Mountain Biking - Anyone else freaked out by the log bridge?

There's a log bridge near one of the local trails that crosses a creek. I'd say it's anywhere from 4-6feet above the water and probably 15-20 feet long.

There's a skills practice area around the trails as well, where they have a log laid in the ground and a little narrow ramp that lets you ride up on it. This log is probably about 10 feet long. I've successfully rode across it once, fallen it off it several times, and busted my shin with the pedal once during one of the falls. Happily, the fall is not even a foot, but still this training log intimidates me. I can't fathom riding over the creek.

Has anyone successfully negotiated a log bridge where you could really bust your arse if you fell? Do you eventually get to a point where they feel natural and like no big deal? I just don't feel steady on them, and I'm not sure I ever will--especially not to the degree where I'd try to cross the creek.

That sounds like a trauma park feature.

At my age wouldn't be any safer to walk the log bridge.

They freak me out. I figure for a 3' diameter log that's dry you've got what about a 6" berth? That gives me the willies. I've walked across a couple of high ones about that diameter and that was scary enough.

Like Yogi Berra one said: "Baseball is 90% mental -- the other half is physical."

If you can ride the white line in a parking lot, you can ride the log bridge too.

They aren't that bad. Practice. Work on the low and mellow ones first. Look down the length -not down at your front wheel. Keep pedaling. Momentum is your friend. Keep rolling and aim for the end of the log. Once you stop moving, that is when you go down.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/2010/August/Ragged8-534.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/2010/August/Millers8-1356.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/January%2009/November/P1030311.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/January%2009/August/IMG_0083.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/2011/July/IMG_0106.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/2011/May/IMG_0078.jpg

I noticed a couple of the guys have pads. Maybe I should get some of those--might help in riding the log with confidence. Wow, that sounds wrong.

Good pics.

Nothing wrong with armor. If you choose to ride without, it's your risk to accept. If you choose to suit up, it just gives you a better chance of getting up and learning from your last mistake right away, rather than after a lengthy recovery. If I were looking to attempt more technical terrain, armor would be my first move.

LOL just got your "riding the log" reference. You are not a well man.

I don't really know much about armor. I've never done downhill or freeride. I'd hate to spend all that money just to ride log bridges. I think I will go with the simpler solution and just avoid log bridges from now on. =)

Look down the length -not down at your front wheel. Keep pedaling. Momentum is your friend. Keep rolling and aim for the end of the log. Once you stop moving, that is when you go down.All of that. Especially focusing ahead and even beyond the log to a fixed point to aim at, rather than looking down - - especially creek crossings. The motion underneath is definitely an unwelcome distraction.

When you encounter something like this:

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t162/dminorwa/Whistler%20Fall%202009/IMG_1414.jpg

. . . your eyes should be ahead, like at the trees behind the signpost:

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t162/dminorwa/Whistler%20Fall%202009/IMG_1415.jpg

('Course, builders were nice enough to give some safeties on this one.)

Broke my arm fallin off a log bridge 2 weeks ago. Shoulda read this first. :P

I'm no expert but find I have much better control and confidence if I do this while standing (knees bent to lower my CoG and sometimes to somewhat 'ratchet' the crank, as in not necessarily pedal all the way around, sort of go part-way bring the crank back and part pedal again, weird but lets me feel in control and somehow helps me keep a straight path).

But generally I don't like doing them on the trails I ride because I'm somewhat already winded by the time I ride to where they are and if I have an accident I'm quite a bit away from being able to get to my car or to help in a reasonable fashion. If I break body or bike I'd be in pain and pissed and I'm too heavy for anyone to toss me on their back and haul out to civilization.

^^^Getting off the trail after an injury is always a concern. And then there's medical bills. My insurance is pretty minimal. Any fall that sent me to the ER could be thousands out of pocket.

As having an exit strategy is currently under-rated. Why don't you practice getting off some log mid-way safely without ending up tangled in your bicycle or smashing your shin into chunks of bone.

That is probably a way better idea than being 'that' dufus and givin' er. Like any TV show says, don't try to imitate these stunts at home.

Lastly, it is a law of the universe that eventually everybody falls off ... so consider the consequences because they may happen ... if you're not thrill chasing or the possible ends don't justify months of physio - just walk it and stop blowing it up to some huge event!

^^^Yeah, as I stated earlier, I decided it best to just walk them =)

Log crossings scare me a little,try to focus ahead and not at the front of my wheel

A log bridge is just an extension of singletrack.

I'd be more worried about the troll under the bridge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUvt_WXXX68

Logs are tricky