Learning how to ride gnarly uphill switchbacks

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Lee,

We’ve just completed another track here in Toowoomba — and it has heaps of steep switchbacks on loose material. Now, your book had a fair chunk of detail on descending these types of things, and I’m achieving moderate success.

Climbing them — I leave much to be desired. Can you give a few additional recommendations on how to be more successful climbing steep, loose (dare I say hastily constructed, with no turning platform) switchbacks?

This (Toowoomba) is Jared Grave’s home town — and he has been out there the last couple of months using the tracks we’ve just revamped and the new ones we’ve constructed since the flood damage we had at the beginning of the year. I don’t actually know him, but quite a few guys in the club do.

Anyway, hope all is well with you, and thanks for your advice.

Kind regards,

Matt

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CrossFit workout of the day: Fiona

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Man, I gotta get some CrossFit freaks to help me build pump tracks. They’d love the punishment.

Keep reading for the WOD …

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Austin, TX and the Specialized Camber Comp 29

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Last weekend, as part of coach training for the Texas high school mountain bike league, I got to ride new trails on a new bike. This is a quick-hit review of the trails and the bike, plus riding a 29er and other stuff.

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Building my pump track: Update 1

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Great progress yesterday and today.

Big snow tonight and tomorrow. I’ll be bummed if digging gets postponed, but the moisture will be good for the dirt.

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Coaching coaches in Texas this weekend

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Last weekend’s SoCal and NorCal high school coach coaching sessions were exhausting and excellent. I worked with 55 coaches, many of whom have 20, 50 or even more kids in their programs.


“This, class, is how one rips — and how one teaches others to rip.” Photo from NorCal director Vanessa Hauswald.

This weekend I’m off to Austin, TX to teach the first wave of Texas high school mountain bike coaches.

High school mountain biking coast-to-coast by 2020 …

Check out the current NICA leagues

Pushing the limits of pump track design (in my back yard!)

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Yes, my backyard pump track is finally underway. The property is steep, the contour promising and the trees intriguing. I’ve been too busy to tackle this on my own, so I’ve engaged The Man Himself — James Hall, the best shaper in the northern hemisphere, soon returning to the southern hemisphere — to help make this dream real.

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Tires for all-mountain bike on the Front Range (again)

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Hi Lee,

First off thanks for keeping a killer blog! And for your books. I’ve got MMBS and have learned lots (even though I’ve been mountain biking for 16 years). I am hoping you can help me out with a tire question. I am a Front-ranger (live in Westminster) and mountain bike all along the front range. I got a Pivot Firebird this spring and love it. I find myself riding more aggressively on this bike. It came with Nevegals which I did not like.

I am having trouble finding a good balance of weight vs traction/cornering/braking in tires for this bike. I see you have some time on the Clutch and Butcher tires. Since these are offered in the control casing, they are pretty light. Would you recommend either (or some combination) of these tires for an all mountain/long travel trail bike on the front range? Or steer me in another direction?

Thanks, in advance, for any input you can provide.

Jason

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Tomorrow’s odd tire combo

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For tomorrow’s trail session, experimenting with Oscar Madison in front, Felix Unger in back.

UPDATED WITH RIDE REPORT!

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Top 3 adjustable seatposts

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I recently asked Mike Luby from Dirt Labs and the guys at The Fix Bike Shop for their top 3 adjustable seatposts.

Quick and dirty:

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Coaching coaches in California

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Big adventure this weekend:

• Coaching SoCal high school mountain bike league coaches in Riverside on Saturday.
• Coaching NorCal high school mountain bike league coaches in Davis on Sunday.

It feels strange traveling with just a helmet, flat pedals and my laptop. I look forward to borrowing bikes and spreading the braaap!

Next weekend: Coaching Texas high school mountain bike league coaches near Austin.

We are saving the world — one rider at a time.

Bottoming out with a Fox DHX 5.0 shock

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Hello, I have a question for you.

I own an Ironhorse Sunday with a Fox DHX 5.0 shock. It feels right when I’m on the bike, but for example if I’m in the parking lot and I do a bunny hop and then when landing I push down applying some force I can reach the shock bottom out bumper.

I’m running it too soft, hard, or its normal? (My sag is correct.)

Sorry if my english isn’t very correct.

Thanks, Manuel

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First ride: Specialized Butcher 2.3 Control

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This just in: New 2.3 Butcher Controls tested out on steep Front Range home trails — deliver quick feel, good grip and extra braaap.

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