froze when confronted by a downhill

ashleyyyy2011
ashleyyyy2011 Posts: 56
edited July 2012 in MTB beginners
Hi,

Went out for a ride yesterday, and was really enjoying the trails near Whiteways, Sussex. Until i was confronted with what i can only describe as a 'Half bowl shaped steep decent, the height from top to bottom can be more than 20-25ft (although you can't walk up it) but for some reason i can't just 'roll' down it. i watched a couple of other but couldn't bring myself to do it.

I get to the edge and find myself stopping. it's not like a drop is involved and is actually a really smooth looking run. My bike is a Whyte 809 so not the most downhill style geometry but still, it shouldn't hold me back.

The thing what really goes through my mind is 'where should my weight be? where should i be aiming/looking?' i kept wanting to push the bars forward and put my weight over the back.

this is really frustrating as if i was confronted by this on my snowboard i wouldn't stop to look at it, i'd just go. It was the only downer to what was a great day.

Cheers
I can ride my bike with no handlebars...no handlebars... no handlebars
and i can split the atom of a molecule... of a molecule... of a molecule

Comments

  • styxd
    styxd Posts: 3,234
    Is it a smooth decent? Whats the run out like?

    If its a nice smooth bowl, weight central where you'd normally be when stood up riding your bike. Relax and roll down. Easy!
  • warpcow
    warpcow Posts: 1,448
    ^^This. Don't overthink it. In fact, try not to think much at all. Just try to let the bike move naturally under you, so rather than 'putting you weight over the back', you allow the change in gradient to move the bike.
  • Roostoids
    Roostoids Posts: 128
    The thing to remember is; the other people you saw did it, so it can be done. Then it's just a matter of understanding how 'you' can do it too.

    Once you decide to do it, commit, and stay off your front brake if you can.

    Good luck mate!!

    If youre anything like me, youll conquer your little test and wonder what on earth you were worried about.
    Specialised Camber Comp 2011
    Boardman Comp Road 2011
  • it's literally a bowl, smooth roll in with a fairly straight run off for 20 yards.

    it will then be the best run there once i master it. cheers guys
    I can ride my bike with no handlebars...no handlebars... no handlebars
    and i can split the atom of a molecule... of a molecule... of a molecule
  • YeehaaMcgee
    YeehaaMcgee Posts: 5,740
    Just point your bike into it, lay off the brakes and enjoy. repeat, ad nauseum.
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    And don't hesitate as you go over the lip.

    It can be embarrasing. Or so I've heard.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • Briggo
    Briggo Posts: 3,537

    I get to the edge and find myself stopping. it's not like a drop is involved and is actually a really smooth looking run. My bike is a Whyte 809 so not the most downhill style geometry but still, it shouldn't hold me back.

    As others have mentioned, but in regards to the above the whyte geometry is slacker than most others of a similar sort for a racey hardtail, was one of the reasons why I got the whyte.
  • YeehaaMcgee
    YeehaaMcgee Posts: 5,740
    Briggo wrote:
    I got the whyte.
    I heard you went black, and never looked back.
  • Briggo
    Briggo Posts: 3,537
    Briggo wrote:
    I got the whyte.
    I heard you went black, and never looked back.

    Couldn't handle a black, threw me around very roughly, long downtube put me off too. My backside certainly felt it the next morning after a 2hr ride.
  • 1mancity2
    1mancity2 Posts: 2,355
    styxd wrote:
    Is it a smooth decent? Whats the run out like?

    If its a nice smooth bowl, weight central where you'd normally be when stood up riding your bike. Relax and roll down. Easy!
    Just point your bike into it, lay off the brakes and enjoy. repeat, ad nauseum.

    Just do them three points and your sorted, think positive.
    Finished, Check out my custom Giant Reign 2010
    Dirt Jumper Dmr Sidekick2
  • YeehaaMcgee
    YeehaaMcgee Posts: 5,740
    Briggo wrote:
    Briggo wrote:
    I got the whyte.
    I heard you went black, and never looked back.

    Couldn't handle a black, threw me around very roughly, long downtube put me off too. My backside certainly felt it the next morning after a 2hr ride.
    Awesome comeback :lol:

    Ahem, anyway, 1mancity2, are you suggesting that the third step (enjoy) of my method isn't important? :wink:
  • 1mancity2
    1mancity2 Posts: 2,355
    Briggo wrote:
    Briggo wrote:
    I got the whyte.
    I heard you went black, and never looked back.

