Mountain bike riding, zipping up and down dirt trails, flying through the air, the smell of trees all around, the sound of birds chirping, this is idyllic! Yet it is also a lot of hard work. Balance is the key, whether going uphill, downhill, or around curves. Learn how riders must shift their weight and keep their speed under control in order to stay balanced going downhill. This lesson is part of a unit on mountain biking so be sure to check Lesson Planet for the other resources.