So how did you start off?

MTB_Ads
MTB_Ads Posts: 36
edited February 2009 in MTB beginners
I'm sure many of you guys main hobbie is mountain biking so have therefore naturally progressed as you have got older.

Me myself I bought a bike of the work bike scheme (where would we be without it!!!!), a specialized rockhopper, but have only recently come to the conclusion that I need to actually start putting it through it's paces.

I like pretty near to haldon in Devon so have got the ideal place to take the bike, but after my first visit I realised it's a whole different ball game. A lot of my problems came with hesitation, looking at the (probably tiny) dropoff and thinking, jesus i've never come across that before.....no thanks! Went up again today and feel a bit more confident in myself but I guess that's the way to go, tiny footsteps and all?

So basically what I'm saying is to improve do I just put the hours in and it will slowly come together?

Oh and hey!

Comments

  • hey welcome!

    it's like anything i guess....you have to put the time and effort in.
    as for your drop off...your best bet is to get up there and just ride off of it! Don't hesitate, get your weight over the back wheel (slide your ass over the back of the saddle) and keep off the brakes.
    Once you've made it you'll realise it's easier than you think and get more confident..

    worst case, is that you have a gentle tumble....but you know...if you don't try

    have fun :D
    pain is temporary..... but it does hurt!
  • Yeah sounds about right. Easier said than done though eh! Nah I know what you mean, i guess it's just knowing how your bike is going to react and handle drops etc. and working with it, if you've never done it, you just don't know!

    But yeah, ride was better today, going to try and regularly get up there and practice, weather at the mo makes it, well.....a bit more interesting! But sure as hell is fun if not all else! So much so, I'm tempted into getting another bike on the old scheme, who can resists 50% off eh...
  • I always find with drop offs that they look scarier than they actually are to ride. Unless you think it really really is beyond your limits, give it a go and you'll probably find it's not so bad.
  • dave_hill
    dave_hill Posts: 3,877
    Go out and ride. A lot. Ride Slowly. Ride Quickly. Ride too fast for the situation. Fall off. Pick yourself up. Learn from the experience. Repeat.
    Give a home to a retired Greyhound. Tia Greyhound Rescue
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  • stumpyjon
    stumpyjon Posts: 4,069
    It's a bit catch 22 with things like drop offs etc. You've got to go at them at a reasonable speed to clear them. Trouble is your brain is shouting take it slowly (or stopppppppp........), problem is with that approach you're guaranteed to crash.

    Once you've done it once it'll give you the confidence (and knowledge) to do it again. Trouble is everytime you bottle it it makes it that little bit harder the next time.

    Maybe worth considering getting some knee and elbow pads to give you a bit more confidence / take the sting out of an off.

    I started wearing mine for more normal riding after a painful off on the ice in Januaray (there are others on here going the same way).
    It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.

    I've bought a new bike....ouch - result
    Can I buy a new bike?...No - no result
  • I didn't know you had an off Jon, hope it wasn't too bad.

    MTB Ads - I'd get a bit more experience under my belt before I started doing drop-offs. From your post you are pretty new to riding, I'd spend some quality time in the saddle first, just get out and ride and you'll gradually build up the confidence along the way.

    Of course if the drop off is tiny and next time you are there you think balls to it, then so be it, but if you are hesitating and half thinking not to do it, then I wouldn't.

    Then again, the very first time I rode Stainburn I went over the Northshore, and all I could think was "what the hell am I doing"!!! I was lucky though, if I'd have come off it wouldn't have been pretty, so like your drop-off if you are lucky it'll be OK, if not then...... ?
  • llamafarmer
    llamafarmer Posts: 1,893
    Practice your drop offs on kerbs - get used to getting the front wheel up and balanced and absorbing the landing in your legs.
  • Kiblams
    Kiblams Posts: 2,423
    Practice your drop offs on kerbs - get used to getting the front wheel up and balanced and absorbing the landing in your legs.

    I have never done any major drop-offs myself but I have alsways been able to get both wheels to hit the road at the same time off kerbs.

    Consequently does anyone know why landing both wheels at the same time makes the landing feel as if you didnt drop off a kerb at all and why you get zero chain slap/general noise when it happens compared to them landing one before the other? It has always perplexed me...
  • With either wheel landing before the other one, its just a case of gravity. The force of the second wheel landing is felt much more than the first, and by the time the first wheel has landed, there is no flex or give in it to compensate for the second wheel landing.

    It does feel very good when you nail both wheels at the same time though, almost feels like you could do a 20ft drop and land it like that, and you wouldn't even tell you'd done it!

    Its late and I am extremely tired, if I am wrong with the sciencey bit I apologise but I think I've got the general gist of it?
  • Kiblams
    Kiblams Posts: 2,423
    With either wheel landing before the other one, its just a case of gravity. The force of the second wheel landing is felt much more than the first, and by the time the first wheel has landed, there is no flex or give in it to compensate for the second wheel landing.

    It does feel very good when you nail both wheels at the same time though, almost feels like you could do a 20ft drop and land it like that, and you wouldn't even tell you'd done it!

    Its late and I am extremely tired, if I am wrong with the sciencey bit I apologise but I think I've got the general gist of it?

    Works for me :D
  • Well I guess I've appealed to my audience then! Someone else will probably come in and rubbish my explanation though, nevermind.
  • llamafarmer
    llamafarmer Posts: 1,893
    Kiblams wrote:
    I have never done any major drop-offs myself but I have alsways been able to get both wheels to hit the road at the same time off kerbs.

    I think you need to imagine the kerb is much bigger than it is, get your weight over the rear and land on the back wheel, so you're used to balancing the bike ready for bigger drops.
  • mate after joining the army i had to give up mtb as london is shite for it ive since done a stint in afghan an moved to windsor got back on the bike an hell am i enjoying it what im learning its just confidence, balls an fitness so just stick at it mate an enjoy an seek advice when you need it from the old sweats on here they know the score
  • cheers for the comments guys, pretty much as i thought, and knew myself that the key is confidence. I guess half of it is just in the mentality that you have to make yourself think you are going to nail it and that only comes with experiance.

    I wouldn't say that I'm new to riding, i'm pretty confident in chucking myself down the trails and what not, it's just as with all things there is always stuff that you need to improve on/learn. But hey, it'll come, the important thing is i'm having a hell of a time getting out on my bike which in turn is getting me out more and more and hopefully improving!

    Protection wise, yeah i've got knee/shin pads which do help, lol!
  • is this drop off to a flat surface, like a pavement or a road?

    if it is, land it back wheel first if you can.

    if now, just ride at it. the bike knows that its doing and will carry you along without too much hassle, unless you tense up. then youre both in trouble.
  • MTB_Ads wrote:
    I'm sure many of you guys main hobbie is mountain biking so have therefore naturally progressed as you have got older.

    Me myself I bought a bike of the work bike scheme (where would we be without it!!!!), a specialized rockhopper, but have only recently come to the conclusion that I need to actually start putting it through it's paces.

    I like pretty near to haldon in Devon so have got the ideal place to take the bike, but after my first visit I realised it's a whole different ball game. A lot of my problems came with hesitation, looking at the (probably tiny) dropoff and thinking, jesus i've never come across that before.....no thanks! Went up again today and feel a bit more confident in myself but I guess that's the way to go, tiny footsteps and all?

    So basically what I'm saying is to improve do I just put the hours in and it will slowly come together?

    Oh and hey!

    I was exactly the same. Got the bike from the scheme. The biggest thing I found is that you have to trust yourself and the bike. Don't be hesitant or scared, just go for it.

    Oh, and I also got some SPD's. These helped a lot. But thats a personal choice.