    Couldn't handle a black, threw me around very roughly, long downtube put me off too. My backside certainly felt it the next morning after a 2hr ride.
    Awesome comeback :lol:

    Ahem, anyway, 1mancity2, are you suggesting that the third step (enjoy) of my method isn't important? :wink:

    Not at all!

    but you probably know this as I do, you don't really enjoy the first time, more a flash, a heart pang and then a wow gotta do it again,more relief,

    second time then the enjoyment comes.
    Finished, Check out my custom Giant Reign 2010
    Dirt Jumper Dmr Sidekick2
  • dubcat
    dubcat Posts: 737
    OP i have the same problem. Then I bottle it. A perfect example is the roll in big ditch on barry knows best in surrey hills that EVERYONE else rides over. I always fight to hang off the back but that is a very bad idea in my experience for two reasons which I will summarise below. When I try and stay central on my bike i always feel that I am going to go over the handle bars. After reading the posts above I will have to give it another go and just hope for the best. Anyway here are my two reasons for not hanging off the back:

    1) you will be super nervous because of point 2, you will be ultra unstable, you will want hang on to the brakes because of point 2, you WILL fall off trying to avoid point 2, in fact it's all about point 2 really

    2) you will slam your nuts in to the back of your seat when it all goes wrong - and this my friend I can tell you is a far from fun experience
    2010 Specialized Rockhopper
    2012 Bianchi Infinito
  • YeehaaMcgee
    YeehaaMcgee Posts: 5,740
    You only really need to hang off the back if you're braking down a very steep incline. But, try and get your weight as low down as you can for roll ins and such.
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    It's more a matter of having your weight in the right place. So on a steep down you don't need to be hanging off the back, but having your weight a bit back, taking it on your legs, not arms, helps. On a steep up having your weight forward stops you doing a backflip and amusing your friends. But not so much that you lose traction, stop suddenly, whack your nuts and amuse your friends.
    In fact the main aim of MTBing should be not to amuse your friends.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • victoriac
    victoriac Posts: 56
    I've got a bit like that near me that I struggle with, I normally just look at the run off after a drop and figure that it will be all over before I panic enough to put the brakes on!
    The problem with my (nemesis) drop is that there's a really sharp bend at the bottom so I've nowhere to look to - I've learnt from experience that if I look at the trees at the bottom I hit them :D
    More amusement for mates there...
  • dubcat
    dubcat Posts: 737
    The opto-magnetic properties of trees are a well studied phenomenon by me. I have a GREAT deal of practical experience in this area.
    2010 Specialized Rockhopper
    2012 Bianchi Infinito
  • milko9000
    milko9000 Posts: 533
    Dubcat wrote:
    OP i have the same problem. Then I bottle it. A perfect example is the roll in big ditch on barry knows best in surrey hills that EVERYONE else rides over.

    That used to scare me off too. I got over it by telling myself to man up, wish I had a better way to help! But once done properly its very easy really.
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    The one thing in SH I haven't managed to man up enough to ride down is Deliverance.
    I almost managed it once - we met some guys and for one of them it was his first time on a MTB. He decided to try it and I thought if he can, I should.
    He tried and stacked it BIG time.
    I decided I shouldn't.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • bennett_346
    bennett_346 Posts: 5,029
    Pussy.
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Pussy.

    Epic fail on your Google search there.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • went out last night with some experienced guys, just trying to keep up with them kept me more occupied than the trail, they also took me to a drop that had no other way to get down, so to continue i had to do it. It was even more daunting as it was a narrow trail rather than an open bowl, thought back to this forum and what i should (attempt) to do and... DID IT!! then as we continued another drop surprised me giving me no time to do anything other than go down it, it was just as steep but with a sharp turn at the end, so a tad harder again. When i eventually came to the one i couldn't do before it was a breeze.

    so i learnt that by trying to keep up i wasn't worrying about the trail, so i went faster and i now feel more confident on the drops. :)

    cheers for the advice guys.
    I can ride my bike with no handlebars...no handlebars... no handlebars
    and i can split the atom of a molecule... of a molecule... of a molecule
  • YeehaaMcgee
    YeehaaMcgee Posts: 5,740
    Good effort.
    Overthinking things can often lead to trouble. I've ridden some stupid sized drops and jumps in the past when I wasn'y fully aware of what was coming up, but if I see it beforehand, I can often start pondering what could go wrong, and hesitate!
  • cooldad wrote:
    The one thing in SH I haven't managed to man up enough to ride down is Deliverance.
    I almost managed it once - we met some guys and for one of them it was his first time on a MTB. He decided to try it and I thought if he can, I should.
    He tried and stacked it BIG time.
    I decided I shouldn't.

    Have I ever ridden Deliverence to your knowledge? Sounds good. Is it the trail with the big gap jump?

    I probably have ridden it. Thought nothing of it. And rode it like a Boss.

    Snot green Canyon Nerve AM 8.0x
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    cooldad wrote:
    The one thing in SH I haven't managed to man up enough to ride down is Deliverance.
    I almost managed it once - we met some guys and for one of them it was his first time on a MTB. He decided to try it and I thought if he can, I should.
    He tried and stacked it BIG time.
    I decided I shouldn't.

    Have I ever ridden Deliverence to your knowledge? Sounds good. Is it the trail with the big gap jump?

    I probably have ridden it. Thought nothing of it. And rode it like a Boss.
    Yeah right. Not to my knowledge you haven't. You probably would have remembered whimpering at the top.
    It's very steep, rough, has nasty big roots at 45 deg angles, and needs a hero.
    So no.
    It's on the way down Leith Hill. Used to have an old shack at the bottom, hence Deliverance, like the movie.
    I think the one you mean is called Flytipper. Big gap on the left and smaller one on the right.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools