What is your 1 tip to help improve someones riding?

miss notax

It's probably been said a million times already, but 'looking ahead' is my number one top tip

The majority of us probably don't do it properly (I know I don't unless I really concentrate on it) and it's the simplest tip that could improve people's riding the most!

Angus Young

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

Angus Young wrote:

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

Ride it faster than you think you should, scare yourself and enjoy doing it. Then before very long, within the hour, you'll be riding it faster than ever before but you won't be scared, in fact you'll be in control and will probably feel slower then you'd like to be...

Or, alternatively, you'll be splattered across the trail.

You'll never progress if you're afraid to fall mate. Everyone does, there's no shame in it.

Where did I say I was afraid to fall? Go to Youtube and check out Imbikemag's skills videos and see what Richard Kelly has to say about the 'man up' and 'just go for it' school of advice.

angry_bird

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

Angus Young wrote:

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

Ride it faster than you think you should, scare yourself and enjoy doing it. Then before very long, within the hour, you'll be riding it faster than ever before but you won't be scared, in fact you'll be in control and will probably feel slower then you'd like to be...

Or, alternatively, you'll be splattered across the trail.

You'll never progress if you're afraid to fall mate. Everyone does, there's no shame in it.

There's a line, there's no point manning up for the sake of it or doing something you're really not comfortable with and arre thinking about the consequences too much. Your mind won't be in it and you'll most likely fail at it. By all means push yourself but only if you're able to give it your full attention.

paul.skibum

Angry Bird wrote:

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

Angus Young wrote:

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

Ride it faster than you think you should, scare yourself and enjoy doing it. Then before very long, within the hour, you'll be riding it faster than ever before but you won't be scared, in fact you'll be in control and will probably feel slower then you'd like to be...

Or, alternatively, you'll be splattered across the trail.

You'll never progress if you're afraid to fall mate. Everyone does, there's no shame in it.

There's a line, there's no point manning up for the sake of it or doing something you're really not comfortable with and arre thinking about the consequences too much. Your mind won't be in it and you'll most likely fail at it. By all means push yourself but only if you're able to give it your full attention.

Absolutely - Blind Danny's advice is patently ridiculous as I have said earlier. There is no point getting people's 1 tip for improving riding if those people are not qualified to teach and develop people's skills. I am a ski instructor and understand that maximum speed minimum terrain is the best way to feel or develop a new skill.

Blind Danny Johnson

Angus Young wrote:

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

Angus Young wrote:

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

Ride it faster than you think you should, scare yourself and enjoy doing it. Then before very long, within the hour, you'll be riding it faster than ever before but you won't be scared, in fact you'll be in control and will probably feel slower then you'd like to be...

Or, alternatively, you'll be splattered across the trail.

You'll never progress if you're afraid to fall mate. Everyone does, there's no shame in it.

Where did I say I was afraid to fall? Go to Youtube and check out Imbikemag's skills videos and see what Richard Kelly has to say about the 'man up' and 'just go for it' school of advice.

No thanks

Blind Danny Johnson

Angry Bird wrote:

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

Angus Young wrote:

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

Ride it faster than you think you should, scare yourself and enjoy doing it. Then before very long, within the hour, you'll be riding it faster than ever before but you won't be scared, in fact you'll be in control and will probably feel slower then you'd like to be...

Or, alternatively, you'll be splattered across the trail.

You'll never progress if you're afraid to fall mate. Everyone does, there's no shame in it.

There's a line, there's no point manning up for the sake of it or doing something you're really not comfortable with and arre thinking about the consequences too much. Your mind won't be in it and you'll most likely fail at it. By all means push yourself but only if you're able to give it your full attention.

That's not what I said mate. If you're going to paraphrase me then at least get my the essence of my point correct.

pesky_jones

paul.skibum wrote:

I am a ski instructor and understand that maximum speed minimum terrain is the best way to feel or develop a new skill.

Is sky diving the easiest to learn then

Blind Danny Johnson

paul.skibum wrote:

Angry Bird wrote:

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

Angus Young wrote:

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

Ride it faster than you think you should, scare yourself and enjoy doing it. Then before very long, within the hour, you'll be riding it faster than ever before but you won't be scared, in fact you'll be in control and will probably feel slower then you'd like to be...

