What do you do about intimidating new obstacles?
 

Well, I guess it's not so much an obstacle, but there's this cool little jump opportunity which I really want to hit, but don't quite have the confidence to hit it with enough speed to jump it because there are some scattered loose rocks on top of the tabletop and you have to turn left Right when you land. Like the landing is angled to the left. As of now, being a newbie both to MTB and kind of the area, I don't ride with others yet, so I have no one more experienced than me to follow or anything. The other side of the jump, if you don't land it right, takes you down a non-trail into some brush and it doesn't look particularly pleasant. How do you guys get over your nervousness and just go for it?

Practice on smaller stuff or stunts with better landings.

But if it's a table, just roll it to get the feel for the runout.

I've rolled it a number of times, and even taken it with enough speed to pull some little wheelie action on it. I just seem to be too nervous to it it with enough speed to really jump it. I even used to do a little BMX dirt jumping, but those never had landings on different angles than the rest of the table, or heavy brush and trees on the other side if you screw it up. Maybe I'm just a wuss. :(

Start with something easier like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LUKE...eature=related

Just like everything, you have to know how to push yourself without pushing too hard. If you feel more nervous than excited, it's probably not a good idea. Your gut will tell you better than anyone when you're ready to try it.

I don't try it unless I am with someone and I feel confident I can do it or at least not get seriously injured if I screw it up. If you are this nervous about it, I would probably find something else to try for now until you get more confidence. Just my thoughts though.

Alright, I guess I'll just wait until I head at it one day and feel like that's the day to charge it with some speed. Though I have recently started meeting some other MTBers in a local club, so perhaps I'll be riding with some of them this coming spring. I know I would feel more confident about it with a more experienced rider there.

:lol: You'd have to Try to fail that badly at that jump.

Whiskey + Body Armor.

Pretty much the answer to 99.78% of all of life's important questions.

Yah, then you can progress to something like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOnwl...eature=related

the more you jump the better you get the more you crash the more you learn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJviG...eature=related

Yeah I'd echo some of the earlier statements. Make sure you're not alone, then just do it if it feels right. I've found that with jumps and/or technical stuff, 75% of it is just having the confidence to do it.

My trick - when I started jumping doubles over 8 to 10 feet - was to move the bike. Twisting the bars or swinging the rear a bit (nothing big). As soon as I started doing this the "dead sailor" went away. I actually do the same on my snow board, grab the rail or nose - this little movement keeps me from freezing\locking up in the air, allows me to remain in control and consistently stick my landings. One last thing - if you get the jitters before the jump, save it for another day.

This. A little check mid air will keep you the rider, not the passenger.

armor gives confidence, so get some. as said, practice on small things with zero negetive consequence for failure, set up a little jump on a flat grassy area or something. get used to getting air. then go bigger, etc. once you get used to a move, then you can apply it on other obstacles.

i don't know much about body armor but i would say at least wear a helmet. i have done my share of stupid thing on a bike with out a helmet but according to friends people i'm just full of luck. this is me. it looks way worse than it was.

If it doesn't feel right atm, don't go for it. Also if you are deadset on getting it get to know your physical limits. On a new jump, I will first roll up to the jump to figure out the run in I want, then roll it to get the feel of the jump and the run off then it's on if it feels right to me.

Take account of the wind. Still is ideal, it gets trickier when the wind gets above a certain speed.

make mean faces and talk in a deep voice.


...oooooh!
yeah, what they said. practice, think about it, watch someone else do it, follow someone else over it, do it again!

jajaja, when I was about 17 I jumping a lot, but now , I'm 21 and I'm more cautious... if you don't want to fall you must be sure and firm, because if you are thinking while you are jumping, probably you will die.

+ 1

Have to hit jumps big and commit. Doing them halfway guarantees an unhappy ending.