How To Overcome Fear On A Mountain Bike - 5 Helpful Tips
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- čas přidán 25. 06. 2024
- We all face our fears constantly on a bike and everyone has different levels and things that they are scared by. In this video I discuss some helpful tips that help me overcome my fears. I am never out of things to be scared of; but that makes riding so much fun, since I always have new celebrations when I overcome my fears.
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00:00 - 00:34 Intro
00:34 - 01:20 Trusting your bike
01:20 - 01:58 Star small and know your limits
01:58 - 03:01 Visualization and mental preparation
03:01 - 03:35 Traveling
03:35 - 05:33 Trustworthy friend / Partner
05:33 - 05:44 Bonus "The Fearless Mind"
05:44 - 06:22 Outro - Sport
Awesome video April. At 53, learning to jump is totally about overcoming fear. Appreciate your insights.
Thank you!
I hear you at 51! Way too scared to get hurt and have a long recovery. Lol
I'm 53 yrs old too. I don't think I will be attempting any jumps just because I don't recover as fast. But I do feel I am getting a bit faster and a better rider because I am learning to trust my bike. Also I ride a HT and love it.
Great video and watching you progress. Best to you and Kyle.
I’m 53 as well.
Be confidant within yourself and visualize. Repetition is good and a little fear is healthy! 🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽
I’m 64 and right there with you guys on learning to jump without getting hurt. I’ve gotten comfortable with 4-5’ drops, but there’s something about going up off jumps that has me spooked. April makes some great points on how to approach something new and build confidence. I’m thinking about getting a set of adjustable ramps so I can practice at home and build confidence and slowly progress to larger jumps. Remember, OLD GUYS ROCK !
Kyle and April probably are among the humblest you-tubers out there, I wish to meet you some day
Thank you ☺️
Feels like you are becoming more confident and comfortable speaking in front of the camera compared to some of your early videos! Great cinematography too, love the backlit shots. Nice work!!
Thank you! I did a good amount of planning and script for this 😊
i'm 61 and started riding downhill last year. sure i've crashed more than a few times, i've remembered the tuck and from when i was a kid, and remembered that when you crash, the times i've hurt myself is when i tried to catch myself. just let it go and remember to try to kick your bike away from you!
it would be fantastic to see someone actually make a video about how to crash without injury!!
I enjoy this channel because you started from scratch. Having a pro teach a beginner is more helpful than watching them teach other pro's
I started MTB riding @ 65 (6 months ago) in flat technical Florida, now in NC (vacation) the speed you get from elevation is getting me. I definitely heal slower than even in my 50s. Just taking it slow...
April, you presented so well! Really enjoying watching your progress not just on the bike but behind the camera. Content is spot on too.
Thank you!
Absolutely love this! One thing I've started doing this year is reminding myself to breath. I used to always hold my breath while riding scary features. Now, before dropping in, I'll inhale for 2 seconds, hold for 2 seconds, then exhale for 2 and repeat a few times. Then I'll focus on breathing normally as I ride the feature. It definitely helps me relax a bit and gives me something to focus on
Oh that’s great advice and a very important one!
Agreed. 54 and having all the same thoughts on jumps. drops, etc. Often uneasy, sketched out. Great comment on breathing! One can pick up some great techniques from the DH and Enduro men and women. They do the fundamentals to perfection. Body positioning, eyes and the breathing; so good. Check some of the POV's and you can hear them breathing with cadence and rhythm. Try it when your pushing your limits. The breathing can quiet the mind, generate focus and manage the bike/body resulting in gains with confidence. Never too old to learn!! Thank you April, really good!!!
That was brilliant, we can so often be our own worst enemies.
Very true!
I tell myself "fear is a liar"! Thank you April!
Like it! Give me a Xtra boost ! Finally today encounter some riders at the local trail and see them jumping.. take a breath and start jumping with them. I overcome some of those fears today 😇
That's so awesome!!!
"We all face our fears constantly on a bike and everyone has different levels and things that they are scared by." Love this. It is so TRUE!! Thanks April.
Thanks!
Great video April! I’ve watched you over the past few years and I’ve seen what you’ve accomplished. You are a huge inspiration!
Thank you!
