As some of you know, I’m working on the grand unified theory of shred.
This week I got the opportunity to work with Reed Whiting, a racer on the Red Bull Crashed Ice Series. I taught him kung fu at Valmont Bike Park on his inline skates, and — well — all of the same principles apply no matter what size wheels you ride.
Check out the radness:
As you might know, fun happens at the intersection of challenge and skill. Today I found the sweet spot on the Whale Tail at Valmont Bike Park.
When I started this whole adventure 10 years ago, I envisioned a community of bicycle skills instructors teaching a shared curriculum — just like “real” sports. This has taken some time, but it’s happening.
In June, NICA executive director Austin McInerny and I certified a half dozen instructors to teach the Lee Like Bikes Training Method to high school coaches, who will then teach the Method to high school riders all over the United States.
This was a huge moment! I only cried once.
If you’ve seen any of the Red Bull Crashed Ice events — imagine 4X on hockey skates down an ice track of doom — you’ve probably thought 1) rad! and 2) how do they train for this?
Well, it turns out pump tracks and bike parks are perfect. Pump is pump. Ripping is ripping. Kung fu is kung fu.
Hey Lee,
I have repeatedly read your articles about the Stumpjumper FSR 29. I own a 2012 model and I’m quite happy with it. The only problem is my stock fork (Fox 32 Float 29). My crown always got “loose” and starts cracking (more or less always after 3 to 6 months of use). The 1st and the 2nd time I got a new crown/steerer tube. Now it’s the 3rd time I have to visit my local bike store and ask for replacing it.
I’m pretty disappointed with this fork and I would like to change it to something with thicker legs and more travel (140) but will my problem then being solved? Is the crown/steerer part of a Fox 34 more stable than mine?
I started biking 2 years ago in Austria (Alps), I don’t think my riding style is too aggressive for this bike (I have no problems with the frame, the rear suspension or the wheels, just with the fork).
Thank you very much for helping…
Daniel
Hey all, I have tons of cool stuff to post on this site, but I’m teaching 2-3 clinics every day — plus other action — and I’m barely staying on top of it.
For current material check out the Lee Likes Bikes Facebook page.
BRAAAP!
Lee
Very kind article from Cheri Felix at 303cycling.com:
>>> Lee Likes Bikes and I Like Lee And Bikes Too
“Lee is one of those guys that knows what he’s talking about, and he gives you the information you need without being judgy or impatient. It’s like for those three hours each one of us was his best friend. He has this quality of teaching with so much excitement that you feel like it is his first time. But you know it isn’t. He’s too good.”
That’s funny: I’ve taught hundreds of these lessons, but every one does feel like my first. I feel the same nervousness, excitement and stoke. Pretty rad.
Lee,
I started your Pump Up the Base program a couple of weeks ago. Initially, I put a slick on an old mountain bike and mounted the bike on a trainer. However, the gearing on the mountain bike is too low to get to the speeds needed to create enough resistance on the trainer for some of your exercises. So, I am looking to buy a road bike for training purposes.
It appears that there are a couple of main categories of road bikes: bikes oriented to racing that have aggressive geometries and stiff frames and bikes oriented to endurance riding that have more relaxed geometries and somewhat less rigid frames. Considering that the bike will primarily be used for your training program, is one of these categories of bikes preferable over the other?
Ron
Hey Lee,
Why does it feel harder to pedal with a FOX TALAS fork in “shorter” mode while climbing? For example you’re chugging along, climbing your favorite moderate to steep (insert appropriate grade % here) fire road, you drop the fork, and it gets NOTICEABLY harder to pedal.
This one appears to have some debate around it. Physics and some good Lee Likes Bikes diagram kung fu should be able to kill it. What’s your take? Has anyone tested whether it’s perceived or real?
Thanks,
Mark
Chris in Australia is doing the Pump Up the Base training program, and he’s working in some pump track action, but he wants to know how he can maintain pump for the long intervals.
Hey Lee,
I’ve been following your career for awhile now, and am always impressed by your pump track advocacy and advice. I have the book you wrote with Lopes on my kindle. I’ve built my own stuff on private land.
Here’s my question: tons of people talk about good cornering technique, and then I saw your video about pumping on flat ground. It’s awesome! I’ve been practicing it the past couple of days, as I’ve always been nervous in corners, and I’ve found that I can go from a track-stand to around 10mph uphill and down. Now my question is this: How practical is this drill for trail riding? It seems super practical, easy and fun to me, but I’ve never seen it before and not many people seem into it. Is it because the same rules don’t apply as much at higher speeds?
Thanks for taking time to read this!
Philip
I dig Dirt’s recent interview with Fabien Barel about Flow (capital F), and I got to use his wisdom today while working with DH champ Alex Willie.