Or, alternatively, you'll be splattered across the trail.

You'll never progress if you're afraid to fall mate. Everyone does, there's no shame in it.

There's a line, there's no point manning up for the sake of it or doing something you're really not comfortable with and arre thinking about the consequences too much. Your mind won't be in it and you'll most likely fail at it. By all means push yourself but only if you're able to give it your full attention.

Absolutely - Blind Danny's advice is patently ridiculous as I have said earlier. There is no point getting people's 1 tip for improving riding if those people are not qualified to teach and develop people's skills. I am a ski instructor and understand that maximum speed minimum terrain is the best way to feel or develop a new skill.

So sessioning a difficult part of a track over and over gradully working out lines and increasing your speed is bad advice? As for going faster than you think you should, I stand by that statement. If you only ever rode at a speed you were 100% comfortable with then to me there's really no fun in riding, it'd be boring. Also whenevr I do let off the brakes that little bit more so to speak I'm usually surprised that I can handle the increase in speed and that in fact the limit is way further than I'm riding at. I'm sure this is true for most people other than maybe Stevie Smith or Gee Atherton et al. My point was that the bikes and trails can be ridden way faster than we usually ride them and that unless we push ourselves and test this then we'll never know. Anyway I'm obviously wrong because you're ski instructor.

paul.skibum

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

paul.skibum wrote:

Angry Bird wrote:

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

Angus Young wrote:

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

Ride it faster than you think you should, scare yourself and enjoy doing it. Then before very long, within the hour, you'll be riding it faster than ever before but you won't be scared, in fact you'll be in control and will probably feel slower then you'd like to be...

Or, alternatively, you'll be splattered across the trail.

You'll never progress if you're afraid to fall mate. Everyone does, there's no shame in it.

There's a line, there's no point manning up for the sake of it or doing something you're really not comfortable with and arre thinking about the consequences too much. Your mind won't be in it and you'll most likely fail at it. By all means push yourself but only if you're able to give it your full attention.

Absolutely - Blind Danny's advice is patently ridiculous as I have said earlier. There is no point getting people's 1 tip for improving riding if those people are not qualified to teach and develop people's skills. I am a ski instructor and understand that maximum speed minimum terrain is the best way to feel or develop a new skill.

So sessioning a difficult part of a track over and over gradully working out lines and increasing your speed is bad advice? As for going faster than you think you should, I stand by that statement. If you only ever rode at a speed you were 100% comfortable with then to me there's really no fun in riding, it'd be boring. Also whenevr I do let off the brakes that little bit more so to speak I'm usually surprised that I can handle the increase in speed and that in fact the limit is way further than I'm riding at. I'm sure this is true for most people other than maybe Stevie Smith or Gee Atherton et al. My point was that the bikes and trails can be ridden way faster than we usually ride them and that unless we push ourselves and test this then we'll never know. Anyway I'm obviously wrong because you're ski instructor.

The point is not to find a difficult bit of trail and then just go faster though - the point is to develop an understanding of why going faster might help deal with that terrain, try it on something easier and build up to the harder stuff. Throwing yourself at stuff that scares you and hoping for the best is ridiculous advice.

The first turn you do on skis isn't going to be down a double black couloir on ice and whilst I have definitely told people that "speed is your friend" from time to time it is always in the context of the pitch we are on and the skill we are developing. Yes letting the brakes off can help deal with some problematic terrain but if that was the one piece of advice you had to improve someones riding you would be best off keeping it to yourself. Sessioning a hard bit of track may work for some but if its a part of the track you cant do or come off on a lot then I'd suggest you already dont know how to ride it properly so doing it loads without learning why will end in injury. Go find something easier and work out some skills.

And I merely mention ski instructing because I have done it for 10 years now which gives me some experience in getting people to learn new skills in a physical sport. I have taught biking and guided on a bike too.

Blind Danny Johnson

paul.skibum wrote:

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

paul.skibum wrote:

Angry Bird wrote:

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

Angus Young wrote:

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

Ride it faster than you think you should, scare yourself and enjoy doing it. Then before very long, within the hour, you'll be riding it faster than ever before but you won't be scared, in fact you'll be in control and will probably feel slower then you'd like to be...

Or, alternatively, you'll be splattered across the trail.

