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Post by seenvic on Apr 12, 2011 10:12:25 GMT -5
I know, I know, I know.... I have had several people explain to me how to clear bigger trees, but it just has never clicked. I just can't get a feel for it. Both of my major injuries over the last 2 years have been from busting as* really going for it. I no longer go for it. Start small. Hop up the curb in front of your house. Same technique as with logs, just your timing has to be quicker with a log, pretty much as soon as the front wheel touches you need to hop the rear. Curbs are a good place to get the feel of getting that rear wheel up though. As you increase your speed it becomes more and more like hoping a log, 'cause if you're going fast enough you don't have time to let the front wheel roll a while before hopping the rear. The bridges on Turkey Creek that have a "step up" are a great place to learn how to ride over a log. Sound crazy? It isn't. As you approach the bridge, you lift your front wheel so it can get into the bridge. As soon as your front wheel is on, you lean forward and this un-weights the back end of your bike. Your back wheel, with no weight on it, rolls up onto the bridge easily. The same technique is done on the logs. This is very similar to Dustin's curb advise.
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Post by dgaddis1 on Apr 12, 2011 10:21:05 GMT -5
As you approach the bridge, you lift your front wheel so it can get into the bridge. As soon as your front wheel is on, you lean forward and this un-weights the back end of your bike. Your back wheel, with no weight on it, rolls up onto the bridge easily. The same technique is done on the logs. This is very similar to Dustin's curb advise. I actually pick the rear wheel up and over. That way you don't hit your chainring, or get your weight too far forward and risk going OTB. Problem with practicing on bridges is you can fall off 'em ;D
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Post by seenvic on Apr 12, 2011 10:50:48 GMT -5
I've seen folks fall off of bridges without practicing anything.
I do the same with the rear wheel. It gets picked up when I shift weight forward.
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Post by mhanna on Apr 12, 2011 14:17:24 GMT -5
Man it felt good when it clicked too. Just gonna have to work at it becoming second nature.
Wow. I've never actually SEEN anyone ride off a bridge before. Although, I did dream that I did that once.
MH
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Post by seenvic on Apr 12, 2011 16:07:20 GMT -5
This will not win me any street cred with the 5% Club, but (gulp, here it goes), I HATE RIDERS! I like rocks, roots, creek-crossings, switchbacks, crazy climbs and descents, but I get no joy from riding the riders. What's the fun in slamming my big ring into a tree trunk? Yes, I know the point is to try to precisely time a jump over the 'rider' to avoid hitting it, but how often does that happen? I am too old and injury-prone to be working on my extreme bunny-hoping skills. That being said, I think that they belong on trails like Modoc, Turkey, Mistletoe, etc, but not at FATS. I gotta ask...why do think there should be no "riders" at FATS? I know we missed the mark big time on making FATS a challenging place to ride. But that was part of the intent. Logs were purposely left on several of the loops during construction. In hindsite, I wish FATS was built to be more challenging than it is now. But I can't see 35 miles of single with nothing to ride over. Maybe a loop. But not the whole place. So, why do think this way? There has to be a reason other than your own lack of ability/desire to learn.
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Post by neal1975 on Apr 12, 2011 16:34:40 GMT -5
I am actually with NITRO on this. I hate rider logs. They just dont offer anything to me on the ride. You have to slow down for it too. I tore up a chainring on my old bike on a rider, and just basically think they are in the way. small ones are ok i guess (such as that one on upper skinny)
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Post by Angela on Apr 12, 2011 17:29:35 GMT -5
Just some food for thought -
Using Logs (More information can be found on the IMBA's website for Trailbuilding Resources.)
Leave fallen logs on the trail. Some trail users view a fallen tree as a welcome challenge. Others see it as an insurmountable barrier and will go around, even if this requires leaving the trail. A shared trail must accommodate everyone and should offer a route without obstructions. The solution is to leave the log covering only part of the trail, allowing an unobstructed route to one side. This provides the option of passing over the log or skirting it (This will not work on narrow singletrack, however). Make sure there are good sight lines in both directions and that the route over the log is the more direct line. Try to keep the trail narrow. Don't use fallen logs to slow riders down. In fact, logs across the path may encourage cyclists to ride faster to jump them.
When is a log too large to be ridden? We've seen riders give trail workers grief for removing 3-foot high logs, so almost any size log can be in play. However, we've also seen erosion and multiple paths develop around the end of deadfall that obstructed the trail. One trailbuilding goal is to minimize our impact on the landscape. If fallen logs divert riders off the established tread, our impact increases.
