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things a newbie should know

Old 06-19-05, 10:28 PM
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things a newbie should know

hi,
i am pretty new to mtb but i've done a few events so far. i find that when ever the terrain gets a bit to techinical i have to get off my bike walk around it and then hop back on. this frustrates me, especially when going up a hill and i lose all my momentum. so any advice on how to get over things like logs without having to dismount. and other things like lose soil and getting though without fishtaling it a tree.
thanks,
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Old 06-19-05, 10:32 PM
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It's alright dude, I'm not a newb and I get off and walk up crap all the time. A lot of guys I know walk around stuff thats to hard, hell, I bet even Mael walks some crap. But I guess you need to start throwing your body weight around. Move your ass up in the seat when climbing and try to get a crap load of momentum.
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Old 06-19-05, 11:04 PM
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Theory: logs etc on flat terrain: pop the front wheel up on it, lean forward and "push" the bike forward and either use the momentum to bring the back wheel over or use your legs to lift them up as you move forward. or bunnyhop it if you're moving fast enough

uphill obstacles: if they're low enough, use arms to lift the front wheel and/or sheer momentum to push yourself over. if they're more than about 20cm high, wheelie the front wheel up onto the obstacle, then shift weight forward and "push" the bike underneath you - the momentum should bring rear wheel up, if not use legs to lift rear wheel.
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Old 06-20-05, 01:45 AM
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Originally Posted by mach_5
hi,
i am pretty new to mtb but i've done a few events so far. i find that when ever the terrain gets a bit to techinical i have to get off my bike walk around it and then hop back on. this frustrates me, especially when going up a hill and i lose all my momentum.
I sometimes find myself doing the same sort of things, especially if I haven't been on the trails in a while. Most of the time I'll also go back and try it again once I see how the obstacle works and can pick a line on it.
There's no shame in it, just try to get better and do more each time you go out. Just try.
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Old 06-21-05, 04:48 AM
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Hi,

I've just signed up tonight and have been checking out various threads.

I'm a relative newbie to biking as well, my first two wheel bike ever was purchased three years ago. I started learning to ride at 33 !!!

Anyway, just wanted to say that the advice listed above is really cool. I appreciate you guys passing on riding techniques in such a friendly humble manner. Having struggled up hills myself, dropping the front by not getting the wheel over a log, losing the back by leaning too far forward, falling off, walking a few metres up the hill, getting back on, making some distance, dropping it again, but nearly clearing the next log... at the time it feels really embarrassing, but it's just practice, getting up and doing it again and each time you get further, you get fitter, your technique develops and then you are wondering why you struggled on that last hill, as you fall off the next steeper face just around the corner...

It's nice to hear riders pass on their knowledge in such an encouraging fashion.
I'm already glad that I signed up.

thanks,
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Old 06-21-05, 11:28 AM
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The best bet is start small and build up and don't be embaressed by your mistakes. I made plenty, the cost a bit a well, but I'm a better rider as a result.

On the hill climbing topic, again build up slow. I've found a small fire road that climbs about a mile through some woods near me, at first I tried to see how far I could go up it without my feet touching the floor (ie stopping and putting a foot down). After I made it all the way up in one I tried to do that every time. I would curse and encourage myself to get up it in one. It worked, now I see how many times I can get up it in a ride. Its part of a loop with a sweet little DH section, so for everytime I get up it, I reward myself with the DH bit.
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Old 06-21-05, 01:45 PM
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It's very easy (and often frustrating) to lose your Mo.
First off, don't be embarrased by walking. It happens to everyone. In fact, it's possible to actually conserve energy (different muscles used for running) while not losing a tremendous amount of time (not much difference in riding uphill at 4mph and jogging at 3mph).
Raiyn offered some great advice...turn around and try the section again. Momentum and shifting your weight are the keys...unfortunately most of us are not virtuosos and must practice, practice, practice.
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Old 06-21-05, 01:54 PM
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Most of the time uphill technical becomes even more difficult when the rider tries to steer a line through the mess. This is usually a bad decision.

It is very often better to not steer but instead go straight over obstacles. Steering can compromise your balance.

Like the others have said, use your body weight fore and aft to drive the momentum up and over.

Another mistake is gearing selection that is too short. If you go for the granny everytime you approach a difficult section, then you might be losing too much momentum. Momentum is your friend in all things mountain biking related. It's just knowing how much is either too little or too much. That is just a matter of practice.

So...
Balance: Go over, not around.
Momentum: Go faster, not slower.
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Old 06-21-05, 02:23 PM
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when i mtb i sometimes pull a 90 over the log if i am goin slow then spin around and stragiht myself out. . .seems to work for now till i get better
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