So, I’m trying to figure out why I crashed so I can improve. A couple caveats:
1) Please try to ignore my partner gasping lol
2) I know that I two-wheel hopped and dead sailored – two things I try to avoid. I dont think that helped but I also dont think it caused the crash by itself
It looks like my wheel turns abruptly and its all over. That said, there was no rock or root or rut, so why did it turn. Is it possible that I pulled my front brake too hard while my weight distribution was travelling forward and thats what locked up and then turned the wheel? Btw, that pretty sure that squeak before the fall was my stem turning on my steerer tube between my spacers. Any thoughts or wisdom on what sent me otb would be appreciated!
Lastly, wondering about technique advice…I know how to take drops at speed where you just “shove”. I can also do slower speed drops where you essentially suspend the front wheel like a manual. This little drop has a fucky run in preventing speed, and also has a good 4-5ft horizontal before the transition starts. Wtf you supposed to do with that? J hop?
by Glum_You_6649
20 Comments
Language sir
Looks like you were too far forward and need to stay back through the whole process.
Too much weight on the front wheel combined with a slight lean and too much front brake is my guess
I think you answered your own question. You dead sailored. It just looks like you forgot that you had to land.
Your hop and mid-air form aren’t the worst, but not good. Your body position on the landing is odd.
The moment you land, all of your weight shifts rearward. A frame or two later, and your weight is going forward, fork compressed, and wheel starting to turn.
My guess is somehow in your landing, you yanked that front brake.
Man the only thing that makes sense from this and the sound too is that you somehow accidentally pulled your front brake. Just having a little too much weight on the front wheel wouldn’t have twisted your bars and launched you forward that quickly, unless your front wheel got stuck on the worst rut/root.
I have a mystery OTB as well but I think I just totally lost front wheel traction.
Judging by the “stick in the spokes” reaction your bike gave you, I assume you either compressed the forks and your weight shifted forward quick or you pulled the front brake somehow. I’m more so going with the latter. Are you ok?
I think you hit your brake. Slowed down, it looks like your body is moving forward before the front wheel turns. You might have just tapped the brakes and as it grabbed it pushed you forward and you grabbed them harder. Sorry man. Hope you’re ok.
Keep wearing that helmet. I lost three teeth, an ACL and part of my lip (they sewed it back on) due to no helmet. Don’t be me! Heal up quick. Keep your fingers away from those brakes when you’re landing.
that big rock off camera
FWIW: whenever going through sketchy shit, no breaks, especially front, it compresses front shock, starts roll in forward direction. Counter intuitive, however speed is your friend.
Started mountain biking in the mid-90s. I don’t know why, but last year, I started yanking my front brake and went OTB 3 times. It was like a baseball player getting “the yips”. I’d never done it before and had to consciously make an effort NOT to lay on that brake.
This summer, I haven’t done it once, it appears to have been just a one season thing.
Tripped over the video time line
Too much weight on the front wheel after landing, you crossed up the bars. It can happen fast. Try shifting weight back and into the pedals more to help absorb the impact.
Thanks for posting this video. I kind of did the same thing as you last week and ended up with a broken clavicle and cracked ribs (hope you’re fairing better?). Either way, I was just going downhill in a moderately technical section and suddenly went flying over my handlebars. It’s disheartening because this was my third time MTB’ing after 20+ years and I have no idea what I did to cause it, but from reading people’s comments, I’m starting to suspect I probably over blipped my front breaks and/or did so while hitting a specific angle that caused my front wheel to lock. Hopefully we can both learn from this post. I don’t want to give up riding after just starting again!
You cranked the front brake
Leaning too far forward and too stiff. Loosey goosey is the name of the game. Always aim to land with your body moving over the back wheel, not the front.
Cameraman.booooooooo
https://preview.redd.it/8l9smi8ub7af1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=a1a5efb1c919361566828955b2912f261e2fa77a
What I see here is that your front wheel and handlebars are not pointed the same direction.
It actually looked like you nailed the landing just fine. You’re comments on technique on your approach are correct but didn’t cause this.
I’m guessing your stem cap was not torqued down correctly.
“try to ignore my partner gasping.” What do you mean? That’s my new ring tone!