Questions about riding in sand
03-01-14, 08:17 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ?
Posts: 2,300
Bikes: i may have bike(s)
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 46 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Questions about riding in sand
Background: riding for years and years, 2nd year racing on the road, both crits and rrs. Just started getting into mtn biking and prepping for a 50 mile race in April.
I live in the desert so we have hardpack trails that will have very soft sand (washes and such) here and there. I am fine riding straight across very sandy areas. I spin fast in a low gear, plus low pressure Geax Saguaros are great for this terrain.
Here is my trouble:
1. Tight turns in which the sand increases in thickness towards the outer radius. Usually, the inside line is several inches thick with very fine sand and the outer edge can be 12 inches or more. Often ruts and jeep tire lines make the turn very uneven throughout. I feel like my front end is going to go into the sand and just get buried. I almost want to bomb into the turn with my weight rearward and skid the rear slightly and then smoothly ramp up the speed to regain traction on the exit. What is the correct technique here?
2. Drop off’s into a thick sandy wash when i have speed. Frankly, I came across this yesterday and just walked the bike. I felt that if I launched off and landed with both wheels at the same time, I would be sunk so far into the sand that I’d stop. What is the correct technique here.
3. Drop off’s into a thick sandy wash when i don’t have speed. If it wasn’t sandy, I’d thrust myself far back over the rear wheel, creeping into the drop or try to pull a wheelie into the drop. What is the correct technique here?
Cheers for any help.
I live in the desert so we have hardpack trails that will have very soft sand (washes and such) here and there. I am fine riding straight across very sandy areas. I spin fast in a low gear, plus low pressure Geax Saguaros are great for this terrain.
Here is my trouble:
1. Tight turns in which the sand increases in thickness towards the outer radius. Usually, the inside line is several inches thick with very fine sand and the outer edge can be 12 inches or more. Often ruts and jeep tire lines make the turn very uneven throughout. I feel like my front end is going to go into the sand and just get buried. I almost want to bomb into the turn with my weight rearward and skid the rear slightly and then smoothly ramp up the speed to regain traction on the exit. What is the correct technique here?
2. Drop off’s into a thick sandy wash when i have speed. Frankly, I came across this yesterday and just walked the bike. I felt that if I launched off and landed with both wheels at the same time, I would be sunk so far into the sand that I’d stop. What is the correct technique here.
3. Drop off’s into a thick sandy wash when i don’t have speed. If it wasn’t sandy, I’d thrust myself far back over the rear wheel, creeping into the drop or try to pull a wheelie into the drop. What is the correct technique here?
Cheers for any help.
03-02-14, 09:12 AM
#2
will stop for donuts
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Maine
Posts: 214
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
it's hopeless, no one wants to ride in sand. and there is no correct technique besides keeping the rubber side down
03-03-14, 02:09 PM
#3
Moar cowbell
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: The 509
Posts: 12,481
Bikes: Bike list is not a resume. Nobody cares.
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
getting over the rear wheel and taking the high line help . . . but usually only with at least 125ccs on tap . . . .
__________________
RST Suspension | Canfield Bikes | 7iDP Protection | Maxxis | Renthal | Hayes | VonZipper Optics | GoPro
Originally Posted by Mark Twain
"Don't argue with stupid people; they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."
03-03-14, 07:35 PM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ?
Posts: 2,300
Bikes: i may have bike(s)
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 46 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Upon rethinking this, I am going to try pedaling into the turn to unweight the front more so that it might float a bit. I may drop the pressure on the front too.
Maybe I wasn’t clear in that the turns that I am coming across are very sandy only in the turn and not prior to or after. So I am dealing with a few bike lengths of sand to blast through.
Maybe I wasn’t clear in that the turns that I am coming across are very sandy only in the turn and not prior to or after. So I am dealing with a few bike lengths of sand to blast through.
03-05-14, 05:45 AM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ?
Posts: 2,300
Bikes: i may have bike(s)
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 46 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Haha. I am not interested in a fat bike! ^That picture does look like the sand that I go through on a few turns, add a few inches though.
It looks like I will have to wait a few days to work on my technique as it rained and everything is packed down. I think the best course of action is to get more into the local scene and follow some of the more experienced riders.
cheers!
It looks like I will have to wait a few days to work on my technique as it rained and everything is packed down. I think the best course of action is to get more into the local scene and follow some of the more experienced riders.
cheers!
