40-something success story

/3 Comments/in /by

Another happy reader who has discovered the joys of jumping, dropping and all-around ripping.

Lee – as an “old guy who should know better” (40!!). Started XC (all I knew about MTBiking, probably the same for most people) then discovered more gnarly terrain in the forests, it was magnetic, wanted to ride over it, getting off the beaten track – then discovered that was called Freeride!! Joy ! Bought THE rig, dumped the XC bike. Needed to learn the Techniques.

First you try yourself don’t you…..big mistake!!!! Then you look for tuition, expecting it to be as easy as finding a SnowBoard instructor….no chance in the UK!! Then you realise no one has broken down what skills you need and then broken each skill down into a step-by-step technique to achieve that skill – just like say, SnowBoarding!!!! Got a CERTAIN video which claimed to do this – rubbish !

Then saw DIRT mag recommending your book last year – so bought it. After 6 months of my bike being ‘STUCK’ to the ground, followed your pics and descriptions (good staged detail) and GOT AIR – god I was like a kid again, I’m obsessed!! 6 months after getting your book and many hours in my local forest later…I’ve cleared an 11ft 2inch distance jump and got up to a 3ft drop (this WILL get bigger!!) – god I love it. Now have 3 bikes for different disciplines and I’M ON IT all the time.

The book is great. Keep evolving it! EVEN more detail. Do a video…anything, this is what the sport needs!

Excellent thanks, Carl (UK)

PS: I wish I’d discovered your website ages ago ! The Q&A’s are really useful. The bit on dirt jumping (with the graphs about ramp angle/speed = distance and height) answers so many questions about my experience to date. Fantastic!

3 replies
  1. leelikesbikes says:

    Carl, thanks man. I’m working hard on a sequential teaching method, and I’ve just started training other instructors. I hope to publish a handbook and video soon.

  2. Justin Brown says:

    Carl,
    Welcome to the wonderful world of DH/DJ. I will be 39 in August and many times worry about injuries, mortgage, insurance etc. Then, I hit that one jump that has been bothering me and it’s like magic. I have been racing BMX since I was 12 so my situation is a little different, but I know where you are coming from. I wish you all the best in your “evolution.”

  3. Carl Boddy says:

    Lee,

    Thanks ! You’ve got my Email address so let me know when you have anything else ready. . . . I tempted to come over for some lessons!!

    Thanks Justin. As you get older you become too aware of how easy injury is. . . I wear the lot – the local kids call me “Mr Armor” !!!!

    Felt confident enough to go to a bike park yesterday. ‘Shore’, much harder than it looks but again addictively challenging. I’m going back next week!! There was also several DJ sets there ranging from beginners small (4ft ramp) to large (7ft). All of them gaps. I’ve hit a 4ft ramp I’ve made myself before and cleared a much bigger distance than the gap between ramp and transition at the park. BUT the park ramp was much steeper (prob a bit more than 45degs) and as I rode up it I felt like I was going vertical and would fall backward off the bike! I had to bail with fear. Anyone got any suggestions how to deal with that????????

    Been riding an ’06 Devinci Hucker hardtail (mostly doing all my learning on) and also an ’05 S-Works Enduro to do anything really !! My custom-build Demo9 will be ready next Tuesday, Fox40RC2 upfront – total build weight 49lbs. It’s a beast compared to the other two bikes. . . . . So anyone got hints/tips/advice on differing riding styles/approach (if any required) between this and my other bikes that I should be aware of?????????

    Many thanks and happy Rippin’, Carl.

Comments are closed.