Riding Large steps

WebbyM3

Yesterday I was out riding and our group decided to ride down some large steps. They were the kind that are there to hold the bank up. Some were larger than others. I had problems with riding down the larger steps, with my weight starting at the back and then getting thrown foward with the landings. This wouldn't have been a problem apart from there was 8 consecutive steps to go down.
Basically what I asking for is some tips to ride down the steps, without having brown patch moments?
Thanks
Ben

Rushmore

were you using the front brake? If so thats your problem, ( you might be using it without realising just because it's natural to slam the anchors when things get hairy )

Other then that, lower your seat a touch so you can get right over the back wheel.. also if your going too slow it can cause you to "hang up" sometimes...

Hope this helps

bennett_346

Carry speed. You need to have enough speed coming into them so you can roll down them and off the last one with still enough speed so that you could comfortably roll away well balanced.

Obviously the more steps there are the harder this becomes. Lower your seat and as you go over each step try to lean slightly over the front and when youre just about to hit the step below, move your weight back so that you sort of scoop the bike through it. Repeat for each step. This helps you to keep from having your weight thrown about by the steps and helps you keep more speed through them without pedalling.

WebbyM3

Thanks for the tips

Rushmore wrote:

were you using the front brake? If so thats your problem, ( you might be using it without realising just because it's natural to slam the anchors when things get hairy )

I dont think I was using the front brake but you never know :P

bennett_346 wrote:

Carry speed. You need to have enough speed coming into them so you can roll down them and off the last one with still enough speed so that you could comfortably roll away well balanced.

I was going quite fast through the last few, maybe I need to be less ninja style and slow down a little?

bennett_346 wrote:

Lower your seat and as you go over each step try to lean slightly over the front and when youre just about to hit the step below, move your weight back so that you sort of scoop the bike through it. Repeat for each step. This helps you to keep from having your weight thrown about by the steps and helps you keep more speed through them without pedalling.

Ill try that next weekend when I get back up there
Thanks
Ben

bennett_346

WebbyM3 wrote:

Thanks for the tips

Rushmore wrote:

were you using the front brake? If so thats your problem, ( you might be using it without realising just because it's natural to slam the anchors when things get hairy )

I dont think I was using the front brake but you never know :P

bennett_346 wrote:

Carry speed. You need to have enough speed coming into them so you can roll down them and off the last one with still enough speed so that you could comfortably roll away well balanced.

I was going quite fast through the last few, maybe I need to be less ninja style and slow down a little?

Not necessarily, if you held it at that speed and managed it that's fine.

bennett_346 wrote:

Lower your seat and as you go over each step try to lean slightly over the front and when youre just about to hit the step below, move your weight back so that you sort of scoop the bike through it. Repeat for each step. This helps you to keep from having your weight thrown about by the steps and helps you keep more speed through them without pedalling.

Ill try that next weekend when I get back up there
Thanks
Ben

WebbyM3

So basically keep at the same speed and just try the scooping technique?

bennett_346

WebbyM3 wrote:

So basically keep at the same speed and just try the scooping technique?

Pretty much, hope it works for you. Just don't overthink it

d00m

Dip your heels on the pedals, and push yourself toward the back of the bike through the bottom bracket 8)

.blitz

The scoop works well. What you are trying to do is stop your weight moving forwards and it's no use hanging your arse off the back if your legs are back as well.

Drop your heels, keep your arms bent and scoop the bike forwards

1mancity2

How close together are the steps?

Your weight getting thrown forward are you landing steep nose first?

If you have a bike length or more between each one the "scoop", "punching out" method will work a treat, if they are close together and your hitting them one after another with no break between them, control your speed with the rear brake only and feather it on and off, keep your weight over the rear wheel but not to far over so your front wheel becomes light and looses traction, seat down as above.

Northwind

Scoop is good. Slightly more basic but are you starting out with your weight forward? A lot of people move back before the feature, which means that you'll generally survive but you'll have mad weight transfers. Better is to move your weight only as you need to, since that'll both get you the weight back that you want but also means the weight shift is all under your control. You're probably already doing that, but just in case...

The other thing is to compress your arms and lower your weight, so that as the step comes you can push into it and basically push up as it goes down. This one I find really tricky with multiple steps though!

xand_xand

mmhave a similar issue myself...basically tried a set of steps (log sunken into descent creating about 10 or so steps) and each time i tried i came off heads over bars!
I was on my old Kraken MTB and had Dart 2 forks which gave me a pogo effect when in use...so i put my 'falloff' down to these....however i yet to try these steps again on my Cube with fox air forks....

Confidence thing huh!

Rushmore

xand_xand wrote:

had Dart 2 forks which gave me a pogo effect when in use...so i put my 'falloff' down to these....however i yet to try these steps again on my Cube with fox air forks....

Confidence thing huh!

I used to ride down steps on my £150 fully rigid when I was 7.... Forks have nothing to do with it.. it's technique :roll:

a bad worksman and all that LOL

chez_m356

Rushmore wrote:

xand_xand wrote:

had Dart 2 forks which gave me a pogo effect when in use...so i put my 'falloff' down to these....however i yet to try these steps again on my Cube with fox air forks....

Confidence thing huh!

I used to ride down steps on my £150 fully rigid when I was 7.... Forks have nothing to do with it.. it's technique :roll:

a bad worksman and all that LOL

but when your 7, your fearless, you don't think, its only with age your brain starts to go ' oh, hang on a mo '

Rushmore

chez_m356 wrote:

but when your 7, your fearless, you don't think,

I still don't now 20 years later..

delcol

man up and huck them...