less intimidating – if you have a plan, you can ride over roots with intention and train your reactions accordingly.

Grab Some Air

Riders should have some faith and hope, but it shouldn’t be their only tool. Use strong compression before the roots to get lighter as you roll over them. Next, develop a bunny hop. Use an early root as a ‘bump jump’ to allow you to hop over obstacles altogether — line selection can be 3-dimensional!

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Set Up Your Bike For Success

The key to conquering wet roots is planning and developing skills and paying attention to your bike setup. Make sure your baseline is correct first! Lowering the tire pressure a few PSI can help, but don’t go too low, or you’ll risk pinch flats, snake bites, and rim dings. There are times when a softer shock pressure (5-10psi) helps. Slowing the rebound by a click or two can also help conquer wet roots. You’ll keep your wheels planted by lowering the air pressure in your suspension and slowing the rebound by a few clicks.

When riding over wet roots, simple adjustments to your bike setup combined with the right skills and planning make for a winning combination. Remember that speed and confidence are your friends when riding over obstacles that may be intimidating. Trust your bike to roll over the skips and bumps; the more you try, the better you’ll become!

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