Mountain Bike Magazine’s website (mountainbike.com) has some great Q & A posts under thier skills section. Here is one about relaxing in the saddle.

Q. I just started riding my mountain bike off road. Are there any special tricks to help me relax and control the bike?

A. Katrin Bruell: The most important technique for staying relaxed is to not grab the handlebar too tight. Beginners, especially, panic because they don’t know what the bike’s going to do and how it’s going to react to anything. So they clench the bar. If your hands are holding on too tight, it translates through to your whole body and riding style.

The more relaxed your hands and arms are, the better your steering will be. That will give you more confidence and your whole body will become looser and more relaxed. You’ll stop making quick, jerky motions that end up making you fall.

You’ll also be able to ride longer because you’ll be less tired. (Being clenched up wastes energy.) When my upper body feels fatigued, I know I’m not relaxed. So that’s an indicator for me to start checking my whole body to see where I’m riding tight.

Click here to read about Katrins Confidence Drill and 4 Secrets of Smoother Rides.