Mountain Biking - stupid question

Almost everytime i try to take a tight corner at speed while pedaling my rear wheel just slides out from under me. It usually occurs on loose singletrack on mid to high speed turns.
My question is should I consider getting new tires, or is this just an issue of a newbie with lack of skill? I'm currently riding on the stock tires that came my bike (specialized roll-x pros). My opinion is that I'm just not that good, but I have read terrible reviews of the Roll-x tires.
Will better tires make me better or am I just wasting my money?
i was considering hutchinson python gold elites

I'm no expert, but perhaps you shouldn't be pedaling at all around sharp turns. Taking a tight corner should involve a bit of leaning into the turn. The pedaling may be what's forcing the tire out from underneath you.

Sure you are not grounding the pedal?

Are you applying the rear brake? If so, stop. Use the front, it wont fish tail you. Then go buy a pair of WTB Velociraptors or Panaraces Fire XC Pro's :D

with the pedalling through a trun, you cant push "down" on the outside pedal...

ok, here is the physics behind why to push down with your outside pedal, by applying force on your outside pedal, you well move your center of gravity (CG) toward the outside (when you slide out, your CG is to far away for the vertical line above the contact point of the wheels of the bike, thus there is not enough gravity pushing your wheels down onto the trail, thus no grip), but if you can move your CG closer to the vertical line above the contact point of your wheels, you will increase the amount of gravity being applied to the wheels at the point of contact

(I know I used some of the physic term incorrectly, but the point was made)

also try shifting your body weight alittle more to the outside of the turn by not staying in the plane of the bike

Originally posted by chewa
Sure you are not grounding the pedal?

what does that mean?

have the inside pedal down and you hit the pedal on the groun when turning...have the outside pedal down or at the very least have your feet even :)

Run lower tire pressure. Brake before the turn and make sure not to use the front while in the turn. You want to scrub off enough speed so you can go through the turn with out touching the brakes.

If you slow down enough to do that you should also be able to pedal through the turn. Also, the tires will slip some. You need to get used to the feeling.

:beer:

Not a stupid question at all - I've still got a couple of scabs because I wasn't paying attention at the end of a long mt. bike ride. I took a few sweeping S turns and my back tire slipped out from under me. I was able to put the bike down on the left side so the only damage was to my knee, thigh, chest and arm - not the bike.

:D :D

If you're cornering hard, the rear will slip out reguardless of what tire you're running. You have to get used to that feeling of the tire floating and sliding. Most tires will let you know when you're on the edge of their traction limits.

Originally posted by aluckyfiji
with the pedalling through a trun, you cant push "down" on the outside pedal...

ok, here is the physics behind why to push down with your outside pedal, by applying force on your outside pedal, you well move your center of gravity (CG) toward the outside (when you slide out, your CG is to far away for the vertical line above the contact point of the wheels of the bike, thus there is not enough gravity pushing your wheels down onto the trail, thus no grip), but if you can move your CG closer to the vertical line above the contact point of your wheels, you will increase the amount of gravity being applied to the wheels at the point of contact

(I know I used some of the physic term incorrectly, but the point was made)

also try shifting your body weight alittle more to the outside of the turn by not staying in the plane of the bike

I must have read this about 50 times, slowly, and it makes no sense. I got on my bike, hit a sharp turn at a fast speed and was able to push down on my outside pedal. What are your sources?

I've found that you can actually use the back wheel float to your advantage around corners.... as you enter the turn, keep the front tire pointing through the line you chose, and let the rear wheel come slightly off the ground... the rear will swing around the corner. Just make sure you stick it back on the trail before it swings past the line of the front tire, just when the track straightens back out. I've really found that being able to control the rear wheel is key in a lot of singletrack situations. Also, I say just don't brake at all!:beer:

thanks Ill try lowering the pressure and braking before and not during turns.