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MTB
Extreme vs. beginner mountain biking
Learn about everything that separates beginner and extreme mountain biking, from techniques and types of trails, to bikes and gear.
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Extreme mountain biking is all about the thrill of the chase. Pushing the limits on rugged trails, jumps, and steep descents requires skill and precision with every turn. Mountain bikers such as Red Bull athlete Gee Atherton know firsthand how this high-adrenaline challenge defies what’s possible on two wheels.
Gee Atherton
© Dan Griffiths / Red Bull Content Pool
“If you're in control, you're not going fast enough,” he says.
Before taking on the extreme trails, though, it’s essential to build a strong foundation. Beginner tracks offer an approachable and friendly pace for those still learning. Casual riders can enjoy scenic trails with gentle paths. Let’s break down what separates extreme mountain biking from beginner mountain biking.
01
What is beginner mountain biking?
Beginner mountain biking offers a chance to explore the outdoors without the intense challenges of advanced trails. Beginner trails feature smooth terrain, easier obstacles, and gentle inclines. It’s perfect for mastering the basics, including braking, balancing, shifting, and cornering.
Prioritizing mountain bike safety for beginners is key and it starts with the right gear. Riders should wear helmets, biking shoes, gloves, and knee and elbow pads. For those just starting, hard-tail bikes are equipped with front suspension to deliver agility. Cross-country mountain bikes have light front and rear suspension, which is a good option for shorter distances, but not so much for very rugged terrain. Trail mountain bikes also offer an uphill pedaling advantage for beginners.
Find a bike that provides good control without overwhelming complexity. Beginner mountain biking lets anyone escape the world of tech and screens for a fun nature-filled adventure.
02
What is extreme mountain biking?
Szymon Godziek at Red Bull Rampage 2024 in Virgin, Utah
© Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool
On the opposite side of the spectrum, extreme mountain biking tests the limits of riders’ skills, boundaries, and bikes. This cycling style involves navigating steep, technical trails with challenging features like jumps, drops, and rock gardens. It’s not just about being the fastest. It’s about mastering advanced mountain biking techniques to conquer what lies ahead.
Precision cornering, quick gear changes, and handling unpredictable, aggressive terrain are what’s in store for advanced bikers. Mountain bikers at Red Bull Rampage often perform jaw-dropping MTB stunts to conquer the challenging terrain.
Riders tackling extreme trails require specialized bikes, typically with full suspension to absorb big impacts. Enduro mountain bikes are usually the best choice for those traversing gnarly descents. Downhill mountain bikes are heavy and specifically for, as you might have guessed, going downhill.
Casey Brown wins 3rd place Red Bull Rampage 2024
© Robin O'Neill / Red Bull Content Pool
Don’t forget the protective gear because falls are part of the journey. Mountain biking equipment for extreme riders can include padded shorts, helmets, and gloves. It’s also worth considering a complementary shoe and pedal combination. Advanced bikers typically choose clipless mountain bike pedals and compatible shoes for control and power transfer.
03
Key differences between extreme and beginner mountain biking
There are stark contrasts between these two types of mountain biking, particularly when it comes to skillsets, trail types, gear, and the risks involved.
- Skills required: Beginner riders focus on fundamentals like balancing and breaking, whereas extreme riders master technical mountain biking skills like jumping, dropping, and cornering.
- Types of trails: Beginner trails are smooth with fewer obstacles, while extreme paths are steep, rocky, and packed with supercharged obstacles.
- Gear and bikes used: Beginners can get away with a sturdy affordable hard-tail bike and basic safety gear. Extreme riders, however, need full-suspension bikes, specialized tires, and protective body armor.
- Level of challenges involved: Beginner riders face lower-speed, lower-impact falls. Extreme riders, on the other hand, contend with the possibility of high-speed crashes on unforgiving terrain.
3 min
How to jump
Rob Warner and Tom Oehler show how to use speed, position and bike handling to perfect your MTB jumps.
