Ps

[Divscotty]

I could sure use some good technical skills cause I dont' have the physical upper body strengh to pull off a sketchy move. So I need to be better technically and I'm not and I often pay the price.

[wooglin]

You need to get to bed a bit earlier Diva. Your eyes were apparently crossing last night. :)

[Rotifer]

Developing technical skills just takes time. You can hasten the process by finding adept people to ride with or mixing up your riding, get a single speed, cyclocross bike or road bike (or, of course, any combination of the above).

[catzilla]

Howdy divscotty.

I have rather extensive experience teaching women various mountain biking skills. One of the greatest misconceptions women have when they begin (including myself) is that a great amount of upper body strength is required to perform many tricks and/or trail maneuvers.

Your upper body will build up as it needs too and won't hault you from doing any beginner tricks/skills.

So, whatchya tryin' to learn? Wheelie's, bunny hops, log overs?

I haven't met a woman yet who wasn't able to do a wheelie after I've spent a few minutes with her. I know it's a bit more difficult online, but I'd be happy to give (and receive) any advice I can.

[Paolo]

I have learned technical by riding in Rome, among the traffic, among the pedestrians, and off the beaten trail...I most often find that being technical means that you have to be able to predict what may happen within the next moment or two...that is why, when I wipe out, I always seem to be able to get up and ride away from the scene.
Basically, you start out slow. I remember the first time I took a flight of stairs, I had my fingers on the brakes most of the way down. I have the upper body strength, but also, I am big, so I too am unable to pull of alot of the stunts others can. Riding technical is all about control...You can do it.

[Divscotty]

My wheelies are getting better on the front end of things. But the back end doesn't seem to want to cooperate. and the shifting the wieght forward and letting the rear up does not seem to be working for me.

What I would really enjoy or rather be tortured by it in my case cause it will hurt a lot is to have a place to go and practice these things. Like a real place to practice. Where these skills are set up. I would actually pay a price to go to a place and learn. I mean LEARN. I would pay money for lessons.

Another thing is Cross Country is my Riding I really really get into that and I mean in the 15 to 30 miles range. Well obviously that means I will come across some technical very steep down hills. The last one of those needed stiches but I was 24 miles of trail away from the road to get to the Dr. So tape did the mend. I read a good article last month on down hills (I cannot remember which mag spank me with a brake cable) I really wanted to try that but There be snow in them thar hills now and there is no place to do that. And it is a long ways to get to those places anyway so a skills park would be nice again.

Well I ramble to much on a Saturday morning.

Divscotty

[Rotifer]

you have to be able to predict what may happen within the next moment or two...

That's true, and one of the hardest things to do. You have to make a habit of focusing some distance down the trail and allowing your bike to naturally flow over (or off) the obstacle immediately beneath you. It's amazing the difference it makes once you get this down.

[catzilla]

Originally posted by Divscotty
My wheelies are getting better on the front end of things. But the back end doesn't seem to want to cooperate. and the shifting the wieght forward and letting the rear up does not seem to be working for me.



Alright, I'm a wee bit confused, but that happens when I see a shiny ball of foil, so it's no big deal.

When you are talking about shifting the front end forward and letting the rear up, are you in the midst of trying a bunny hop or are you trying to further improve upon your wheelies?

In the meanwhile, I highly Highly HIGHLY recommend learning a trackstand if you want to improve your overall technical skills and control of your bike.

A trackstand is where you stand over your bike while the bike is haulted. Someone who has become proficient at this trick can hold this stance indefinately.

Good news & bad news:

Bad news: This trick is difficult to learn, and only with time will you master it.

Good news: With time and practice you are GUARENTEED to master it.

Bad news: My chamois smells like a whale corpse after a long ride.

Good news: I wash them at LEAST once a month.

Alright, now for the trackstanding instructions.

Ride along at a very slow pace and then turn your tire about 45 degrees (give or take) while applying the front brake. Your power foot (usually the right foot if you are right handed) will be at about the 2 o'clock position and you will be standing with your weight towards the front of the bike. The idea is that the force applied to your power pedal at 2 o'clock will be getting resistance from your front brake and the angle of your front wheel.

TIPS!!!

Once your power foot slips below the 3 o'clock position you lose a good deal of that resistance that helps you stand up and keep the bike still. I usually ratchet the pedal back once it starts getting towards the 3 o'clock position

Doing this trick on an incline will make it significantly easier.

Placing your front tire in an old car tire laying on the ground (if you have one available) is also a big learning tool. It allows you to move the bike more side to side than otherwise and simply gives you more leeway in your balance.

The smoother the terrain, the harder this trick will be. So, in the beginning I would opt for practicing on thick grass instead of pavement.

THE SINGLE MOST IMPOTENT (yes, impotent) TIP TO LEARNING A TRACKSTAND:

Most people roll into the trackstand and then hold it until they tip over. This only does an excellent job of teaching people how to hold a trackstand and tip over. The secret is to roll into a trackstand, hold it for half of a second (yes, only half a second), then release the brakes and roll out of it. Once you beigin to nail the trackstand for a half second, then hold it for a whole second. If you find yourself routinely tipping over, hold it for less amount of time.

Almost immediately after you begin your trackstands you will see an added amount of control at slow speeds. So many people rely soley on momentum for balance in mountain biking. Suddenly when they find themselves in a rock garden, or stuck in a bad line, or in a sketchy place while climbing a hill, they fall over or have to dab a foot. Once you begin to learn this move (well before you have mastered it), you will suddenly find that if you are going slow and end up in a bad line, you can pause for a moment in your trackstand, then eye up a better line or exit and go when you are ready. This is especially significant if you are using clipless pedals and will greatly reduce the number of times you have to unclip.

Woah. That's about all I's gots ta' say 'bout trackstands.

Join me tomorrow for Tips on using fresh urine to sterilize your friends' camelbacks without their knowledge.

[Divscotty]

I'll print that out!

I am better at the slow than I was a year ago but being totally still is not in my skill bag.

the skill I was speaking of earlier was getting the front tire over a log then the rear tire doesn't seem to go over the log. The front tire goes over- then many things can happen most undesirable.

But I don't let it bother me much I just continue on. I just like to ride. I'm not the best rider but I am not the worst I've seen either.

Divscotty