Mountain Biking - Instreting Technique

i was riding and if you ever raced bmx you know what pumping is it works great on verry bumpy terrian

Really anyone who mountain bikes should know how to do this, most roadie converts are probably the worst at doing this but it is a great technique to point out.

hey i learned it the hard way

So whats the technique? Ive never heard that term used

Youve never heard of pumping? Imagine any technical area being a complex rythm section from a dh course. You simply put with your arms and legs and pick up speed through sections you may not be able to pedal through

i can pedal and pump

There are points when you can't. At least on some trails. You would crack your pedals on the dip. Unless you are purely talking a bikecross course, then ya.

If you can pedal through everything, then start racing, besides never touching the brakes, being able to pedal through everything is what makes Peat and Gracia two of the best :)

Youve never heard of pumping? Imagine any technical area being a complex rythm section from a dh course. You simply put with your arms and legs and pick up speed through sections you may not be able to pedal through

I don't understand.

I think I have some idea as to what they're talking about but they're being really ambiguous about it so I'm not totally sure.

I would have to find a vid. Its a flow kind of thing. You just learn to do it.

There's a trail outside of my town with a long jump/rythym part, probably half a mile or so, it's good to practice that type of technique on.

I think what they mean (I'm not real good at it, I tire myself out quicker when I try.. maybe I put too much effort into trying), is to kind of use your mass and potential energy to transfer speed and momentum into the next down part.

Like at the top, move your body up then move it down on the downslope, and while coming up move up a little to bring the bike up to the top without losing much speed.

Trying to catch air from gradual slopes in 'whoop's seems to counter-effect this...

Well in a perfect rythm section you can pump your way through and get faster. In a technical section with humps, bumps and dips you can do similar things. Al this without a single pedal stroke. Its a near perfect movement with the downslope and upslope of the 'bumps'...

Pumping is basically pushing your way through a rough section. Imagine you are about to hit a round bump infront of you and you are going down hill. If you pump over it correctly your head will go straight in the direction you are going ie. Your head won't go up down. To do this absorb the bumb, compress knees and arms to suck it up. As you come over the bump push the bike down the other side of the bump. This is a good technique as you have more speed and keep on the ground allowing for more traction.

Oh, yea i know what your talking about. Ive just never heard the name used

Like tic-tac-ing on a skateboard .............