You might become the best mountain biker of all time but somehow, you will still be searching for a thrill on the trails—something you’ve never done before and something that will challenge your skills. That is how most seasoned mountain bikers feel about conquering gravel. There’s just something so liberating about being able to control your bike on loose stones that mastering paved roads just can’t offer.

If you’re among those mountain bikers who want to unlock all kinds of terrains, especially gravel, then we have some useful tips and tricks for you:

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1. Keep your body loose and relaxed.

You need breathing room underneath your bike so that it can float freely. When you’re riding through sketchy terrain, this allows the bike to correct its course and maintain forward momentum. Keep your elbows bent and your arms relaxed as you wrap your hands around the top of the bars. The bumps and lumps will be absorbed by your body. When you are hanging on for dear life, it will feel like you are jackhammering rather than floating. Furthermore, it is far more exhausting to fight the bike than it is to let it adjust as necessary to maintain forward momentum.

Stability and shock absorption are even more important during rough descents. You should bend and relax your elbows as you descend. This will lower your center of gravity. You can use your legs like springs to absorb bumps so the bike can maintain a straight track. Shift your weight to the back of the seat, and bend your legs to control your balance. When riding on rocky terrain, keep your bike even more free to move beneath you by hovering out of the saddle.

2. Work on shifting your weight at the right time.

Riding your bike on gravel requires a lot of weight-shifting and leaning to stabilize it. When getting over an obstacle, shift your weight back then quickly lean forward once you get over it to gain stability. It takes practice to know the right timing to lean.

3. Maintain a slower speed.

One thing to be aware of when riding on gravel is that your speed will be much slower than when you are riding on a smooth paved road. This is because your bike needs enough time and space to absorb all the shocks from the stones.

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4. Stay in the saddle on steeper gravel.

Like other trails, gravel can sometimes go uphill. When riding steep gravel, don’t be tempted to stand up from the saddle. Stay seated to maintain good traction with the ground.

5. Make a turn using your body, not the handlebar.

Instead of moving your handlebar left and right to make a turn, it’s your body that you should move, or else you’ll lose traction and slide out. Shift your body, turn your hips, and look in the direction you want to go while pushing on your pedals gently.

The best piece of advice you can get when learning to ride on gravel, just like learning other MTB skills, is to enjoy the ride—literally! Give yourself enough time to practice and get the hang of riding on loose stones. After all, feeling the adrenaline rush through your veins is what mountain biking is all about, not merely unlocking skill after skill as quickly as possible.

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