Cyclocross - Rear Wheel Traction - I need More

Aside from the burning lungs and searing leg pain, one of my problems last Sunday was lack of rear wheel traction. On short steep hills, my wheel would start fishtailing and spinning out when I got out of the saddle to get more power. I was in what seemed to be the most friendly gear (39 x 27). My tire pressure was really low and there was no lack of tread (conti twisters). I sometimes have this problem when sprinting on the road as well. I stand up and ocassionally whip the back wheel around a little.

I'm pretty sure it's a problem of weight distribution. I need to stay back on the bike, but does anyone have suggestions for correcting this?

Practice standing and spinning on your rollers

Mountain bike technique. The issue isn't how much power you can produce, it's how much gets to the ground. Instead of standing upright and rocking the bike strongly, you need to keep the bike vertical your body low with the tip of the saddle just touching your bits. A slightly higher gear will even out the power stroke.

Ron

Yep... switch to a higher gear. Lower gears multiply torque. You were likely applying too MUCH torque to the ground... thus, you exceeded the avaliable traction limit and spun out.

A drill that I found helpful was to stand while holding the tops of the bars. This kept my body a bit further back and lower, just above the rivit. Once I got used to this position, I want back on the hoods.

When you stand, you have less weight over the rear tire and thus are more likely to spin. I'd try to keep you weight over the rear wheel as much as you can. Bursty power is a problem as well, try to spin more evenly, pulling up and pushing down. You can practice with sets of one-legged pedaling.

Thanks for all the replies. I have no offroad handling skills. I've never really had a mtn. bike. Maybe it's time I start. I think it would make cross ridin' easier.

Go play on the cross bike. Find some of the less technical mountain bike trails and have some fun. Get used to the manual to get the front wheel up, working for traction on steep climbs and all that fun off-road stuff.

Ron

Thanks for all the replies. I have no offroad handling skills. I've never really had a mtn. bike. Maybe it's time I start. I think it would make cross ridin' easier.
you find out real quick that's it's hard to stand and pedal on a mountain bike in the dirt in a lot of cases. you have to sit and pedal or keep your weight back over the tire.

Mountain bike technique. The issue isn't how much power you can produce, it's how much gets to the ground. Instead of standing upright and rocking the bike strongly, you need to keep the bike vertical your body low with the tip of the saddle just touching your bits. A slightly higher gear will even out the power stroke.

Ron

I have to give you credit for a quantum jump in my cx riding/ training. Coming from a road background, I'm used to just standing up and rocking, always struggled in cx with rear-wheel slipping. I tried to analyze other riders technique but obviously couldn't get it right. I tried the technique you describe and it worked like a charm. It feels weird, like climbing crouched over. Concentrated on keeping my butt near the tip of the saddle. Much less slipping. Thank you!!!