Today we’re moving into a new place, and it’s gonna be sweet. Salient features:

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Hey Lee,

I think everything about cornering you have taught me just clicked. however i am still having minor troubles with the front wheel slidding a little bit. Any advice?

Zach

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Hey Lee
I am currently riding an 07 Demo 8 size Medium Frame. I am 6′ 1″ and the bike feels cramped. I have a 50mm stem on the bike. Would putting a 65mm stem on the bike effect the bikes handling and stearing? Or would it be wiser to buy a size large frame for the Demo 8? Or even a size large Demo 7 which has the same wheel base as the Demo 8 but has a 1 degree steeper head angle as the medium Demo 8?

How tall are you and what size Demo do you ride? Do you know the size of the bikes the guys on Team America ride and their heights?

Thanks for your help.
Ted

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Would you ever recommend using Ergon grips for DH riding? I’ve been toying with the idea since my two end fingers get sooooo worn out after 8 runs down anything. I’m getting a softer spring for my Domain on Monday, and heading up for a last hoorah at WinterPark on Wednesday. Do you foresee the Ergon grips helping/hurting any part of “pinky/ring” finger muscle strain???

Thanks for all your help and all your help previously. You’re the best.

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Lyons, CO (leelikesbikes.com) - The mighty youths of Singletrack Mountain Bike Adventures showed Hall Ranch who is boss.

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Dudes … I’ve been so pinned with the BMX book, a site redesign and random information architecture stuff that I’m going nuts. Too much work and not enough play makes Lee a grumpy boy.

But today — today — I’m riding Hall Ranch with the kids of SMBA. Heck yeah!!! Watch for photos of young people ripping singletrack.

The new BMX technique book has a name, and it’s going to be ultra sweet. I just put up a quick page:

www.probmxskills.com

Pro BMX Skills covers equipment, technique, tactics and training with a depth and clarity never before seen in BMX (or most other sports). I’ve partnered with some of the best riders in the sport, and their knowledge and talent come through in a big way.

If you want to ride safer and faster, you need this book.

Pre-order special: Order now and save $10 off the list price.

Super cool!

BMX racers are the kings of jump manipulation. One of today’s top pros shows us how to “pick up” for a big face.

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You can get 30 pages of full-color pump track love mailed right to you. I’m using a company called CreateSpace, which is an affiliate of Amazon. You order the book, they print it, it shows up at your house then you start digging!

The price is $17.99. To buy a copy, go to the Welcome to Pump Track Nation page on CreateSpace.

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Welcome to Pump Track Nation is being used amateur and professional pump track builders all over the world. Learn more about the book.

Last weekend’s SolVista Mountain States Cup had cross country, downhill and dual slalom, but Saturday afternoon was all about the pump track.

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Yesterday’s Mountain States Cup dual slalom at SolVista Bike Park was super duper fun.

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Hi Lee,

Great book I enjoy it very much. It’s the best investment since I bought my first MTB, well that and attending your clinic.

I do have a question about braking. On your book you said to keep the legal speed of 15 mph. I try to do it on a smooth grade or rolling singletrack. How about on a long 4-5 miles fire road what should I be doing? If I don’t brake I can quickly gather speed but if I try to slow down I’m just dragging my brake. Is there a secret formula to roll smoothly and still maintain relatively legal speed?

Thanks again for writing the book. You have no idea how much it helped me. I hope you are in SoCal soon. I want to do a Jedi Knight clinic.

Best Regards,
Albert

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Mike Kreger is one of the smoothest dirt jumpers (and racers) you’ll ever see. Yesterday we shot some sequences for the BMX book. Here’s Mike pumping a set of double jumps.

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Hey Lee

I have just recently heard that the good folks at sandhill ranch might be considering shutting down the bike section because of unknown reasons. I personally consider this a horrible thing to happen. If I had the opportunity to help them keep the area open or help maintain the park, I would.

Can you PLEASE help me rally the braaapers and help please keep this wonderful area open.. What forums can I write to? Who can I motivate to help? Can IMBA help us? If you have any suggestions can you please send it our way? I’m deeply worried. If it was a matter of money I would pay double what they charge. If its a matter of up keep, I would volunteer. thoughts? Your expertise and knowledge is valued and respected. Please help me keep this heaven open.

Daniel

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Hey Lee.

I have an older 05 sx trail frame I am looking to build up for light freeride use. It uses a 5th element 8.75×2.5 shock. The headangle is too steep though even with the very long 66 forks it originally came with. I am wanting to run an 06 for 36 talas on it so it becomes more of a problem. The other issue is that I’m not a huge fan of the stock shock and I have access to a dhx5 in 8.5×2.5 size. Is this my silver bullet? How much difference will the shorter length make to the h/a?

Cheers, Jonny

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Hi Lee,

Your website in an invaluable source of info, and thanks to your tips I’ve become a better rider. Lately I’ve been practicing aggressive cornering a lot; as you say pointing your hips in the direction of the turn is key.

I’ve noticed that I can more effectively point my hips in the right direction if I keep the turning side foot behind, ie keep the right foot behind when turning right, and the left foot when turning left. Yet since I’m right handed and my dominant foot is the left, it comes natural to keep the right foot behind even when turning left, which results in less effective hips turning.

Lately I’ve made an effort to “switch stances” when cornering to the left. Am I doing the right thing or should I just keep the same stance all the time? In your pictures I noticed that you keep the dominant/left foot in front when cornering in either direction. Thanks

regards, Vito

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This summer’s public clinics have been a ton of fun. Due to popular demand, we’re going to rock some Core Skills Clinics on July 26 and Aug. 2, 9 and 16.

There is no better (or cost effective) way to improve your cycling kung fu. Keep reading …

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Great site Lee.

My buddies and I are getting more into pump tracks. Most recently we just laid the groundwork on my friends backyard pump track. Its already starting to take shape nicely.

I have a question about bikes. I’m 6′ 2 and I’m trying to figure out what kind of frame to build up. I love Yeti’s so the long Yeti DJ comes to mind. I have also been looking at the Santa Cruz Chameleon. I guess I’m looking for a bike that I can ride the pump track on, but also do some urban and light trail on. Being tall its hard to decide what size is right. Is there a good rule to follow for pump/urban bikes. Like maybe one size down from what normal sizing would be?

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Ian

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Hey Lee,
Love your book, I have question, I am looking to buy a new bike next year I want a 29 er, should I go with a full suspension or a hard tail?

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I suppose it’s a bit late, but I know where I want to go to high school.

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