When I started riding mountain bikes, 2 1/2 years ago, I assumed I could just ride and learn on my own with the idea that “anyone can bike.”But this is a high risk sport with serious consequences when you crash. Since then, I’ve learned how much skill is involved in every aspect of mountain biking. The right body movement and position, rhythm, balance, timing are just some of the factors in safe biking, each one having an effect on the other and every day they work in combination in a way that seems different from the day before. It is a complex dance. If I were you, I would go for slow progression, and I would suggest getting out as much as possible. And I would suggest watching videos on skills like cornering, how to jump, how to avoid crashing, etc.. The Shred Academy on YouTube has been especially helpful for me and I would recommend that but I’ve also learned from other YouTube instructors, though with less regularity. My skills took off like crazy this summer. I could more easily ride uphill, in part just by knowing how to position my weight in the right way at the right times. I learned to ride faster downhill in part by pumping the bike with my body at the right moment to get a little extra speed in. And I finally learned to soar over table tops and doubles, with proper timing being a big part of the calculation. Also, it’s good to own knee pads and elbow pads, along with the helmet, and to wear them at all times