Upping skill levels

[Cubist]

Where are you with your skill levels, and what do you do to have even more fun on a bike? Over the last few years I have ridden increasingly technical terrain with increasing confidence but every so often come up against an obstacle or situation which makes me either take the chicken run, or get of and push/ carry round over or through it. I have a couple of bogey areas where I know if I encounter them on a trail it's going to hack me off 'cos I can't ride it well or without dabbing or looking like a prat.

For example I used to be scared of steep drops ins, or steep chutes, especially if the surface was loose. I overcame it by learning to shift body weight backwards and looking beyond the chute for braking areas. I now enjoy riding them as they still have a frisson of adrenaline to them. However, I had to overcome that initial fear in order to force myself into riding stuff I didn't like.

Recently it's been steps or drop offs of increasing size that I've been concentrating on. My growing confidence means I'm happy to take stuff at speed up to a foot high, and a session in the quarry yesterday saw me concentrating on a series of three foot-high steps with no run in or out which forced me to ride it "trials style" .

So what do you want to improve on and what are you doing about it?

 

[dan_bo]

Inappropriate tyres are always good for a laugh- slicks on hardpack/dusty trails, CX bikes- certainly wakes you up a bit!

 

[I like Skol]

Recently it's been steps or drop offs of increasing size that I've been concentrating on. My growing confidence means I'm happy to take stuff at speed up to a foot high, and a session in the quarry yesterday saw me concentrating on a series of three foot-high steps with no run in or out which forced me to ride it "trials style" .

Sounds like we're heading in the same direction. I too have been practising how to ride off ledges at slow speed by popping a small wheelie then hopping off from just the back wheel as it nears the edge. It can give a very controlled landing when I get it right.

There's a set of concrete blocks outside Evans at the Manchester Velodrome that are perfect for practising this. I'll see you there some time

 

[Crackle]

Manuals, bunny hops, in fact doing anything that involves me moving the bike rather than guiding it. Chutes and drops up to a certain point are fine, I'm not sure I wish to go beyond a certain point. Was thinking of a skills course once I've got the new bike.

 

[Cubist]

Sounds like we're heading in the same direction. I too have been practising how to ride off ledges at slow speed by popping a small wheelie then hopping off from just the back wheel as it nears the edge. It can give a very controlled landing when I get it right.

There's a set of concrete blocks outside Evans at the Manchester Velodrome that are perfect for practising this. I'll see you there some time

Ah, I mean just rolling them for the time being...... Learning where the bb is in relation to the step edge and shifting weight so you don't pogo the fork on landing. I'm determined to get wheelies right, but haven't progressed beyond small step ups yet. It's the slow or static bike control thing that I'm getting used to.

 

[Cubist]

Manuals, bunny hops, in fact doing anything that involves me moving the bike rather than guiding it. Chutes and drops up to a certain point are fine, I'm not sure I wish to go beyond a certain point. Was thinking of a skills course once I've got the new bike.

Yes, in and amongst I really want to get those right too. If this weather stays as it is ill be spending an hour or two in the car park wit the flats on.

 

[VamP]

This is my bogeyman.

This is what happened last time there.

I am in two minds whether to accept I'm too crap to ever master that place, or get myself along to a couple of Jedi clinics next spring. I depends on whether my focus will gravitate towards MTB or TT. Could go either way.

 

[Cubist]

Jedi is highly spoken of. I'm about an hour away from Gisburn, so GreatRock is likely to be the man I turn to.

 

[Cubist]

This is my bogeyman.

View attachment 32047

This is what happened last time there.

View attachment 32048

I am in two minds whether to accept I'm too crap to ever master that place, or get myself along to a couple of Jedi clinics next spring. I depends on whether my focus will gravitate towards MTB or TT. Could go either way.

That second photo isn't going to end well is it? That step looks ok, but the combination of the steep slab underneath it means its an all or nothing commitment. I could tackle either or, but the combination of both together would defeat me.

 

[VamP]

That second photo isn't going to end well is it? That step looks ok, but the combination of the steep slab underneath it means its an all or nothing commitment. I could tackle either or, but the combination of both together would defeat me.

As with all things, if you can ride it with commitment and confidence, it's fine. But the bloody thing is approached at speed, and is totally blind. To add insult to injury, there is a 90 degree left turn at the bottom, lined with boulders naturally.

Of course, psychologically I was not helped by seeing the first person who I watched attempt it, land on their front wheel, balance there for a brief moment, before somersaulting over the bars.

 

[fossyant]

I only do uphill !

 

[Pat "5mph"]

So what do you want to improve on and what are you doing about it?

3 lanes roundabouts.
Taking routes without 3 lanes roundabouts.