Step Downs and megavalanche

garethrob

What is the best way to learn step downs?

What would you recommend for the Megavalanche - flats or spds

1mancity2

Start small

Flats

rockmonkeysc

Start big, more incentive to get it right :-) Nothing to it really, weight back, small manual off the lip to stop the front dropping too much and plenty of speed.
Only you can decide on pedals. I would go with spd's, plentry of others go with flats. You could always be different and go with toe clips.

YeehaaMcgee

If you haven't decided on pedals yet, are you really ready for the Mega?

garethrob

I have been biking for a while and have done numerous trail centres - glentress, dalby etc and can complete the reds and some of the black trails. I always use SPD's but just wondered if flats were better for the mega. I can do step downs but am at the stage where i want to do the large north shore type ones with the larger drop but cant bring myself to throw myself off? problem is finding progressively bigger drops - its either small or too big

YeehaaMcgee

Ah, gotcha.
Ride with whatever you're used to.

miss notax

Well i'm riding the Mega in SPD's - it's all i've ever used and I figure that now isn't the right time to go changing anything!!

You doing it too then? If so, see you at the top 8)

1mancity2

garethrob wrote:

I have been biking for a while and have done numerous trail centres - glentress, dalby etc and can complete the reds and some of the black trails. I always use SPD's but just wondered if flats were better for the mega. I can do step downs but am at the stage where i want to do the large north shore type ones with the larger drop but cant bring myself to throw myself off? problem is finding progressively bigger drops - its either small or too big

Step downs are pretty much all the same if your landing into a transition, your just going faster when you land, I know that sounds like bull but it pretty much sums them up,

just keep your bike level with the landing transition and your sorted, land slightly front wheel first if you can or level but avoid rear wheel landing.

Don't think I can't think you can, same with jumps they all become easy once you get that mental block out of the way.

paul.skibum

Step downs - roll toward it, panic at last minute, brake, still go off the end, be out of balance, crash, crap yourself, wait for ambulance. This technique has served me well. You may find some of the other advice more useful.

If you plan to try flats make sure you get loads of practice in before hand otherwise you will be going for a pedal stroke before some jump and pull your foot off the pedal thinking its clipped in and crash. I switched to flats when I moved to Canada and have to say on technical terrain I dont think I'd go back. If I was back riding my usual stuff int he UK I might.

YeehaaMcgee

If you're worried about step downs, then watch the women's DH race from Windham last Sunday. There's a huge stepdown at the end which I'm sure will put your mind at ease

paul.skibum

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

If you're worried about step downs, then watch the women's DH race from Windham last Sunday. There's a huge stepdown at the end which I'm sure will put your mind at ease

Quite - Tracey Seat Spanner and Emmeline Ragdoll....err Ragot, coped well with it.

Dirtrider

right, in the nicest way possible, I wouldn't be doing the mega if your asking these types of questions.

Firstly, what pedals do you use now? Use them for the mega, you wouldn't get used to spd's in the time anyway. Probably wouldn't go for toeclips, although you may be able to start your own category there, and your guarenteed 1st place.

Step downs - Just find some bigger ones and do them, it's the same process as a 1 foot to a 10 foot, it's just bigger.

dhobiwallah

Go big and hope to pull it off!

To quote Stewie Griffin, 'whether you think you can or you think you can't - you're right!'

Anonymous

paul.skibum wrote:

Step downs - roll toward it, panic at last minute, brake, still go off the end, be out of balance, crash, crap yourself, wait for ambulance. This technique has served me well.

That's how I do drops. Ideally knock yourself out so you have no memory of it, then you don't fear doing it all wrong again. Works for me.

timpop

Isn't the event next week? I wouldn't change pedals now unless you already do a lot of riding on flats. The main bummer with spd's is being in the snow and the cleats clogging up. I'm sure you'll be fine on spd's, it'll be tres fun no matter what.
Step downs - as others above. Same technique just for longer and is a 'tad' faster to ride out. It really becomes a psychological thing and the more you practice the easier it becomes.

miss notax

timpop wrote:

Isn't the event next week?

Yes :shock:

Shackster

miss notax wrote:

timpop wrote:

Isn't the event next week?

Yes :shock:

Good luck. Been looking forward to your post-event post for ages!

miss notax

Thanks! I seem to be flitting between feeling ready to give it a damn good go, and feeling utterly terrified :?

I certainly intend to give it my very best shot 8)

felix.london

Pah! You guys are gonna have a blast!!...Enjoy!

timpop

miss notax wrote:

Thanks! I seem to be flitting between feeling ready to give it a damn good go, and feeling utterly terrified :?

I certainly intend to give it my very best shot 8)

Yeah miss notax, go for it. Woot! You'll have plenty of practice runs and the atmosphere will no doubt be amazing. Eat well and stay focused. I'm excited for you guys. Have an awesome time.
Are you guys on twitter, will you be posting updates?

miss notax

Aww, thanks!!

We will have the trusty iPad with us so I will try and post some updates if anyone is interested?! (or even if they're not )

timpop

miss notax wrote:

Aww, thanks!!

We will have the trusty iPad with us so I will try and post some updates if anyone is interested?! (or even if they're not )

Right on. Well if you have time it would be cool to hear how it's going.
Enjoy.