Such a great video, April! I've been expanding my activities into swimming and Standup Paddleboarding, and your clear explanations and examples translate so well to working on overcoming some of the anxieties I have with attempting things in these new-to-me sports. Of course the new sports require a lot of practice, and your video reminded me of the value of practice and visualization even in my mountain biking - where my skills are (hopefully) more developed.
That’s great to hear you are trying new sports and that this can help with those! Glad this video was a good reminder for practice and visualization ☺️
I love your videos I got my first mountain bike a few weeks ago and I have been busy just getting the basics down. Kyle is such a terrific person and April your persistence in learning the sport has been a inspiration.
Thank you so much!
Great video! I also appreciate the book tip. Watching you learn new skills is getting me interested in tackling some of them myself.
Such great practical mental game tips! I know some days I feel like I can take on anything and I can totally wipe out, jump back on and go again, other days I'm walking down drops because i can't build the nerve to just send it. On those days the starting small and visualizing success definitely help. Thanks for showing me that I'm not the only one who has to psych myself up!!
You are definitely not the only one! Glad it was relatable 😊
Proper smiled when you made the whale tail . Well done.
haha thanks!
As always, super helpful advice. The satisfaction of having eventually overcome those fears (what could go wrong and a painful crash) and clearing 'that jump' is so good.
Thank you, glad it was helpful!
Great video, April 🙌🏽🥰 Fear is crippling for me at times when I let it get in my head. You’re very inspirational, keep up the great work 👍🏽
Thank you! hopefully this will help the next time you face your fears 😊
Great job April. Your confidence and the way you carried yourself in this video speaks volumes how you've grown. Way to go!
Thank you!!! 😊
Good advice April. I have been watching your guys videos for a long time now and I have noticed your quick progression. Kyle is a big part of it as not only is he skilled but he knows how to teach, however your passion for the sport and desire to progress has done the rest. Cheers
Thank you Jeff! Kyle is a ton of help, but it’s also up to me to be succeed 😊
Excellent video April, thanks for the tips/guidance!
Glad it was helpful!
I can’t believe you guys only have 350k. I watch some of the other channels and the guy is like Mansplainer and the girl is “dumb blond”. It’s so refreshing to see how real you guys are. Thanks a bunch!
Joyce and Mark
Thank you! So glad you both enjoy our content, it means a lot!
Thanks a lot coach April💕
Another fantasic vid from two of the most genuine and modest mtb content creators out there! You guys are the best 👌👏🚴♂️🚴♀️🤙❤️
Thank you so much!!!
Great vid April. I think your explanation videos are fantastic and have been very helpful for me. After two major mountain biking injuries the mental game and confidence issues are huge for me. Your bullet point explanation and delivery is very consumable for me. Thank you to both you and Kyle because I know it’s always a team effort with you two.
Glad to hear, thank you Jim!
Brilliant video for so many reasons. Never underestimate how many people this one has inspired. Keep going April!
Thank you so much!
Super helpful!! Thanks, April! 🤗
Aloha. Awesome April. You will make a great teacher too. Yes. Kyle is amazing, his level of patience and always uplifting with his support seems so genuine. I hope to some day meet you guys.
Thank you!
April, you are a great inspiration to everyone. This is a super important video, and especially to girls/women who may not have a partner who is as supportive as Kyle. Great video!
Thank you!
Thank you, April for a very inspiring video. I have learned so much from you during the past couple of years. You are an amazing young lady. I am sure I speak for many in the mtb community when I say that you and Kyle are much admired and loved. Not only for your talents and accomplishments but also because both of you are such kind, caring, and friendly people with sunny dispositions. I hope you and Kyle continue to share your wisdom and warmth through these CZcams videos for many years to come.
Thank you so much!
Great video April. So awesome to watch how confident you are in this video and your rides. I have been following both you and Kyle as well as Heather for a while now, and at 56 I appreciate all the knowledge I have gained from all of you. Thank you so much, and keep the videos coming!!!😎
Thanks so much!!
Thanks for this!
This video was SO NEEDED! You couldnt have explained it better!
Thank you! And thanks for helping contribute to my confidence as well as help inspire me to film this video after such a fun week riding with you and Heather!
April! Your voice on this channel is growing and evolving, just like your riding. Both are dope and inspiring! Congrats to you AND Kyle for remaining the most approachable, insightful, and thoughtful MTB channel going! ✨
Thank you so much!! 😊
Great video and what looks like an excellent step up in camera gear! Super crisp and clean!
