Log crawling
 

Hi there pretty new to mountain biking but have a strong history of BMX so alot transfers over but I seem to be having some trouble getting over some of the mid size to larger logs and branches any tips? Also im riding an 08 trek 4500. thanks!

well for smaller ones you can pop your front end up and roll your back tire over it or bunny hop...depending on how high you can hop or if your using clipless pedals you can flick the rear end up to give it a boost to roll over the log...but if its that big...you might just have to dismount and walk over it.

I have a pretty strong bunny hop but alot of the trails where I ride are pretty slow and tight so theres not always a chance to get up any kind of speed to try and jump it its more like a crawl over that im having trouble with slow speed stuff.

yea technical slow things can be really taxing on your stamina. You just gotta learn what your capable of rolling over, jumping over, and walking over...Hell, I mean, Its Mountain Biking! Improvise and see what works for you...just have fun and your golden.

So practice and experiment basically? Im definitly into the technical aspect of the riding Im in Illinois...... you roll a marble and it stops in wisconsin so I gotta work with what i got right?!? thanks for the tips

i'm kinda new and am having same trouble... i built a step-style bench thing with varying heights for slowing/stopping and tryin technical stuff over. seems to help with the fallen trees and large rocks or obstacles that i occasionally encounter. maybe you could try something like that in your yard... y'know, just to eff with in your free time.

it doesn't have to be pretty. i made mine outta left over wood scraps in my yard. works wonders for the technical ego... just an idea.

you think you could post a picture of that? sounds interesting i like it but its tought to have stuff like that i live on the second floor of an apartment building its bad enough bringing my muddy @ss bike up and down the stairs haha. but again thanks for the ideas im likeing this site more and more everyone here is pretty friendly which is rare for forums. thanks again

basically, grab whatever lumber ya can. especially 4x4's. you can find scraps all over the place. we used to set up stuff in a friend's yard when skateboarding. same idea. just find a place where no one will mess with it if ya can.

as far as structure, just build up different heights, like long steps, with the 4x4's and attach with 2x6's or 2x8's or a series of left over 2x4's as far as you can. try to make the sections about 2 feet longer (or more) than your bike so you can roll up to em and still trick of em with a little room. use wood screws so you can take stuff apart and readjust or add on if it isn't werking.

my rig isn't impresssive, but you get the idea. good luck!

I've seen some bash rings with the sawtooth pattern that either replaces the big ring or just protects the big ring. Either style (replace or protect) could help you get over larger logs by acting as a mid wheel. Trials guys/gals would probably instruct you to use another method, but as another said, whatever it takes.

Dave

In many cases on the trails where I ride, if a log is too big to ride on it's own, those who use the trail will build a ramp up and down on either side of it using some of the natural resources in the area (smaller logs, sticks, rocks, etc.).

You need t learn the "sex move" to crawl over stuff. Pop your front wheel up on said log, as a BMXer you probably can do a better wheelie than most, and then thrust your hips forward as if you are..well...you know...and then pull the bike back under you with your feet and arms so your body momentum gets the back end of the bike up on the log instead of cranking your wheel and spinning out when you lose traction. Can be done at whatever speed your balance will allow from a full stop between steps to just shy of bunny hop speed.

thanks madturtle i was out working on it today for about an hour and i was getting over some bigger stuff than normal but i was having trouble with exactly that the wheel spin when i got it lodged on the log so i will try the "sex move" next timei love the description because it really made it clear! so thanks ill give it a go im thinking of driving to wisconsin tommarow so ill give it a go

The way I learned to get my bike up on stuff wa to watch my cat jump onto things. Squirrels work too, at least for me they do. The way a cat bunches up it's hind legs and muscles before jumping, thats kinda what I keep in mind before hopping up onto a log or ledge or what have you. I know it sounds silly because every time I say this out loud in a conversation, somone laughs at me.

hahaha I really love the way that people describe this stuff because it really does go into my mind perfectly clear! bring your body back pull the front wheel up and over and basically recoil forward and "scoot" your bike forward with your body momentum. i was just watching my cat and it worked perfectly in my head! that with the sex move concept im set. thanks everyone your ideas were very well explained.

I was laughing as I read this, but because I was visualizing my cat jumping up to the window sill :D

I told you someone would laugh! Its the same anytime I explain it to anyone. They laugh and then they think about it and it works for them, too.

In BMX terms I believe this is called a "manual"

I laughed and thought and it worked today at the trails i was getting over stuff with a much cleaner route found myself put a foot down once every 5 or six logs as compared to once ever other log so I would say that is a pretty considerable difference thanks for the tips. between the tips and the constant practice its all getting much better.

Good to hear of your success. If you've got BMX skills, it should be pretty easy for you to navigate 18" diameter logs with ease. Manual in with the intention of placing your wheel directly on top of the log. When your tire hits, simultaneously begin your thrusting "sex move" and think about pulling your rear wheel up to the same spot on the log that your front wheel just left. When the rear wheel makes contact, shift your weight rearward as you roll off the backside of the log.

Timing is everything, and every log/ledge/rock is different. That's what makes it fun.