04
Top trails for beginners vs. extreme riders
Beginner trails: Start off on these routes to see what mountain biking is all about.
- Lazy EZ Trail — Moab, Utah: It may be beginner-friendly, but bikers won’t feel lazy after trying this trail. Riders will experience a 63-meter (206-foot) ascent and descent with unavoidable obstacles reaching two inches. Only 50% of the trail has outcroppings and rock obstacles. The entire route can be finished in less than an hour.
- Princess Ditch Trail — Redding, California: This trail allows bikers to push their beginner skills without the high-octane challenges. With a 402-meter (1,318-foot) high point and a length of 24 km (about 15 miles), this trail can be completed in two to three hours.
- Bent Creek Beginner Loop — Asheville, North Carolina: First time? No problem. Bent Creek has flat and flowy trails that can be done in less than an hour.
- Shangri-La — Durango, Colorado: Test out the lower trail for beautifully scenic beginner mountain biking trails. Or, for those for more of a challenge, enjoy the singletrack upper trail, surrounded by a breathtaking natural pine forest.
Extreme trails: Mastered the easier trails? Push skills to the limit with these trails.
- The Whole Enchilada — Moab, Utah: Grab a sturdy bike with great suspension and get ready for a nearly 3,000-meter drop (over 9,000 vertical feet). The Whole Enchilada’s nearly 52 km trail (about 32 miles) travels through just about every climate zone you can imagine, from tundra to desert.
- Hiline — Sedona, Arizona: Hiline offers breathtaking views of the Red Rocks region, along with an electrifying black diamond plunge. Fall through spring is the best time to experience Hiline’s exposed mountainsides.
- Hangover — Sedona, Arizona: To say Hangover’s drops and rock rolls are challenging would be an understatement. It’s no wonder this trail’s gone viral, with multitudes of advanced mountain bike YouTubers documenting their Hangover experience.
- Captain Ahab — Moab, Utah: Hit the trenches with this classic rocky ride. The narrow new-school singletrack is the perfect spot to test balancing techniques while enjoying world-famous Moab views.
- Yungas Road — La Paz, Bolivia: For those truly seeking an adrenaline rush, there’s always Yungas Road, or “the death road.” This scary biking trail is one of the most extreme in the world.
05
Transitioning from beginner to extreme mountain biking
Robin Goomes wins first Red Bull Rampage women's competition
© Long Nguyen
Mountain biking progression takes time, patience, and practice. It may be tempting to go straight into world-class extreme competitions such as Red Bull Rampage or UCI MTB World Cup competitions, but beginners typically need a lot more hours on the bike before reaching that level. Building confidence on more challenging terrain is the key to transitioning to extreme routes. Riders should refine their balance, breaking techniques, and cornering skills.
1 min
How to brake
Rob Warner and Tom Oehler explain the best technique to get you stopping your MTB perfectly.
While working on the technical aspects of increasing difficulty, try to take it one step at a time Start small — practice on bike park trails for beginners and pros to build up strength on advanced mountain biking jumps and drops. Master intermediate or moderate trails first, then move on to more difficult trails. Expand on complex riding techniques before tackling severe or black diamond trails. After enough experience getting comfortable on an intermediate trail, it may be time to test an extreme one.
When upgrading trails, robust fitness training for mountain biking is pivotal for progression. Cardiovascular exercises, such as cycling, swimming, and running, are essential to build stamina and endurance. To get better control and stability, strengthen the body’s core, legs, and upper body using exercises like squats, lunges, and planks.
Georgia Astle wins 2nd place at Red Bull Rampage
© Christian Pondella / Red Bull Content Pool
Finding the right mountain biking path
Mountain biking spans a wide spectrum, from approachable and friendly paths to heart-pounding intense trails. Understanding the differences in skills, gear, trails, and risks between extreme and beginner mountain biking sets mountain biking enthusiasts up for success at their skill level. Whether a biker cruises down trails or opts for steep descents, the progression is part of the fun. Don’t forget: every pro started out as a beginner, too.
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