Hi Lee,

I wrote a while back asking advice about hopping the dreaded bucking log. I’m still having some timing issues to get a solid bunny hop going, but after picking up MMBSii, I’ve realized there’s a ship load of pumping and cornering technique for me to master that are really improving my flow! I’ll conquer the log some day.

Anyway, I’m having a hard time with “V” shaped terrain: Steep 15′ or so down to a tiny creek with a few rocks and then back up the other steep side. The bottom of the “V” is narrow enough that my front tire starts going up the other side before my back tire is done going down.

I’m having a very hard time figuring out what to do with my body position and bike while making the transition at the bottom. In fact, I’m not really sure what I’m doing. As the rear tire hits the rocky bottom, I seem to have all 200+ lbs of my weight multiplied on it, making a rough transition that ends up with a pinch flat 1/3rd of the time (that’s better than a few years ago before practicing the heavy feet technique when the forks would bottom out and almost through me over the bars!).

I know you are a busy man with the family and your various bike-related events, but I would be stoked to learn the technique for this type of terrain!

As a side note - I have a hardtail 29er and keep my seat at XC height.

Thanks Lee!

- Eric

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I did this email interview for Chris O’Brien writing for Examiner.com. Might as well post it here.

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This was another busy but fruitful week. Highlights:

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Hey all, our friend and ex-pupil Evan Powell has qualified for the junior Worlds DH team. He’s selling some sweet cutting boards to finance his trip.

Buy a cutting board, send a ripper to Worlds.

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A recent coaching client, an ultra XC racer, just got back from Diablo Mountain Bike Park with his son. He came back with questions:

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Dude. Yesterday I did a little coaching action at Keystone, and it was good. Except for this one moment.

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Hi Lee,

I’ve been a fan of your site and 1st edition for a couple of years now. I’ve learned a lot from both your site and book which has put my riding to a new level. Unfortunately, there’s been a particular issue that’s put me on the ground a couple of times recently and I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong. It involves going downhill on a fairly steep and long, fairly supported berm. Generally I’m trying to turn harder than the berm, so I’m leaning the bike, not the body into the turn and pushing pretty hard. I keep “heavy feet, light hands” in mind and look ahead and through the turn towards the next trail feature. Somehow my front wheel manages to tuck in the same direction as the turn, which stops the bike and sends me over the bars. It happens so fast that I don’t even know what happened until I’m on the ground.

Fortunately, I’m wearing my full face helmet and protective gear so I haven’t had any serious injuries but I’d like to try and figure out exactly what’s going on so this can stop happening. I’ve considered if it was just line choice (loose stuff in the turn?) or front/aft weighting (front wheel too light?). I’m riding a Santa Cruz Blur 4x which is a pretty slack and low and likes to rail turns.

Thanks!

-Joe

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Hey, I’m going to Northstar this weekend to race in the beginner’s (junior) class (karpiel, speed control, sticks & stones). This is my first time racing DH and I need some tips. I will be riding my Trek Remedy. I already have a chainguide, 28″ bars, 40mm stem, a RS lyrik, and 2.3 DTC nevegals F&R. Thanks!

Joseph

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Hey Lee,

I’ve been looking at your website a little bit, and you seem to really understand how to coach mountain biking. I live in the Bay Area (south of San Fransisco, CA), and was wondering if you know of any good instructors in the area. Also, if not, in your opinion do you think it is possible for me to teach myself using your book or do I really need an instructor?

Thanks,
Caleb

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Hey Lee,

I was at Sol Vista a few weeks ago and had a question about proper technique for max speed/smoothness/what-have-you. There are a lot of berms that have what seems like a jump or bump leading up to them. If you go even moderately fast, it seems pretty much impossible to entirely suck up the bump. So, I figures proper technique would be to pre-jump the lip, land on the backside and pump into the berm. However, I saw some people who appeared to be much faster than I am (at least they were clearing long tables that I couldn’t) who looked like they were just blasting off of the initial bump and slamming into the berm.

What’s the right way to do it?

Thanks, Scott

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