“My grandma would ride that section with her eyes closed” - YES, that’s a comment I’ve actually received for making gnarly sections look as easy, flowy and smooth as in this short video on Instagram!

If you keep reading, you’ll find out how YOU can make it look just as easy!!

The 3 false beliefs that stop most mountain bikers from becoming true experts are:

1. “My fear is holding me back”

2. “Ah, I get it, let me practice that on my next ride”

3. "Crashing is the price you pay for learning"

Let me explain!

First false belief, Fear. 

Fear is your brain’s language for “I’m sensing uncertainty”.

Many years of coaching DAILY show: 90% of the time it’s NOT the fear holding people back, it’s the CAUSE of their fear. Which is that the skills needed for the section are not yet automatized.

“Automatized” does NOT mean that you practice the skill until you get it right.

"Automatized" means that you’ve practiced it until you CANNOT GET IT WRONG!

And that’s a huge difference!

This brings me to the second false belief: “Ah, I get it, let me practice that on my next ride”

Why?

Understanding is fast.

BUT: Practicing new skills in a performance zone (i.e. out on the trails) does NOT build skills! Actually, in a performance zone you consolidate existing skills or habits (and very often these are compensatory habits, keeping riders stuck). NEW Skills are built in a LEARNING ZONE by practicing with a clear goal at hand and then repeating this new movement over and over to automatize it - see point 1 above.

Third false belief - Crashing is part of the game.

NO, crashing does NOT need to be the price you pay for learning!

Sure, it can be – if treating your body with disregard, chasing adrenaline rushes, and risking time off the bike with injuries is your thing. And hey, no judgment if that’s the way you choose to ride.

But here’s the truth: in my years of coaching riders of ALL levels – from Olympic pros to beginners and even fellow pro coaches – I’ve seen firsthand that progress comes much faster when crashing isn’t a regular occurrence and when fear isn’t your constant trail companion.

If we take a look at modern neuroscience and professional coaching in other sports (tennis, golf, Formula 1, or soccer, for instance), you’ll notice a pattern: elite athletes rarely get injured during training, and they avoid practicing in a "fear zone." (There’s a reason pilots train in flight simulators instead of learning during turbulence!)

The most successful riders I’ve coached in recent years – the ones who’ve made the most remarkable progress in the shortest time – have all followed a simple, structured 4-Step Protocol.

This approach keeps you out of the fear zone, builds your skills systematically, and accelerates your growth without unnecessary crashes. I share this method in detail in this podcast episode and use it across all my home training courses.

Why is this the case?

In this podcast episode I share why - and also I share the science of learning MTB skills as an adult:

Bottom line is: you MUST practice in a SAFE LEARNING ZONE to build new skills!

And you must allow your brain the time to rewire and your body the time to build the coordination and muscle  (i.e. to AUTOMATIZE skills!)

How?!

1. Analyze the skills you need for a section.

2. Practice them step-by-step in a safe zone, where errors can’t have negative consequences.

You can achieve this with what I teach in my videos on Instagram & YouTube, OR you can skip the trial & error and work with my home training courses, which are condensed version of what I do with my in-person clients to enable them to make progress fast. Just waaaay cheaper and waaaay more practical - because you've got them right at your fingertips, whereever you are!

Whatever it is you're struggling with:

Always remember: If someone makes it look easy - it’s because they’ve spent a LOT of time making it look easy.

If you’ve read until here - you belong to the 1% of people who finish what they start. You’re set for success!

AND: If you’re ready to level up your riding without the painful lessons, this is your chance to ride smarter, progress faster, and enjoy the trails more than ever 😍💪

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