Fear of ruts

mikezer0

I'm scared of ruts... I ride in the Peak District mostly and don't mind the rocks, but the ruts give me the fear so badly! I constantly worry about catching my pedals on the side, so much so that I end up getting on the brakes as soon as I see one... EVEN ON THE FLAT! Arrrgh!

Anyone got any tips? I keep my pedals even and all that.

Briggo

Don't ride in the rut?

Know what you mean though, PD suffers from rutting the most I think, probably something to do with all those bloody dirtbikes that neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr around and cut you up.

oodboo

I was fine with ruts until one took me down, that was 18 years ago and I've still got the scars. My problem is with them controlling your direction. The rut took my bike one way and momentum took me another. I wouldn't worry too much about pedal strikes, you just bounce a bit and carry on.

bennett_346

Learn to bunny hop then if something goes wrong you can jump out the rut easily.

And don't try to turn up the sides of them, pop the front out onto the top of the rut then let the rear follow you out.

YeehaaMcgee

I hate almost-straight ruts on high speed descents. Catch your wheel on the edge of one at 25+mph, and you're going to end up pro-actively lowering your blood pressure

mikezer0

Yeehaa, they're the ones i fear the most.

b45her

i used to a bit of enduro racing of the motorised type , they are always a rut fest, the best tip i could give would be dont look at your front wheel or a few feet in front of it , look a good 15 - 20 meters up the trail and try to forget the rut is there, carry a bit of speed too ruts are harder to ride the slower you go as the front wheel tends to waver much more at slower speeds .

Roostoids

It's probably not very helpful, as you have a fear of them, but I kinda try and stay loose, and let the rut guide me down. It can get pretty hairy but so long as you keep balanced and looking ahead i'm sure you'll be fine. Try not to think about the fact you're in a rut and just look ahead and balance yourself properly, the bike and the sidwalls of your tyres will do the work.

Good luck, and where's the harm in starting slower and building up the pace, the main thing is you don't come a cropper and have to take time off work.

Ruts UPHILL, now you can advise me!!

peat

Gah! Me too!

I am getting used to dealing with pedal-strike, but on the uphills it is awful. I was given the advice of looking well ahead and it certainly works.

In regards to getting out of them once in, i find with my Medusa mud tyres its really easy to pop the front wheel out and just ride out of them, with my stock Bontranger's though (that i keep as summer tyres), it will end with me on my arse. I think it's because of the rounded profile of the tyre, it just doesnt seem to bite.

miss notax

I struggled with riding through ruts for YEARS (not that I have them 100% nailed these days!) :?

I completely agree with the looking ahead advice, the only times I mess up now is when I don't do this and end up wobbling about and usually clipping the side. If you actually force yourself to look further ahead your eyes still clock whats in front without you consciously looking at it - like driving, you don't consciously 'try' to stay within the lines on the road but your eyes / brain works it all out and you do. I hope

Works for me anyway!

SPARTdAN

I hit one the other weekend though it was a sneaky rut, concealed by long grass. I've become a panzy with them now and worry when I see them and slow down.

Twelly

There was an article in MBUK a couple of issues ago saying basically choose one - out or in - and commit to it. Either ride out of the rut and balance on the edge or commit to riding in it and bunny hopping if you get in trouble. I know what you mean though, I find myself reaching for the brake as soon as I see one coming up in front, yet to come off because of one but in my mind they are just lurking waiting to throw me off...