June's warm sunshine, long days and beautiful wildflowers make this one of the best times of the year to mountain bike in the Lake Tahoe area. This week we had a chance to get out on the trails and let me just tell you, they're in excellent condition!

We also had the opportunity to talk to a couple of local experts in downhill mountain bike riding and mountain bike racing.

Kyle at Northstar-at-Tahoe's mountain bike park gives these suggestions for riders who are just getting into aggressive mountain biking or downhill riding.

Under pressure?
Riding on rocky trails increases the technical difficulty and the physical exertion required to negotiate the terrain. But, a little bike maintenance can help you roll right over small boulders, logs and other bumps in the trail. Kyle advises checking your tire pressure before heading out on a ride and setting it for the conditions you'll be riding on. Are you expecting a smooth trail? Set your tire pressure high for your weight. Is the trail you'll be riding notoriously technical? Setting a lower tire pressure for your weight will help the bike absorb the shock from rolling over the rocks and logs.

Get low to go down
Ever feel like you're bouncing like a rag doll once you start heading downhill? When you know you've got a long descent in front of you, Kyle recommends lowering your seat height so that you can move your hips behind and off the seat. This will keep your body from bouncing around like crazy and will let you move your weight back, which might keep you from going over the handlebars if the trail gets really steep. Conversely, when you know you've got a big climb ahead of you make sure to raise the seat back to its normal height so you can maximize your power up the hill.

Scroll below to hear more tips on bike maintenance, find out how you can get involved in mountain bike racing and see some footage of Tahoe area riders kicking up some dust on local trails.

Watch the video below. Top