You'll never progress if you're afraid to fall mate. Everyone does, there's no shame in it.

There's a line, there's no point manning up for the sake of it or doing something you're really not comfortable with and arre thinking about the consequences too much. Your mind won't be in it and you'll most likely fail at it. By all means push yourself but only if you're able to give it your full attention.

Absolutely - Blind Danny's advice is patently ridiculous as I have said earlier. There is no point getting people's 1 tip for improving riding if those people are not qualified to teach and develop people's skills. I am a ski instructor and understand that maximum speed minimum terrain is the best way to feel or develop a new skill.

So sessioning a difficult part of a track over and over gradully working out lines and increasing your speed is bad advice? As for going faster than you think you should, I stand by that statement. If you only ever rode at a speed you were 100% comfortable with then to me there's really no fun in riding, it'd be boring. Also whenevr I do let off the brakes that little bit more so to speak I'm usually surprised that I can handle the increase in speed and that in fact the limit is way further than I'm riding at. I'm sure this is true for most people other than maybe Stevie Smith or Gee Atherton et al. My point was that the bikes and trails can be ridden way faster than we usually ride them and that unless we push ourselves and test this then we'll never know. Anyway I'm obviously wrong because you're ski instructor.

The point is not to find a difficult bit of trail and then just go faster though - the point is to develop an understanding of why going faster might help deal with that terrain, try it on something easier and build up to the harder stuff. 1) Throwing yourself at stuff that scares you and hoping for the best is ridiculous advice.

The first turn you do on skis isn't going to be down a double black couloir on ice and whilst I have definitely told people that "speed is your friend" from time to time it is always in the context of the pitch we are on and the skill we are developing. 2) Yes letting the brakes off can help deal with some problematic terrain but if that was the one piece of advice you had to improve someones riding you would be best off keeping it to yourself. Sessioning a 3) hard bit of track may work for some but if its a part of the track you cant do or come off on a lot then I'd suggest you already dont know how to ride it properly so doing it loads without learning why will end in injury. Go find something easier and work out some skills.

And I merely mention ski instructing because I have done it for 10 years now which gives me some experience in getting people to learn new skills in a physical sport. I have taught biking and guided on a bike too.

1) I didn't say that did I? You're basically making things up.
2) That wasn't my advice either was it? Still making things up.
3) I said difficult and by which I meant difficult respectively to the rider ie not black DH runs or 40ft gaps just a piece of trail which you struggle with or feel you don't ride as well.

I only wrote something which has worked for me in the past ie sessioning sections of track, working out lines and becoming faster because of it. I feel that pushing yourself is important and rewarding and as for my phrase 'scaring yourself' you seem to have taken this completely the wrong way, that I'm telling people to throw them down anything in their path regardless. This couldn't be more wrong. Anyway I've wasted enough time correcting your misquotes. It's very funny though that you keep going on about being ski instructor for 10 years as if it makes any difference to the fact you're just being obtuse.

felix.london

The best way to improve your riding (quickly) is follow someone that's better than you. You see their line choice and the way they handle different parts of the trail, gives you more confidence.

Kowalski675

felix.london wrote:

The best way to improve your riding (quickly) is follow someone that's better than you.

The important thing being knowing when to stop trying to keep up with them...

paul.skibum

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

1) I didn't say that did I? You're basically making things up.
2) That wasn't my advice either was it? Still making things up.
3) I said difficult and by which I meant difficult respectively to the rider ie not black DH runs or 40ft gaps just a piece of trail which you struggle with or feel you don't ride as well.

I only wrote something which has worked for me in the past ie sessioning sections of track, working out lines and becoming faster because of it. I feel that pushing yourself is important and rewarding and as for my phrase 'scaring yourself' you seem to have taken this completely the wrong way, that I'm telling people to throw them down anything in their path regardless. This couldn't be more wrong. Anyway I've wasted enough time correcting your misquotes. It's very funny though that you keep going on about being ski instructor for 10 years as if it makes any difference to the fact you're just being obtuse.

1 - Your words were session something, do it faster, scare yourself and enjoy it - if you are going to offer advice like that define what you are thinking more clearly
2 - well you said go faster which is essentially not braking so much so seems pretty much the advice you are giving
3 - as I say sessioning difficult bits of track will be relevant to skill level - sometimes the 40ft gap might be the appropriate bit you need to work on if that's your skill level but my point was it is better to determine what you cant do (i.e. there is a 4ft drop off on your trail that you are unable to clean or even tackle) so you should go away from that drop and find something easier and play with the skills you need and build to the bigger drop once confident.