I would add that sometimes asking for help can be a greater challenge for some of us than asking for too much and relying on a person!
Thank you so much! That is a perspective I haven’t thought of and I have been there. Communication is key and if you are riding a trail with a feature you know you want to conquer, tell your friends ahead of time, so they know to stop there and help. As for being too shy to ask. I have found that most people love helping others, so odds are in your favor!
Thanks April!
A really useful video April - some excellent tips! A big thank you :)
My first full suspension mtb was the Kona Stinky. I remember saving money from newspaper delivery as a teenager :) Good times indeed. I remember the rush mixed with fear when you succeeded on drops and jumps :) Overcoming fear, visualization again and again during sleepless nights etc. Now I am 31 and have joined the eMtb crowd hehe. Nothing has changed much really. Still feel the fear and joy hehe.
Very helpful video. 🚲Thank you April 🤗
Can’t overemphasize “starting small and working your way up” enough! When struggling to learn how to clear a tabletop, my partner and I used a 2x4 that we placed on top of the tabletop to mark how far we’ll get our back tire. Over the duration of a session, the tabletop was conquered with style.
It’s great to hear it’s worked for you!
Great video, April.
Coming from a sport bike(crouch rocket) background. I have no fear riding the canyon up the mountain knee dragging’, but when I first started on MTB. Just another world. I have fears on MTB. LOL
Totally understandable!
Excellent message. I started mtb due to the covid shut down and have been slowly learning mostly on my own. While I love watching high skill riders like Kyle it also increases my anxiety because I know they make a lot of this look easy. I've really appreciated the vids of you learning because it gives some confidence that I can learn this stuff too. Thanks.
Great to hear, glad our videos can give you some confidence!
Great presentation April. Your gestures and pacing were spot on! I’m at this point where I’m dealing with confidence and these really helped, especially #2. Thanks
Thank you so much, glad it was helpful!
Those are really good advice! Thank you
Fantastic video April! Thank you so much. I grew with you. As you trained or worked with Kyle, I'd try some of the skills etc and slowly progressed. I still have SO far to go, but you doing this has made me a better rider. Again, thank you for facing your fears so the rest of us could face ours too. You rock!
Great to hear, thank you!
Great video April. At 55 and carrying some lifelong injuries, I often overthink some things, even when I convince myself that I should be able to do a particular stunt, I still baulk at the last second, but other times I just let fly and then love the after effect. Everyone has different reasons that stop them, but I think having a great support person just being there makes it so much easier. Well done on the video.
Well said, we always need that risk assessment!
Very well put, April! My thought is always: "I have great health insurance, but I don't want to use it!" so I use that as an excuse to avoid all jumps. 😂
Hahah we all have our excuses!
Excellent Job April!
Way to go April!
Brilliant April your video has given me a lot to think about. Take care 🙂
Glad it was helpful!
I appreciate this whole video! And its been great finding a woman sharing your whole journey, both good and bad and showing all your emotions. With many tutorials made by men, they can be super helpful, but they don't often share the full range of emotions and fear you will go through. So I'm learning skills and learning how to begin to build that confidence myself after also relying on my (wonderful) partner building me up. Thanks April and Kyle!
So glad to hear, thank you!
Very inspiring. Thank you, Kyle & April. :D
I'm guilty of creating the "habit" of not committing to a nemesis, and just stopping at the feature. What makes it extra annoying is that maybe 1 in 20 attempts I'll complete the feature and realize it was easy. But then I'll choke the next 19 attempts. I ride alone, so my latest trick is to say out loud as I get close to the feature, "You've got this! Pedal!" I tried it yesterday for the first time, and it worked.
That’s awesome! Just the mentality of saying you can do something vs saying you can’t is a major thing that I think I should have covered as it’s own step. Might have to do a part 2 haha
Whoa! April The Motivator...Great video!
Thank you!
Hi! Me From Nepal.🇳🇵 I am Fan (Kyle & April) I am also beginner Downhill Rider. I used to learn by your Mtb Vide. Thank you so much. Love you🙏
❤️
Thanks April! Great advice! 😺
This is great, because we have all watched April progress. Means so much more coming from someone who just learned instead of a 10 year veteran because her experiences are so recent
Thank you 😊
Wow. What an insightful conversation about fear. I never considered how you might use Kyle as a crutch. He is obviously a good teacher and is far more of an advantage than a crutch but I can see how always depending on him to tell you how to do something might prevent you from learning how to figure it out yourself, which is also an important skill. You both have superb teaching skills and are a joy to watch. Thanks for the great video
Thank you Dale!
