Floating Feet

chazkayak
chazkayak Posts: 193
edited May 2012 in MTB general
Recently, my feet seem to be floating off the pedals when going over jumps etc, the jumps aint massive either (12inches ish).

im concentrating on dropping my heels etc. attack position etc. will the fact that the ramps are only a couple of feet long be an issue?

Any top tips appreciated.

Comments

  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Are you trying to 'jump' with the bike? Many people jump with it, and off the pedals!
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  • chazkayak
    chazkayak Posts: 193
    I think i might have a timing problem on the smaller takeoffs, When I go to Winterberg, i manage to keep my feet planted. On my local trails my feet go light. The difference is the jumps....winterberg (4x and continental) jumps are at least a bike lenght long, my local trail its usually a few logs put together, max two feet long and high.

    Does it sound like im not timing it right, keeping the front wheel following the line of tragectory and dipping my heels until the end of the take off.
  • bennett_346
    bennett_346 Posts: 5,029
    It sounds like you aren't actually jumping properly. You need to be bunny hopping off the takeoffs essentially, and if you were doing that you wouldn't have your feet coming off, because you're rotating the rear of the bike up to follow your feet, in a manner of speaking.
  • Roostoids
    Roostoids Posts: 128
    I had a simialr issue with free-ride style jumps, where there was a big built up ramp and a tabe top before the ramp down section, even just straight off jumps.


    I was jumping on the pedals and couldn't get the timing down, luckily avoided any nasty offs but it was only a matter of time. I think possibly I was trying too hard to get more air which led to me just leaving the pedals. Whereas if you just ride off the lip with speed the bike will naturally leave the ground and find it's own balance. Bunny-hopping off the jump might (depending on your abilities) be a step up, I think I was trying it way too early and basically wasn't ready for that.


    For several reasons I then tried SPD's, and clipped into the pedals my ability and confidence on jumps increased overnight. I had that knowledge in the back of my mind that the bike was staying with me so didn't over-focus on my feet, and suddenly the technique was all there.

    Ofc it may just be that the spd's are hiding a deficiency in my riding, but i'm certainly alot happier on all types of jumps now, plus they solved all my other issues. SPD's = the way forward! 8)
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  • sloppycowpat
    sloppycowpat Posts: 349
    no using spds to 'learn' jumps is a bad idea for two reasons

    1) the potential for pain is great
    2) you will not learn the proper technique
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    buzzing down twisting single track then.... psssst BANG!!!
  • craigw99
    craigw99 Posts: 224
    ^^^^^^^
    i find if it goes wrong your feet come out anyway it's all part of the omg get away from the bike moment!!

    that would be proper technique for flats... i thank its a bit like jumping on a snowboard as to a skateboard - with skateboard/flats you need to generate traction to lift it up hence the dipping of feet etc with spd/bindings the need for traction is not there so you just jump if you get what i mean
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  • YeehaaMcgee
    YeehaaMcgee Posts: 5,740
    bennett_346 wrote:
    It sounds like you aren't actually jumping properly. You need to be bunny hopping off the takeoffs essentially,
    No no no no no.
    That's fine for little kickers at the side of the trail, but if you do it on large jumps, you're just upsetting your balance.
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  • bennett_346
    bennett_346 Posts: 5,029
    YeehaaMcgee wrote:
    bennett_346 wrote:
    It sounds like you aren't actually jumping properly. You need to be bunny hopping off the takeoffs essentially,
    No no no no no.
    That's fine for little kickers at the side of the trail, but if you do it on large jumps, you're just upsetting your balance.
    He did say it was a 12 inch ramp...

    And also, i point blank disagree, just because it doesn't work for you that doesn't mean it hasn't worked well for me. I use it on all sorts of big jumps including things in the alps, and it hasn't caused any balance problems and helps me to clear the jump properly.

    There is no one technique, many people use different ways to get airborne.
  • YeehaaMcgee
    YeehaaMcgee Posts: 5,740
    bennett_346 wrote:
    YeehaaMcgee wrote:
    bennett_346 wrote:
    It sounds like you aren't actually jumping properly. You need to be bunny hopping off the takeoffs essentially,
    No no no no no.
    That's fine for little kickers at the side of the trail, but if you do it on large jumps, you're just upsetting your balance.
    He did say it was a 12 inch ramp...
    But bad habits are hard to kick once you're picked them up.
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