Rocking the flats

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Watching the Euros and Aussies drift through Earthed 3 and Hypnosis has inspired me to loosen up my style.

I never ride trail on flat pedals, but I had a great time Saturday working the pump and getting loose in the corners. That Enduro — so fun!




Flats force you to anticipate the rocks. Flow and pump, pump and flow.

Not a bad attack position, if I may say so myself. I’m a bit forward in anticipation of this dip, and my feet are angled to drive my weight into the BB. Fancy.

Fun. And different for a slow-down-and-square-it-up kinda guy.

Drifting — not skidding. That Sam Hill guy — I can take him.

Photos by Sacha Halenda. Thanks dude.

10 replies
  2. Norcal says:

    Can you drift with the foot up? I do like the faces you got going on but it does make me want to ask one question. Have you been using the psyllium husk? Not that it’s a bad look, it must be your I’m hauling ass look, but it kind of comes close to the old dog shitin peach pits look.

    Yea Lee rip it!!!

  4. leelikesbikes says:

    Dude, I’m dropping weight for the Mega-Universal Pump Track Throw-Down. Handful of gravel, then the psyllium husk … boom .. there go five pounds.

  5. Aussie Nige says:

    Lee mate to drift properly you have to ride on stuff we call pea gravel. It is literally like rideing on ball bearings if you can’t dift in Western Australia (Sam’s home) you won’t get round the corner.
    You should come and train here for a few weeks we will set ya right. I spent some time in your neck of the woods in 2000 was in Vale for the world cup that year. Lost my voise yelling for all the Aussie boys and couldn’t hold a beer for a while after getting major arm pump riding Keystones. I loved that place.

    Good ta see ya trying cheers Nige

  6. leelikesbikes says:

    Nige, I would LOVE to ride with you guys. Pretty soon I’ll be knocking on your door.

    All you Aussies who bought books — I have your address!

  8. leelikesbikes says:

    Close to Boulder on the Front Range. The weather here is crazy — a few weeks ago it was -10 F. Today it was close to 70. Random!

  10. leelikesbikes says:

    Hey Max.

    – I really enjoyed the freedom. Not being clipped in, free to move however I want.

    – It forced me to pump everything and be super aggressive with terrain absorption, which basically leads to ripping.

    – Corners were extra fun, and I got a lot looser than usual.

    – Sprinting was OK, but technical climbing was tricky. I kept accidentally lifting my feet. That’s an old habit from about 17 million miles clipped into road and XC bikes.

    I’m seriously considering racing the Sea Otter slalom on flats. I’ll give up a little snap, but I hope to make up for that with better corner speed and more aggression overall.

    Flats are definitely fun to ride — and they’re a great arrow for your quiver.

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