Great advice. Your awesome April.
Thank you!
You rocked this video April! I hope you gained a ton of confidence on that side as well. You earned it. I feel I've got the visualization still from my youth in BMX. I trust my bike. 54 years of beating on this body has taken a toll. I need to work harder on the fitness and keeping my muscles in balance.
Thank you! Fitness is also an important one. Trusting your body is just like trusting your bike!
Yea !!!! Great job Ms. April… You Go Girl
😁
Lovely to see you doing a video on your own. Keep 'em coming as you both provide great tips.
Thank you!
You are inspirational! I’m 70, watching you overcome you’re fears, and build confidence, is helping me immensely. Please keep the videos coming. Seeing your progress gives me faith I might be able to do the same. Jumps and skinnies argh ;-)
Thanks, glad the videos are helping you!!!
I feel like you are becoming a better MTBer and CZcamsr! Your personality really shined April in this video!
Thank you so much Matt!
Thanks April. I needed that talk now that I am tackling bigger jumps.
Awesome, hope it helps!
Awesome Talk! Thank You
Fearless mind. Do not know the book but such a great suggestion, takes time and tools to feel confident, to overcome fears, to make 'the man in the arena' quote your quote. Will read it for sure! Never too late to learn.
Great video April. Watching your progress over the last couple of years has been really inspiring for me and I'm sure many others. I think that's the magic ingredient in your channel - its relatable. At 51, I'm still working up to being able to jump properly. Might grab a copy of that book....
Thank you, glad our videos are relatable 😊
So great that you succeeded with the whale tail! I remember the video where it you opted against doing so and how stressful that was for you so it's wonderful and inspiring to see you get it done.
Thanks! I had no plan to do it, but I am glad I tried again 😊
Talk about perfect timing. I have plans to go session (yet again) a particular corner this morning that has given me trouble for 2 years. Up until now, I have built up a muscle memory of bailing at a certain point. Just like you said, I have a habit a not committing, even though in my head I'm "pumping up" myself to do it. I know what I need to do (lean the bike more) and after watching this video, I pinpointed that what would likely help me the most at this point is visualizing myself doing it correctly over and over. Thanks April! Wish me luck.
Oh I hope this helps! Come back and let us know when you get it!!!
April you are inspiring for all the womans doing or trying mountain biking. Thanks so much for his talk!
Thank you!
Wow, you are radiating confidence talking to the camera throughout this whole video...and your smiles were infectious and making me smile 😃. Great job April! 😎
Thank you so much! 😊
Got back into mountain biking a year ago at age 51 - your videos have been soooo helpful!! (Stance, braking, cornering, facing fears, etc etc.) But I didn't know about Kyle's health situation until today, when I watched the two videos about that. Now that I know, I basically tear up at some point during every one of your videos :-) because of your awesome humanness. You two are SUCH a great teaching team. As other commenters have noted, the light totally shines through the two of you onto all of us. Kyle is an excellent teacher, it's inspiring to watch April's skills get better and better, and the caring and respect between you is beautiful. You guys rock!!
That’s great to hear that our videos have been helpful! Thank you for the kind words 😊
You’re a great student and teacher, April. It always somehow makes me happy to see you and Kyle together; you make such a great couple, and great teachers. Bravo!
Thank you so much!
Very encouraging video, thank you.
Strength and skill is important but Fear is the biggie- I say to myself in skiing iffy situations, Point em Down. Meaning, Commit. This tells my brain to focus on the task, dont' let anything get in the way of the goal. And ya know, I use this in everyday challenges too.
Short, conciece to the point. And on point 👉 all the main points cover .thanks April
Glad to hear!
Great tips April!! I think for me personally, your 5th tip of having a trustworthy friend/partner is the most helpful. It really helps me overcome my fear in attempting a feature when I can watch someone else do it or have them tow me in. Even better is when that friend is around the same skill level you are so when you see that they can do it, it gives you the confidence that you can do it too. So many times I see way more experienced riders hitting a feature and think to myself that there's no way that I can do that because they are so much better than I am. But seeing someone on a similar skill level successfully hit a feature tells me that if they can do it, I can too. Thanks for the advice and I'll have to have my GF watch this video too!
