Newbie - back tyre sliding - why?

cuckoo

Hi everyone,
Just getting into it and loving it so far.

I got loads of questions which I hope the more experienced will be able to help me with but my first one is regarding the back tyre sliding out. It happens on rocky surfaces and generally 'rough' surfaces. Its hard to put into words but its the back tyre all of a sudden sliding to the left or right when riding over these surfaces - is it me? do differing tyres help? is it normal? etc

cooldad

Tyre loses grip and slides. Rocks and roots are more slippery than smooth dirt.
Tyres, style, skill, talent and practice all help.

cooldad

ps it's more scary when the front lets go.

cuckoo

thanks - right ok - nothing to do to minimize it tho - just practice? I was hoping it would be something I could fix lol

RevellRider

Lower your tyre pressure slightly or shift you weight backwards. These both provide extra grip.

cooldad

Plenty of ways to minimise it, just nothing magical. Tyres would be the first step. The rest comes in time (unless you crash hard and die of course).

cuckoo

Thanks

Deputy Dawg

What tyres are you running & at what pressure?

bartimaeus

Don't knock it... if I could figure out how to slide my back tyre to effect nifty trail turns without crashing then I would be doing it. Might have to try a road tyre on the back - my son's Islabike came with spare 1.9 slicks which will fit my Anthem :shock:

andrewjoseph

Skidding on trails helps to ruin them. If you are crashing on turns you are going too fast.

beski

Remaining seated (on climbs), if you can, will keep your body weight over the back wheel and help with traction

diy

Learn to master the front brake, You'll be amazed how much stopping power is there even on loose terrain. Plus have a read of the braking thread. Despite the daft arguments there are some useful tips.

97th choice

diy wrote:

Learn to master the front brake, You'll be amazed how much stopping power is there even on loose terrain. Plus have a read of the braking thread. Despite the daft arguments there are some useful tips.

+1

I would guess that you are not using the front brake enough.

mmafan

Try to pick one line over roots and rocks and keep your head focused on your exit and no matter what the back does keep looking foward and you should be ok.

If you try to change lines over rocks and roots, especially wet ones, you will loose traction.

I rode my dh bike on a mild Dh track without a rear brake, not by choice, and it helped me loads with learning how to use the fornt brake more so then the back.....
Practice not using the back brake on easy corners and gradually build up and you'll soon learn on what type of corners you need the rear brake and how much etc......

Likewise try some easy corners using only the rear brake,, so you can learn to drift into certain corners or keep the bike in a straight line with the back anchors on , but this aids sliding of course........

Practise will make perfect and it all comes with time on the bike.......

i always recommend riding two functional brakes!!!!!

hope this helps

concorde

I like the back wheel stepping out :-) Makes it interesting and more often than not corerctable almost solely on instinct too. When the front one goes it's 'wipe out' Love my ignitor on the back on wet grass ;-)

rockmonkeysc

Could be rubbish tyres. Try setting up your line before you hit roots or rocks and straight lining them. If they are big keep your weight well back so that your front wheel is light and will go over them easily.
Try not to brake when it does slide or you will crash.