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My skill level seems to be going backwards!..

Kerrmit1992Kerrmit1992 Posts: 275
edited August 2014 in MTB general
Hi guys,

So I built a custom XTC 29er to race XC this year before I realised I'm not actually any good at being a competitive endurance athlete. So I've decided I just want to ride for fun and fitness again. However, now I can't seem to do anything technical at all and I'm not sure if it's the bike or me.

The nose feels very heavy on the 29er XTC and maybe because I'm running it with flat bars would this cause me to struggle with the technical descents?

Also, Everytime I hit a root or a wet rock my front end would wash out or when trying to pedal uphill on similar terrain the back wheel would spin and spit me off in a similar fashion to a motorcycle high-side haha. I'm putting this bit down to wrong tyre pressure as I've been running them at 40psi and maybe slightly higher when what I need to do Is go lower.

All advice would be much appreciated as I love mtb but motivation is starting to disappear :-(

Thanks
Craig
Mountain biking is the bicycle version or rallying, except you don't need a Co-Driver!

Posts

  • cooldadcooldad Posts: 32,599
    Sounds like it's not the bike for you.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

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  • pesky_jonespesky_jones Posts: 2,890
    cooldad wrote:
    Sounds like it's not the bike for you.

    Probably not what you wanna hear but I agree, maybe something with smaller wheels, and more aggressive geo. Wider tyres?

    Alternatively, you could keep trying and when you've mastered it on an unsuited bike, if you did swap you'd be a bike god?
  • The RookieThe Rookie Posts: 27,802
    What tyres?

    The pressures certainly won't help!
    Current steed - Whyte T129, 2013 frame, mongrel Revelations, Giant dropper, Stans S1 wheelset. 12, Magura Trail Sport brakes, 1x11. 12.8Kg
  • Kerrmit1992Kerrmit1992 Posts: 275
    See that's what i thought. But maybe the terrain is too sketchy for a xc bike I don't know.

    I've been looking for a second hand giant trance or something along those lines but I don't really wanna spend a lot of money if it's me haha.

    I had a giant and I'm running racing Ralph's front and rear. I think I'll drop the tyre pressure next time I'm out. I seemed to do better when I never had a pressure gauge on the pump. I used to use a hand pump and test with the good old squeeze of the tyre so I was probably running lower pressures then.
    Mountain biking is the bicycle version or rallying, except you don't need a Co-Driver!
  • ej2320ej2320 Posts: 1,543
    Could be tyres and pressure
    Or it could be you're not weighting the bike properly.. Such as leaning off the back of the bike on descents
  • Kerrmit1992Kerrmit1992 Posts: 275
    Maybe, would putting riser bars on make a difference to the weight over the front end?
    Mountain biking is the bicycle version or rallying, except you don't need a Co-Driver!
  • The RookieThe Rookie Posts: 27,802
    Riser bars or bars with more backsweep would help, but not as much as technique. It's a bike you have to work at technique on a bit mire than a more forgiving bike, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
    Current steed - Whyte T129, 2013 frame, mongrel Revelations, Giant dropper, Stans S1 wheelset. 12, Magura Trail Sport brakes, 1x11. 12.8Kg
  • Lewis ALewis A Posts: 767
    Take 10-15psi off the tyres.
    Cube Analog 2012 with various upgrades.
  • Kerrmit1992Kerrmit1992 Posts: 275
    Well I'll see what happens if I take 10-15psi off the tyres and I'll invest in some new bars. I'm running a 70mm stem also which I think is a bit long so I'll maybe shorten tht to 50mm and hopefully that will improve my riding again
    Mountain biking is the bicycle version or rallying, except you don't need a Co-Driver!
  • WindyGWindyG Posts: 1,099
    Go one step at a time, just reduce the tyre pressures first before changing components.
    Giant Anthem X3
    Scott Aspect 10
    Schwinn Fastback Comp
    Cube Reaction GTC SL
  • The RookieThe Rookie Posts: 27,802
    Tyre pressures are free!
    Current steed - Whyte T129, 2013 frame, mongrel Revelations, Giant dropper, Stans S1 wheelset. 12, Magura Trail Sport brakes, 1x11. 12.8Kg
  • pesky_jonespesky_jones Posts: 2,890
    Or just carry on riding backwards, thats pretty impressive.
  • Chinley ChurnerChinley Churner Posts: 313
    I ride and race a Giant XTC and it's certainly not the most forgiving bike in the world. It took me a fair while to get dialled into it and the things it punishes most are being tentative and tension. You've got to be really positive with it but also know when to just let it roll over stuff. It's a full-on XC bike but you can still have a lot of fun on it and ride it hard over technical terrain like my local Dark Peak trails. Maybe try some grippier tyres, back off the pressure a bit and learn to embrace its quirks and ride with them rather than fight them.
  • Angus YoungAngus Young Posts: 3,063
    My skill level seems to be going nowhere.
    All the gear, no idea and loving the smell of jealousy in the morning.
    Kona Process 134 viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=12994607
  • cooldadcooldad Posts: 32,599
    I would be happy with any level with skill in it.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • Kerrmit1992Kerrmit1992 Posts: 275
    Haha well ill adjust tyre pressures and give it another go :-)
    Mountain biking is the bicycle version or rallying, except you don't need a Co-Driver!
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