Yes I agree, it is extra motivating to see or get towed by someone around your skill level!
Inspirational video! As a big, burly, old and experienced rider I regularly get thrown by the Fear Factor. My very fit, new to riding wife doesn’t as much. I believe it’s due to the multiple bad-outcome-potentials I’ve made up in my head through the years.
I’m definitely going to read your suggested book, April, and put into practice the rest of the hints.
Thanks for the video. Keep them coming!
Yeah I understand that. Confidence comes from experience, but bad experiences like crashes also add up. That is why I typically don’t just send it and wait until I am past being ready haha . Trying to find the balance!
Great info!
You are awesome!! And when you do it, you make it look soooo easy!!!!
Thank you!
Excellent video! Hope to try these soon
Thank you, hope it will help!
Confident with your bike. That's what happens to me since I upgraded to a 29". Since then, I am terrified when I have to go down. You know, some bad fall experiences and fear gets into your mind, the unability to downhill safely... that feeling you are going to crash suddenly. Replace frame? It's a choice. But they are so expensive...
You could maybe look into trying to run a 27.5 wheel in the rear?
@@AprilRideMTB a mulet... I'll give a try with my wife's bike (it's a 27,5") XDDDD
Nice tips and sharing your experience to us. Now you are super strength and fearless lady bikers, ms April.👌🏼
Zen master Kyle....for real
Great video with good advice. I'm 53 years old and I don't think I will be attempting any jumps. But I do feel I am getting a bit faster and more confident on the trails. Because the fact I am learning to trust my bike. I also ride a HT and love it.
Keep up the good work and best to you and Kyle.
Glad to hear you are getting faster and more confident!
Thanks girl! I’m new to biking and holy crap it’s so scary and awesome. I notice that my mood and energy really impact how well I can ride. Being so sensitive and feeling things deeply, it’s easy to get frustrated and scared and cry on the trails. I’m in Asheville so western NC is a killer of a place to learn with this terrain. But I keep going! I’d love to learn how to bail… that terrifies me. But it’ll help reduce fear long term. ❤🎉😊
Glad it was helpful! There are a lot of emotions that come with riding. All of the things that are a struggle at first make the progress feel even better. Years from now you will easily go through a trail section or feature and remember just how hard it was at first or even a break down you may have had haha and it will feel so awesome to see how far you’ve come! Also I’ve seen men break down and show their fears more while riding than I have in normal day to day life. We all have to start somewhere!
You are riding so well, great job girl !!
Thank you!
Very helpful!
It was you that got me to believe I could jump. Now you've got me visualizing and seeing myself hitting the whale's tail. Only a matter of time. Many thanks and very grateful for this video
That’s great to hear!!!
Well done April 👏
Thank you Sam!
Really well thought out. 👏
Great topic for many people in a lot of different sports! I've taught / coached whitewater kayaking for decades and a lot of the same techniques apply in river running (different playground and gear but the kinda the same fundamentals). Visualization prior to running a big rapid or racing slalom courses helps solve the challenges to become confident you can make a specific move. Another way to improve your skills is trying a different style/discipline of gear, in bikes it would be like jumping on a full rigid bike then a DH bike, changing things helps develop skills faster. Another topic to address is where the fear is really coming from, ie fear of injury or fear of failure or fear of something? It applies to a lot of other things in life. Your progress has been great to watch, keep going!
Great perspective! Especially to analyze where your fear is coming from.Knowing where it is coming from definitely helps you break it down and work through it better.
Good job April 👏 👏👏👏
Thank you!
The video Heather posted was cool. You've progressed a ton from the beginning of the Kyle tutorials. I often recall you telling Kyle, "you make it look so easy". Thanks for the tips.
Thank you! Oh I still tell Kyle that. I think it was even in the last video from Berm Park hahah
Excellent!
Awesome words will help me think about the next level I want to hit :)
You and Kyle are the best. Thank you for the awesome videos. I am an old ass dude at 53 and your videos help so much. Thank you.
Glad the videos help!
Kyle asses the obstacle many times he is not just go send it kind of guy and your progress April is awesome, good job guys cant wait for the next video.
Thank you!!!