The June 2016 issue marked Dirt Rider's 400th issue, and to mark the milestone we put together 400 tips that might save the day, or just make the day go easier. We thought we'd show them to you again online, ten at a time, to help instill the wisdom into your brain so when the time comes you hear an expert bit of advice in your head.
Note: Tips that came from a specific source will have an attribute listed. Tips with no attribute have been pulled from Dirt Rider's extensive library of content, including back issues of the magazine, dirtrider.com, and The Total Dirt Rider Manual. Enjoy!
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When passing oncoming groups, hold up the number of fingers for the number of riders behind you.
Practice starts with a friend; they should hold a rock at starting gate height and drop it so they determine when you start releasing the clutch.
Lower tire pressure will create a bigger contact patch but a more wallowy sidewall. Tire pressure is a compromise.
If your bike needs some service or repair and you're not going to do it immediately, write it on a strip of duct tape and stick it somewhere obvious, like the crossbar pad.
To jump higher, compress your bike's suspension at the base of the jump then lighten up so the suspension is extending as you go up the takeoff.
After every ride, put a wrench on your bike's bolts to ensure they are all properly snug.
If your kneepads slip down, try crossing the straps to keep them up.
Cover sharp trail pack tools (like screwdrivers) with rubber hose to prevent them from poking holes in your pack.
Generally, sand and mud tire knobs are widely spaced to prevent mud packing on and are a harder rubber. Hardpack tires (for hard dirt) are more closely spaced to get more rubber on the ground and are a softer rubber.
Don't rely on the rear brake tap in mid-air to level your bike. Work on launching so you fly level, and keep the brake in reserve for bad launches.
