Rock garden

A rock garden is a section of trail covered with rocks of many sizes, some loose and some fixed. It is a classic enduro, hard enduro and trials obstacle and appears on adventure routes too.

The technique is to stand on the pegs, look a few metres ahead rather than at the rock in front of the wheel, and keep steady momentum with the clutch and a smooth throttle. Too slow and the bike stalls or falls; too fast and the front wheel gets knocked off line. Grip the tank with your knees and keep arms relaxed so the bike can move.

Bash plates, radiator and lever guards and suitable tyre pressure help a lot. Lower pressure gives more grip but increases the risk of pinch flats unless you run mousses or rim locks.