I have ridden the same loop a number of times to ride the same part of a track a few times so I dont inherently disagree with the idea but I am not riding it several times faster I am riding it with an understanding of the skill I am trying to pattern into my riding and attempting to apply it better each time which inherently makes me faster through the given section - without an understanding of what is going wrong you wont learn from repeats and going faster wont always help (sometimes it might but is a potentially painful trial and error approach).

I dont want to offend anyone and apologise if "patently ridiculous" was an overly blunt way of saying I think your advice is flawed.

Kowalski675

paul.skibum wrote:

sometimes the 40ft gap might be the appropriate bit you need to work on if that's your skill level but my point was it is better to determine what you cant do (i.e. there is a 4ft drop off on your trail that you are unable to clean or even tackle) so you should go away from that drop and find something easier and play with the skills you need and build to the bigger drop once confident.

CAWT. The 4 foot drop may scare you silly (and/or put you in A&E if you just listen to people who say things like "just do it - speed is your friend") - I know it would for me, so you find a 1 foot drop and do that until you're happy with it (and have the technique right), then you'll have the confidence to do a 2 foot drop. Once you're happy with that then you find a three foot drop (you can see where I'm going with this...).

It's like anything else of this nature - you don't go straight into showjumping 6 foot fences without learning on 12 inch high ones in the paddock first, or jump straight onto a fast bike without learning to ride a slow one first. Common sense, I would've thought...

pilch

Kowalski675 wrote:

Book a skills course.

By far the best advice at the start of the thread...

Blind Danny Johnson

paul.skibum wrote:

Blind Danny Johnson wrote:

1) I didn't say that did I? You're basically making things up.
2) That wasn't my advice either was it? Still making things up.
3) I said difficult and by which I meant difficult respectively to the rider ie not black DH runs or 40ft gaps just a piece of trail which you struggle with or feel you don't ride as well.

I only wrote something which has worked for me in the past ie sessioning sections of track, working out lines and becoming faster because of it. I feel that pushing yourself is important and rewarding and as for my phrase 'scaring yourself' you seem to have taken this completely the wrong way, that I'm telling people to throw them down anything in their path regardless. This couldn't be more wrong. Anyway I've wasted enough time correcting your misquotes. It's very funny though that you keep going on about being ski instructor for 10 years as if it makes any difference to the fact you're just being obtuse.

1 - Your words were session something, do it faster, scare yourself and enjoy it - if you are going to offer advice like that define what you are thinking more clearly
2 - well you said go faster which is essentially not braking so much so seems pretty much the advice you are giving
3 - as I say sessioning difficult bits of track will be relevant to skill level - sometimes the 40ft gap might be the appropriate bit you need to work on if that's your skill level but my point was it is better to determine what you cant do (i.e. there is a 4ft drop off on your trail that you are unable to clean or even tackle) so you should go away from that drop and find something easier and play with the skills you need and build to the bigger drop once confident.

I have ridden the same loop a number of times to ride the same part of a track a few times so I dont inherently disagree with the idea but I am not riding it several times faster I am riding it with an understanding of the skill I am trying to pattern into my riding and attempting to apply it better each time which inherently makes me faster through the given section - without an understanding of what is going wrong you wont learn from repeats and going faster wont always help (sometimes it might but is a potentially painful trial and error approach).

I dont want to offend anyone and apologise if "patently ridiculous" was an overly blunt way of saying I think your advice is flawed.

I'm bored now mate. Anyway all the best.

Kowalski675

pilch wrote:

Kowalski675 wrote:

Book a skills course.

By far the best advice at the start of the thread...

I thought so Learn from someone who actually knows what they're talking about (and can demonstrate it face to face), rather than a load of people who just think they do (i.e. the internet)

plugp7

J L wrote:

Just ride more

+1. Yup, that's it.

Kowalski675

plugp7 wrote:

J L wrote:

Just ride more

+1. Yup, that's it.

That doesn't necessarily improve your skills, if you don't know what you're doing wrong, or how to do it better.