This drop is tiny and a few years ago I would have had no problem sending it, in 2022 I had a pretty bad dirtbike wreck and had to have shoulder surgery, now that I work full time and have had that surgery my confidence struggles a lot, I just got a new bike and am motivated to ride but it’s hard for me to ride new features at unfamiliar places. What tips could help with my confidence in unfamiliar places like this?
by nolantrx
10 Comments
Riding with other people helps a lot, esp when they can “tow” you into the drops. It’s way easier when they can give you the speed you need to go, and it’s also a confidence boost to see someone do it directly in front of you right as you’re about to launch.
The more important part, though, is ride what’s fun. If drops are too intimidating just don’t ride them. There’s tons of other stuff to do, and I bet as you spend more and more time on your bike you’ll eventually be motivated to go back to working on them. And if you’re not, who cares, ride what’s fun.
I have no interest in doing that drop, or any significant drops. It doesn’t diminish what I want out of mountain biking, because I understand what I want – that’s to be riding bike in nature and accomplish the uphill struggles.
Almost everyone struggles with confidence in so many aspects off daily life don’t feel bad for not being a Red Bull hero.
Find a buddy to get you psyched and tow you in or put in leg work to find drops to practice that grow just a few cm/in at a time.
I came back to mtb in my mid 40’s. My drop technique is solid. I am good at judging speed. But I have tiny shriveled old man huevos any more 😉 Takes me a lot to get psyched for new drops. Meanwhile I am way more psyched for sketchy jumps or janky steep shit somehow.
Put on some elbow and knee pads, confidence +2
I’m sure other people will give you good advice on confidence so I’m going to say the part that I think some people need to hear.
I’ve been there myself in a really bad accident on a jump line resulting in a concussion where I forgot a whole week and permanent loss in the range of motion (albeit minor) in my left arm. It was hard coming back to mountain biking suddenly afraid of things that I used to clear with ease.
When you go on social media you see amazing riders shredding up trails and you feel a pressure that you have to be the same way. I realized it’s not true as long as I’m having fun that’s all that matters. I haven’t jumped since and I still love riding.
Don’t feel any sort of pressure to do anything just find something that you enjoy doing with the level of confidence you have now. One day you’ll clear the drop or I’ll feel confident enough to hit a jump. It’ll come naturally.
Order some light body armor. Knee/shins/elbow/forearm/chest piece/gloves along with your helmet.
Makes crashing a lot easier, still scary, can still break stuff if but the road rash and scrapes won’t be too much of a problem anymore. Lol
Only way to get past this hurdle is to fuckin send it and hope for the best.
My dude, **we all** have that from time to time. Don’t feel bad about it, just do what you’re comfortable with and it’ll grow back in time.
As far as “confidence in unfamiliar places”, I think the key is riding as much **variety** as you can. I think you can build up a mental catalog of things you have seen before that are like the new things you are seeing. Then when your brain sees something new you can relate it to something comfortable.
I’d say ride what’s fun to you. I struggle a lot with confidence too, and I won’t do anything once my head has gone. I have ridden some gnarly stuff without problems, then will freak out because of a stone in the wrong place on a different track. Build it up slowly, there is a lot of fun to be had without taking in risk you aren’t comfortable with.
Build up from something even smaller until you feel confident.
Also, a bit more protection woudn’t hurt if you do get unlucky and fall off.