How many calories do you burn on a pump track?
Lee, I was wondering how many calories, on average, does some one burn riding a pump track for 5 minutes? figured you would be the man to ask..Let me know. Thanks, Alex
Archive for year: 2011
Freeride hardtail for my wife?
Lee,
I was thinking of building a long travel hardtail up for my wife. As I am generally full of bad gift ideas, I thought your opinion might be helpful on this….
Some back story here…my wife never got into mt. biking until I got her a 6″ travel AM bike. Then suddenly she could relax over the rough stuff, start getting some speed, and then was able to develop some riding skills (with the help of the Mastering Mt. Bike Skills book of course). Unfortunately she has really bad asthma and had a very tough time on her bike (an earlier AM model) that was heavy and didn’t pedal well. Ultimately we sold that and got her a used DH bike which she loves ragging on at Highland’s every weekend.
She wants to get back into doing some more trail riding. I thought a “free-ride” hardtail would be a good idea for three reasons: 1) having learned on plush big travel bike she doesn’t really get line choice and smoothness. A hartail might help her learn this. 2) A hardtail would be lighter and more efficient than most (non-XC race oriented) bikes. That might help her with the asthma. 3) A long travel hard tail would be fairly slack and handle more like the DH bike that she is used to. It would also let her do some fairly gnarly stuff occasionally, while taking the “sting” out of hardtailing. 3a) long travel hard tails are rad.
Of course I could think of many reasons why this is a dumb idea…but I would love to know your thoughts. Thanks for your time-Jake.
Where do I get my crazy socks?
Hi Lee,
I’ll be surprised if I get a response to this email but I’m going to try anyway…. I recently picked up a copy of mastering mountain bike skills vol.2. I noticed in some of your pictures you’re wearing what appears to be some nifty Sock Guy republican socks…..just wondering where I could find a pair of those for myself? Thanks for your time!
Michael S
West Virginia
PS. Come to the east coast, and make a stop in Snowshoe or Fayetteville.
Foot position on flat pedals?
Lee,
I have a question about foot positioning when using flat pedals. I recently read that with flats you need to have your feet centered over the pedals for better balance and power. I converted to flats two years ago but after years of using clipless I automatically have the balls of my feet centered over the pedal axles. I tried the recommended positioning during my nightly drill session and it just didn’t feel right. Should I change my phantom clipless pedal position, or am I just going to break something that’s already been fixed?
P.S. Any chance of a clinic in Hawaii?
Mahalo,
Keoni
Mark Weir on forks
I recently had a wide-ranging email conversation with our hero Mark Weir, and I thought I’d report the major findings:
Public skills clinics at Valmont Bike park in October
Yes, you can bring your cross bike! You’ll be amazed at what you can do with drop bars and skinny tires. Just let me know, and I’ll bring mine. Skills are skills!
Classes are limited to six riders each. Cost is $90 and includes the opportunity to purchase the book Mastering Mountain Bike Skills or Pro BMX Skills for a discounted $20.
• Saturday, Oct. 8, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. OVER WITH
• Saturday, Oct. 29, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. BOOKED
We will cover the core skills, then we’ll focus on whatever the group wants (and is ready for). Expect to dial in position, braking, cornering and pumping. If all goes well, we’ll do some dropping and jumping too.
Off the clock
Just got back from an hour “off the clock” at Valmont Bike Park.
What a great little adventure — and a test of the new 2.3 Specialized Renegade.
BMX bike for MTB training (again)?
Hey there Lee
I am a mediumly ordinary MTb rider, who does not get out often enough. I have bought Mastering Mountain Bike Skills edition2, and it is a great book, however I really do not to get to session stuff much which would imprint skills into my old brain. And so often ” just riding” gets in the way of actual learning.
Recently a couple of pump tracks have been built where I live ( In Wellington, NZ ) and they are of course just ideal for sessioning and skills. I am just starting to ride awkwardly on them.
My question is this: might is be worthwhile getting a BMX bike for the purpose of fun and skill acquisition?
I have a peferectly excellent MTB (an Ibis Mojo) however in a way having a completely different bike would make riding a pump track an event, and I would be more likely to session it and not be tempted by the nearby MTB trails?
I do not want to build a hard tail MTB as the Mojo is just fine for all the trails, and in some ways a HT is an unbalanced beast compared with a fully rigid BMX or a fully sprung MTB ?
Your BMX book does look enticing!
cheers
Rob
Wellington, NZ
The Eskar is dead, long live the Eskar
Hi Lee,
I’ve been getting my cornering kung fu on, diligently following your bible of a book, and putting the Specy Butcher 2.3 SX to task. Things have really started to come together.
For todays ride I slapped an Eskar2 Control on the back to lighten things up, and I was amazed at how well that tire corners. Better than the Butcher, the Eskar rails. There are a series of turns that I use as a benchmark, and man on the second corner I could of sworn I was Curtis Keene on page 91 of your book. It was a blast.
I remember reading on your site that Specialized is ditching this tire for 2012. Is this true? And if yes is there anything that can be done to save it? The updated version of the Eskar with the higher side knobs is just about the best cornering tire I have ever used. I mean if it can make me feel like Curtis Keene, even for a split second, thats a tire that can perform miracles!
Max
Public skills clinics at Valmont Bike park in September
Spots are available for the Sept. 14 and 24 clinics. I guarantee this will blow your mind in a very cool way. Come out and rip it!
THE MAGIC LIVES ON! We have been approved for four public clinics at Valmont Bike Park in September. This is the A-1, lowest-cost way to have more fun on your bike.
Classes are limited to six riders each. Cost is $90 and includes the opportunity to purchase the book Mastering Mountain Bike Skills or Pro BMX Skills for a discounted $20.
• Wednesday, Sept. 7, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. RAINED OUT
• Wednesday, Sept. 14, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. RAINED OUT
• Sunday, Sept. 18, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. SOLD OUT
• Saturday, Sept. 24, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. SOLD OUT
We will cover the core skills, then we’ll focus on whatever the group wants (and is ready for). Expect to dial in position, braking, cornering and pumping. If all goes well, we’ll do some dropping and jumping too.
Our sessions have had an awesome vibe. Six random riders united in a grand adventure! Sign up today.
Crossing it up
In Rome you do whatever the Romans do. In Boulder you ride cyclocross.
This weekend is a big CX race at Valmont Bike Park, so this morning …
Rocking the skills in Fruita
Hey Lee,
I just got back from a weekend in Fruita. I tried to use all the tricks and tips you gave us at the public skills clinic at Valmont Bike Park. I had been to Valmont a couple of times after our clinic. Working the pump track, etc.
Let me tell you, all of that came in so handy in Fruita. I had been there a couple times before, but this time, I really rode it hard. We did 22 miles of singletrack both at Bookcliffs and Loma. My quads and ass are still hurting from being in attack position all day. I completely ate up Kessel Run and Rustlers Loop. Pumping like a mad man. Attacking the corners with a bike lean. Always in attack position. Popping, dropping, and ripping it all day. It was a complete blast.
Thanks much. I look forward to continuing working on my skills.
Thanks
Stephen