Been riding for like 2 weeks. Went to Flow Trail with the assumption it was a beginner trail. Nope. Was pretty much on my brakes the whole time. Was pushed to expand how I think about the bike, but still feel like I should be doing more with my upper body and legs, and afraid my feet come off the pedals.
by TAKECAREOFURSELF9172
30 Comments
Stand up
Go faster
Lots of things to know and work on but at this point the best advice for turns and berms is to get your eyes looking where you WANT to go rather than looking down at your tire. You’ll get immediately faster in berms.
I’m far for being a good MTBiker and still learning, but it seems to me that you are way too much in the backseat which gives you very little grip on the front wheel. I struggle with the same issue often.
Flow trail is a pretty solid starter trail. It’s where I would bring new riders to experience and understand the basics. A tip for your riding- you get too far behind the seat you want to stay centered on the bike through the corners and the steeps. This will require you to trust the bike, fork, and your upper body strength to maintain a solid position.
Faster and outside line
Lean the bike separately from you. It’ll engage the side knobs way better than if you lean with the bike. You’ll be surprised how much lean you can actually get out of the bike.
Leaning back too much. Need to get that attack position down, will help with everything.
Your utter pedal needs to be lower. That way your weight centre is moving lower and you can lean more towards the ground. You’re doing good
More speed and the stuff the others have said.
Weight on the front wheel, stand up more on your legs
Bend your elbows, hinge at your hip. That will bring your Center of mass forward as you’re currently way over the back. Hopefully you can find a neutral point where you’re balanced right smack in the middle of both tires, usually it’s about right if your chin is right over your stem.
Best advice, hire a coach for a day and let them pick you apart. You’ve already invested thousands in your equipment, a couple hundred bucks to learn how to use properly is a drop in the bucket.
Watch Ben Cathro’s How to Bike season 1 on pinkbike youtube
Leaning way too far back is one. Def hire a coach.
Stand out of the saddle, hips back in the attack position. Hit a higher line so that it slingshots you back into the trail.
And wear a cape. If you’re too slow or if you sit down it’ll get caught in the back wheel, you will be dragged by your throat backwards and die.
A good mental image for good form (please don’t really wear a cape)
Feedback?
Another newb on an electric bike dragging brakes while poaching Demo.
It must be a day ending in “y.”
A lot of good advice in these comments, and a couple I don’t agree with. You’re doing good though and you have the right intentions. Watch some YouTube videos before you pay anyone to teach you. You may find you get enough info to dial in the techniques for free.
The Loam Ranger made a Youtube video on cornering a few years ago that was really helpful for me. I’ll have to see if I can find it again
Lean into the corners and you can go faster 👍
Stand up tall.
Use the full berm, or you’ll find out why once you take it with more speed.
Correct your body position. You’re way too far back towards the end.
Line choice, me personally high outside- no roots and you’ll actually hit the berm where you are supposed to. But line choice of course is personal preference to some degree.
YouTube “attack position” and put peddle down on the outside of the turn and your body weight on the lowered outside pedal. Lean the bike to turn, not your body, stand on outside pedal.
https://youtu.be/spbl1WvzlMY?si=hmjsEgN1p1tJuOIX
Yeah work your ready position. Looks like you are too far back. This will help everything with your riding.
Your leaning back too much and you look stiff. Put more weight on your handle bars. Lean your bike in the berms and turns while dropping the outer crank and putting your weight on it. So if your turning to the left, your bike will lean to the left, and your hips and weight will be towards the right side of the bike.
Confidence and speed.
1 – ride more and develop fitness.
These flow trails are like a long wall sits. So if you can stand on your peddles off your seat for 5-10 minutes your ready to attack the trail. Sitting is the fastest way to get rejected off the bike
2 – Go take a skills clinic where you can learn and practice, with feedback, fundamentals. This will help develop balance, stability, and control.
Without fitness and fundamentals, your not going to progress much.
Ride your bike, enjoy, and grow at your own pace.
Heavy feet, light hands. Stand up and feel that position before you do anything. And yep, you are way too over the back wheel.
Rail the outside. Ride loose, have fun.
More speed and commitment
Enter high and wide, look to and and head for the exit
Get yourself a coaching session. A professional coach will be able to do wonders for you in a few hours. Google MTB coaches in your area.
Any advice on reddit should be taken with a grain of salt.