Gisburn Swoopy loopy

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chipmonster

Well-Known Member
Hi all

New to the red sections at gisburn.

However, tried Swoopy loopy first time last week and could not do the first drop. My mind would not let me do it and I stopped at the top, walked down!

It's a mental thing, brain saying too risky. Any tips on how I can overcome this!

Going again on Sunday, any tips will be appreciated!
 

Cubist

Still wavin'
Location
Ovver 'thill
I don't know the trail, but I remember similar doubts over drops, they used to really screw with my head. I take it you mean drop-in or chute rather than a big step down?

If so, two things to try, if possible on similar drops in a different trail. Firstly, drop your seat a few inches before you go down. You'll be able to shift your body weight around to ease the sharp transition of the bike as it starts to drop in. It also stops you from perching over the middle of the bike and looking over the front wheel, which will nearly always give you the impression that you're going over the bars.

Approach with caution. You don't need any speed to drop in, but you do need to be ready and clipped in or balanced on the pedals, standing in the "attack" position. You also need to tell yourself where you'll be able to brake to scrub off speed after you've dropped in (if you need to ) As the front wheel starts to go over the edge, relax your arms, elbows out, and shift your weight (backside!) over the back of the saddle. Drop your heels as you do so. This way your body weight is over the middle and back of the bike, and the front will take care of itself. As the bike rolls down you can stay as you are, and then as the bike levels out (or G's out if it's a bomb-hole style drop) you need to smoothly transfer your weigh back to centre, then towards the front as the bike starts to climb on the other side.

Mental blocks are a difficult thing to overcome, but you need to look for ways to replicate any "bogey" obstacles. Remember, the bike doesn't want to fall over any more than you do, and as long as your weight is back and your heels dropped, the likelihood of barring it is greatly reduced.
 

Motozulu

Über Member
Location
Rugeley, Staffs
Good advice. I had a similar 'block' on the Werewolf Drops at Cannock. It is a mental thing, once you've done it its 'what was I worried about?'.

Approach as Cubist says, not too fast but not so slow you can't balance and just aim to roll the front wheel over the lip, weight well back, hand off the front brake all together and other hand just covering the rear and let gravity do the rest. If you have to, apply rear brake on the way down (your wheel may skid down but that's okay) if you are nervy of the speed.

I realise your drop may be different to Cannock but same rules apply. Also, go on youtube or just watch others to see the line of approach, speed that they tackle it with. Good luck.
 

Motozulu

Über Member
Location
Rugeley, Staffs
If you are anywhere near as sad as me - you will have whooped like a loon when you did your drop in.
I did the first time I did the werewolf with no hesitation. ^_^

Well done.
 
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