GMBN: The YouTube Channel That Actually Helped My Mountain Biking
Started watching GMBN videos about three years ago after a particularly embarrassing crash. Something about bunny hopping went wrong. Very wrong. My pride hurt more than my elbow.
Figured there had to be some actual instruction out there. Typed mountain bike tutorials into YouTube. GMBN came up. And honestly? It changed how I approach the sport.
What They Actually Produce
GMBN stands for Global Mountain Bike Network. They put out a lot of content. Like, a lot. Sometimes it feels like too much. But here is what I have found useful:
Skills tutorials: This is their bread and butter. How to corner properly. How to drop off things without dying. How to fix a flat when you are miles from anywhere. Practical stuff, explained step by step.
Some of their technique videos genuinely helped me. That bunny hop I mentioned? Watched their video three times, practiced in my driveway for an hour, and finally got it. Not saying I am amazing now, but I can clear small obstacles without panicking.
Maintenance videos: Changed my brake pads for the first time using their guide. Saved probably fifty bucks that would have gone to the shop. Though I will admit the bleeding tutorial still intimidates me.
Product reviews: Take these with a grain of salt. They get gear sent to them for free, so they are probably not going to trash anything. But the comparison videos where they pit similar products against each other are actually helpful for understanding differences.
The Hosts
These people can actually ride. Not just beginner-friendly riding, but proper aggressive stuff. It gives their tutorials credibility because you know they are not just reading from a script.
Blake is my favorite. Dude crashes all the time on camera and laughs about it. Makes you feel better about your own mistakes. The vibe is encouraging rather than showing off.
What I Learned From Watching
Trail etiquette stuff I never knew. Like, I had no idea about right of way on shared trails. Apparently I was annoying other riders without realizing it.
Basic suspension setup. Had my fork way too soft for years. One video explained sag and rebound and suddenly my bike felt completely different. Free upgrade, basically.
When to walk a feature versus attempting it. This sounds obvious, but watching experienced riders assess sections and decide to walk taught me it is not weakness – it is smart riding.
The Stuff I Skip
Their challenge videos where they do weird things like ride with pool noodles as handlebars. Fun for them, not useful for me.
The really long adventure rides in exotic locations. Good entertainment, but I am not learning anything applicable to my local trails.
Gear they review that I cannot afford anyway. Cool to see what exists, but not relevant to my budget.
Compared to Other Channels
GMBN is more beginner and intermediate friendly than some alternatives. Channels like Seth Bike Hacks lean more DIY and quirky. Skills With Phil gets more technical. I watch all of them honestly, but GMBN has the most structured tutorials.
They also do road cycling content under a different channel, GCN. If you ride both road and mountain, the combined content library is pretty extensive.
My Honest Critique
Sometimes the production feels too polished. Like they are trying to be a TV show. I prefer the more casual episodes where they just ride and talk.
The sheer volume of uploads means a lot of filler content. Clickbait titles happen. You learn to filter.
Sponsorship integrations are everywhere. Not unusual for YouTube, but worth noting. When they recommend a product heavily, check if the brand sponsors them.
Is It Worth Your Time?
If you are getting into mountain biking or stuck at an intermediate level: yes. Watch their core skills playlist. Apply what you learn. You will improve faster than just figuring things out yourself.
If you are already an expert: probably not. Unless you want entertainment or the occasional maintenance reminder.
For me, GMBN filled the gap between wanting to get better and not having friends who could actually teach me. It is not the same as a real coach, but for free YouTube content? Pretty solid resource.
Now if you will excuse me, I need to go practice that manual technique I watched yesterday. Third time is the charm, right?
