Physical triggers

/1 Comment/in /by


Lee,

Lately I’ve been focusing on tweaking my skills, reviewing your book, and your site for things I can implement.

One of the things I reassessed was my attack position. I always thought I had a pretty good one, but after reviewing it I realized I was a bit lazy with my elbow position. By getting them a bit farther out with more bend, pushing my hips a bit farther back, and getting my head a bit lower it was like opening up a whole new can of braaap on the trail. This little tweak was far better than any doodad/improvement I’ve added to my bike.

I think I was also helped by really focusing on strengthening my core, increasing my flexibility and learning to use my hips more.

Speaking of hips, I love the cornering tip about imagining there is a flashlight in your belly button. My cornering technique increased ten fold with that one. I am a huge fan of those little physical clues/triggers to get your body to execute. I think they are a really effective way to learn, as they focus less on a step by step mechanical breakdown, which can bog me down, and more on the feel of the movement. Keeping your chin up and forward is another good one at getting yourself to scan farther down the trail. Love to hear more of these “physical trigger” tips.

Thank you so much.

MAX

Read more

Apples vs oranges: Enduro vs rigid 29er

/1 Comment/in , /by

Hi Lee,

I have a 2010 Enduro and it’s great for carving the steeper trails but It’s a bit too much for the commute/longer rides.

I’m 6ft5 and I have a 19″ hardcore hardtail (2010 Orange p7) for a second bike but its a bit too short and I’m considering a Kona Unit 29er to replace it. It’ll be my first 29er and I’m yet to be convinced — will it be a good skills sharpener for the enduro or just a sketchy tall freak bike that I’ll grow to hate …?

Cheers for any input
Matt

Read more

What happened to slingshot starts?

/1 Comment/in , /by


Hello!

Being a happy owner of the “Mastering Mountain Bike Skills” book, I have recently bought a second edition of it. After flicking through it, I see that there generally are a lot of things that were not in the first version – like your “attack position”, dual-slalom racing cues, “avoid injures” chapter and better explanation of pumping. And that’s great!

But I’ve also noticed that there is only one gate-start method briefly described in the second edition. Why is that? In the previous edition there was a pretty detailed description of a traditional start, random start and a “slingshot” technique (I’m not sure if I translated it well). Is there something wrong with those?

Your faithfully,
Kuba

Read more

Hung over in Sedona

/1 Comment/in /by

Our correspondent Russ just got back from Living the Life (capital Ls) in Sedona, AZ. Here’s his helmet cam of Hangover Trail.

Read more

Skills + adjustable seatpost = click!

/1 Comment/in , , , /by

Here’s a success story from one of last summer’s coaching clients. Jeff came from Kansas lookin’ for some braaap.

He found it.

Read more

29 v 26: Let the battle ensue

/13 Comments/in /by

My friend Jason, Specialized rep to the stars, says I get to test-ride a new carbon Epic 29er.

All I’m saying is:

Epic 29er vs Mighty Stumpjumper FSR. Timed laps. XC trails. Forget those maintain-constant-uphill-power-then-coast-the-downhills 29 v 26 tests. Both bikes will be hammered up and braaaped down.

I have two sets of fresh Eskars.

It’s on.

Rocking some indoor BMX

/10 Comments/in , /by


In a miraculous turn of events, I got a babysitter and went to spend Saturday at the Colorado Indoor BMX in Greeley, CO.

Plus: How does Captain America work for BMX?

Read more

Fox Attack glove on crazy sale

/in /by


Advertorial content

I just noticed the Fox Attack glove is on sale at JensonUSA.

MSRP: $34.95
Your Price: $18.99
That’s 46% off.

I really like this glove. It’s light and simple — much like the Specialized Enduro, another favorite — and its thinness gives you good connection with your grips.

This link will take you to JensonUSA’s sale page. Check out the Fox Attack (and other stuff) there.

Superior Bike Park: here’s the design

/4 Comments/in , , /by


After 2+ years of wrangling, we have a design and a plan for the bike park in Superior, CO. We start digging in March.

Read more

Colorado Indoor BMX this weekend!

/in /by

We frozen Coloradans get to rock some indoor BMX this weekend in Greeley.

Yes, there’s a mountain bike class.

– Saturday, Jan. 1 | Registration: 11am-1pm / Racing ASAP | Single Point BMX, MTB, Open racing

– Sunday, Jan. 2 | Registration: 9am-11am / Racing ASAP | Double Point ABA BMX Scholarship Race, MTB, Open racing

http://www.cibmx.org/

I plan to ride Captain America.

Dang, I’ve only raced BMX once since starting the Pro BMX Skills project. I used to have the worst gate in CO; let’s hope knowledge is power.

See y’all out there!

2011 Sea Otter Classic pro pump!

/2 Comments/in , , /by

I’m still wrangling details, but this much looks certain:

– I’ll be building the track for the 2011 Sea Otter pro pump track comp. Riding legend Jeff Lenosky and I are working on the design.

– The comp will combine elements of speed and style. It will be a head-to-head race with a time bonus for whomever throws the best style off the trick jump.

– I will be teaching clinics on the track! This is extra rad. Refine your pump fu on a world-class track. I’ll post times when I get the schedule.

– As soon as the contract is final, I will assemble the team. If you’re an experienced digger who wants to get paid to build (and ride) a revolutionary track, email me. I’m looking for people who know how to take direction and run with it.

This is going to be sweet.

Tires for those pointy Brazilian rocks

/in , /by

Hi Lee,

My name is Juscelino, I’m from Brasil, and I’m riding a new specialized stumpjumper FSR carbon. The main soil condition here is gravel, rocky gardens and single tracks. My style of riding is trail, and since I read your book I’m getting better descend skills. Thanks a lot for that!

I and my friends are using Specialized purgatory 2.2 (23 psi – I’m 86kg) in front and specialized the captan control 2.0 (30 psi) in rear, I’ve liked the traction and cornering with these tires, but at my third ride I get a side wall cut in my rear tire, it also happen with my friends. Is this tire inadequate? What tire do you recommend? (weight is not my first concern).

Thanks.

Juscelino Castro Blasczyk
www.clinicafisiocorpus.com

Read more