Man of Honour
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Big Bike Thread
- Thread starter Breamy
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Man of Honour
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Much too wet today, turned my local run into a load of cack.
All the brown firm/stiff clay ends up with the rain water just sitting ontop of it, leaving a thin layer of leaf material and topsoil. Then its just slippy as heck under it all. Was sliding around quite a lot on my tyres.
When I said 12" tall yesterday for the stump.
What I really meant is nearly double that! I measured it roughly against my bike and it comes the majority of the way up my fork, and some quick hand measuring puts it at 20".
Hit it (not at enough speed) thought for a second I was going to go OTB but landed OK and came back down onto my lowered saddle. Didn't dare turn around and try it again today, too wet! I need to carry more speed over the crest in the back left, but not so much that I get air there and end up in the brambles. One to try again when it's dried out I think!
All the brown firm/stiff clay ends up with the rain water just sitting ontop of it, leaving a thin layer of leaf material and topsoil. Then its just slippy as heck under it all. Was sliding around quite a lot on my tyres.
When I said 12" tall yesterday for the stump.
What I really meant is nearly double that! I measured it roughly against my bike and it comes the majority of the way up my fork, and some quick hand measuring puts it at 20".
Hit it (not at enough speed) thought for a second I was going to go OTB but landed OK and came back down onto my lowered saddle. Didn't dare turn around and try it again today, too wet! I need to carry more speed over the crest in the back left, but not so much that I get air there and end up in the brambles. One to try again when it's dried out I think!
Soldato
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That's quite a steep take off, too much speed and your bike will buck you forwards (hence near OTB).
Keep your arms and especially knees loose, relatively high over your bike, when you go over the stump let the bike rise up towards your body as you bend your knees.
Is that the drop you were talking about? If yes then the technique described above is quite different to how you approach a drop.
Keep your arms and especially knees loose, relatively high over your bike, when you go over the stump let the bike rise up towards your body as you bend your knees.
Is that the drop you were talking about? If yes then the technique described above is quite different to how you approach a drop.
Yeah thats what I was talking about, I swung back round past it to take a photo. Need some help to improve.
So stay more centralised on the bike basically.
It felt like the front wheel dropped too quickly from not enough speed and/or not pumping the bike to bring the front wheel up before going over it, causing me to pitch forwards.
Soldato
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Probably not enough speed, I forgot to mention that when you're doing this technique you often have to shift your weight (ass) slightly back anyway to 'absorb' more of the bike (and also avoid getting smacked in the nuts with your saddle), doing this will help you keep the front end up anyway.
It sounds like a cop out but you can practise the drop off technique on curbs! When you get both wheels to land smoothly you'll know it as the impact is basically nonexistent.
It sounds like a cop out but you can practise the drop off technique on curbs! When you get both wheels to land smoothly you'll know it as the impact is basically nonexistent.
Soldato
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Yeah it's definitely not a drop. No where near long enough to approach it in the same way you would a drop.
Soldato
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That stump looks pretty small imho.
It doesnt look that high TBH.
From that angle it looks like the reason you may pitch over the bars is the ramp section is quite sharp and it doesnt look like it meets the top of the stump properly so the front wheel may bump up onto it causing the rider to pitch forward as the bike suddenly jumps straight up under the rider very quickly and the rider continues forward.
I may be wrong, as I dont have that much experience, but I would tend to be quite high over the middle/rear of the bike so that there is plenty of travel in my arms and legs to allow them to "suck" the bike up under me as it went over.
Also, dip your heels to help prevent you pitching forward.
Of course, I could be talking pish
From that angle it looks like the reason you may pitch over the bars is the ramp section is quite sharp and it doesnt look like it meets the top of the stump properly so the front wheel may bump up onto it causing the rider to pitch forward as the bike suddenly jumps straight up under the rider very quickly and the rider continues forward.
I may be wrong, as I dont have that much experience, but I would tend to be quite high over the middle/rear of the bike so that there is plenty of travel in my arms and legs to allow them to "suck" the bike up under me as it went over.
Also, dip your heels to help prevent you pitching forward.
Of course, I could be talking pish
Hey guys after a little advice with regards to a road bike. I'm doing a 100 mile ride in just over a months time and have only a full sus to do it on.
Been thinking of buying a road bike for around £400 tops. Can anyone give some advice on what there is out there to consider, second hand or new.
Im presuming for that budget second hand would be the better option.
Cheers
Been thinking of buying a road bike for around £400 tops. Can anyone give some advice on what there is out there to consider, second hand or new.
Im presuming for that budget second hand would be the better option.
Cheers
Man of Honour
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It doesn't look that small to the hardcore riders, but white men can't jump
I'll just keep practicing then and see what works!
The best way to ride over that stump is not to overthink it, it's literally nothing.
On the approach, don't look at the stump (very important). By that I mean when you are coming down that little chute, look at the stump, aim for it and then look past/over it, have your body in a neutral attacking position over the centre of the bike (possibly a tiny bit backwards) with your elbows pointed outwards (and I mean, lift them up and point outwards like you have sores in your armpits)
To try and force yourself not to look at the stump while going over it, put down a marker like a riding top or whatever will catch your eye, 10 meters further down the track (obv in the direction in which you are travelling).
Also, you can take that as fast as you like, stay off the brakes coming into it.
Do all those and you'lll be flying over it!
On the approach, don't look at the stump (very important). By that I mean when you are coming down that little chute, look at the stump, aim for it and then look past/over it, have your body in a neutral attacking position over the centre of the bike (possibly a tiny bit backwards) with your elbows pointed outwards (and I mean, lift them up and point outwards like you have sores in your armpits)
To try and force yourself not to look at the stump while going over it, put down a marker like a riding top or whatever will catch your eye, 10 meters further down the track (obv in the direction in which you are travelling).
Also, you can take that as fast as you like, stay off the brakes coming into it.
Do all those and you'lll be flying over it!
It doesn't look that small to the hardcore riders, but white men can't jump
I'll just keep practicing then and see what works!
Come to a Glentress meet, we'll show you white men that jump!
I'd say the most important thing to do to avoid crashing on jumping that is keep your weight off the handlebars when you jump.
(What bike do you ride?)
My technique would be slightly different. I'd stay loose on the descent down that chute, weight central, low down, off the brakes, heels dipped, wrists slightly dipped, looking well ahead. Then I'd approach the stump, looking passed it at the landing, extend arms slightly, keeping elbows and knees bent, ready to hit the ramp. Then I'd anchor on the brakes as I reached it, come to a grinding halt and curse a lot. Then I'd head back up to the top of the chute and repeat the above a few times, before riding away cursing my lack of balls.
Glad to have helped.
Glad to have helped.
Come to a Glentress meet, we'll show you white men that jump!
I'd say the most important thing to do to avoid crashing on jumping that is keep your weight off the handlebars when you jump.
(What bike do you ride?)
It's a LOOOOONG way up to Glentress!
I ride a 2010 Boardman Comp HT.
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