Log ramps. A popular but misguided trail maintenance technique is to build a pile of logs to create a ramp up and over an existing fallen log. Our opinion is that these log piles are generally a bad idea. Most trails are shared use, and these flimsy ramps are a big obstacle to horses and hikers. One solution is to cut a gap and make the log pile optional. However, we've only seen three or four log piles out of hundreds that were well constructed. Throwing a bunch of rotting logs and twigs at an obstructing log and calling it trail maintenance is just being lazy. A well built log ramp will use at least 8-10-inch diameter logs. They may need to be fastened in place: use rope or wire, not dangerous spikes. Build them well, take pride in your work, and be sure to leave an easier option.
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Post by dgaddis1 on Apr 12, 2011 17:35:49 GMT -5
I am actually with NITRO on this. I hate rider logs. They just dont offer anything to me on the ride. You have to slow down for it too. I tore up a chainring on my old bike on a rider, and just basically think they are in the way. small ones are ok i guess (such as that one on upper skinny) You're doing it wrong too Who wants to go ride modoc Saturday morning and practice? Seriously. We've talked about having an 'intermediate' skills clinic...let's do an impromptu one Saturday morning. I want another try at some of those creeks...
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Post by azdrawdy on Apr 12, 2011 20:27:31 GMT -5
You're doing it wrong too Who wants to go ride modoc Saturday morning and practice? Seriously. We've talked about having an 'intermediate' skills clinic...let's do an impromptu one Saturday morning. I want another try at some of those creeks... Without getting into too much detail, or getting into this group's feelings, no one here has come close to reaching their potential. You don't lift up the rear wheel while being (or because you are) clipped in. Pressing down on your pedals actually lifts your rear wheel. You don't ride looking ten feet in front of your front wheel. You are already hitting that stuff. Look way out and determine your line out there. You hop stuff as you are looking 45 feet past the obstacle. You guys truly need to be coached, or attend a camp. Your mountain biking world will be tipped upside down. Ever watch a winning downhiller? He doesn't care what is 20 feet in front on his wheels. Ever watch a trials rider? He is not clipped in. You guys really need to go a BetteRide clinic. We went last year. We are going again in 2012. Are we the best riders in the CSRA. NO! Are we better riders than last year? Yep. Your misconceptions and what you will UNlearn will stun you. betterride.net/BTW, Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. MD
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Post by nitro on Apr 12, 2011 21:25:27 GMT -5
Ever watch a winning downhiller? He doesn't care what is 20 feet in front on his wheels. Ever watch a trials rider? He is not clipped in. You guys really need to go a BetteRide clinic. We went last year. We are going again in 2012. Are we the best riders in the CSRA. NO! Are we better riders than last year? Yep. Your misconceptions and what you will UNlearn will stun you. betterride.net/BTW, Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. MD Man, I would love a clinic like that, but I know it ain't going to happen for me for a while. I have always heard about looking further down the trail, but I don't get what you are saying about unclipped riding. I am not giving up clippless pedals -- so am I supposed to unclip when I want to clear an obstacle? Or is it that you need to learn to ride on platforms before you can improve on the clippless?
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Post by azdrawdy on Apr 12, 2011 21:40:49 GMT -5
but I don't get what you are saying about unclipped riding. I am not giving up clippless pedals -- so am I supposed to unclip when I want to clear an obstacle? Or is it that you need to learn to ride on platforms before you can improve on the clippless? I have been riding clipless since the early 90s. Not giving those up any time soon! Being clipped into your pedals has no effect on whether or not you get over a tree, or launch onto that picnic table, or bounce from a 12" curb onto a 36" ledge. The clips don't do it. The technique does. MD
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Post by nitro on Apr 12, 2011 21:45:17 GMT -5
but I don't get what you are saying about unclipped riding. I am not giving up clippless pedals -- so am I supposed to unclip when I want to clear an obstacle? Or is it that you need to learn to ride on platforms before you can improve on the clippless? I have been riding clipless since the early 90s. Not giving those up any time soon! Being clipped into your pedals has no effect on whether or not you get over a tree, or launch onto that picnic table, or bounce from a 12" curb onto a 36" ledge. The clips don't do it. The technique does. MD Ok, got it.
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Post by Ted S. on Apr 12, 2011 22:27:36 GMT -5
Great point MD.
Getting over obstacles as well as Smooth fast trail ridding is all about where you are focusing your eyes!!! I try to look as far down the trail as I can. But it definitely takes discipline and purposeful intent, I have to constantly keep an internal dialogue "reminding" my self to look further down the trail.
I would love to attend a skills camp at some point.
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Post by dgaddis1 on Apr 19, 2011 7:05:07 GMT -5
Big Rock and Tower are both clear of downed trees. Go ride!
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