Girlfriend's position??

Maro
Maro Posts: 226
edited November 2014 in MTB general
My girlfriend bought a MTB last year, she is progressing well and has got to a level where she can ride well and quick enough but is a little nervous about how to handle the bike when both wheel are off the ground.

We spent an afternoon at Afan skills area where she made further progress and became more confident. What I couldn't understand is why she wasn't jumping further over the tabletops than others despite travelling at a similar speed. I was trying to look at her body position, purely for purposes of helping her of course :wink: . Then I wondered if she was hampered by the muscle memory from her 25 years of riding horses (to a high standard).

I know it's a long shot but perhaps there is someone here who has transfered skills from one steed to another and if they had problems.
Bird Aeris. DMR Trailstar. Spesh Rockhopper pub bike.

Comments

  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    I used to race motocross many many years ago, before they thought of stadium type stuff with massive flashy jumps.
    I was taught (by a national champion) to keep the bike on the ground as much as possible - you should either be accelerating or braking, and you can't do either without wheels on the ground.
    I tend to flatten jumps, using my legs to absorb the jump, and squash down into them instead of hopping over them. Habit. She probably does similar.
    As a result on a bicycle I am hopeless at getting off the ground (or just a pussy).
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

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  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    ps I thought this was going to be a Crudcatcher type thread, about reverse cowgirl or something.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    Sounds like her problem is that she's just riding off the the jump in a good position but not popping off the lip.
    She should be compressing the bike in to the take off and recoiling back up to a central, upright position at the lip. If done right it can easily double the distance of a jump.
    look at any pictures of pro riders jumping and you wull see that they are stood quite tall on the bike and nicely central, thats what you need to aim for.
    Most importantly, never pull up on the bike.
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,853
    cooldad wrote:
    ps I thought this was going to be a Crudcatcher type thread, about reverse cowgirl or something.
    I'm sure you aren't the only one, I was hoping for pictures.
  • Pictures :P
    Paracyclist
    @Bigmitch_racing
    2010 Specialized Tricross (commuter)
    2014 Whyte T129-S
    2016 Specialized Tarmac Ultegra Di2
    Big Mitch - YouTube
  • pesky_jones
    pesky_jones Posts: 2,890
    cooldad wrote:
    I used to race motocross many many years ago, before they thought of stadium type stuff with massive flashy jumps.
    I was taught (by a national champion) to keep the bike on the ground as much as possible - you should either be accelerating or braking, and you can't do either without wheels on the ground.
    I tend to flatten jumps, using my legs to absorb the jump, and squash down into them instead of hopping over them. Habit. She probably does similar.
    As a result on a bicycle I am hopeless at getting off the ground (or just a pussy).

    This would get my vote.
  • Maro
    Maro Posts: 226
    Thanks guys, I'm very familiar with the techniques described by CD and RockMonkey. I think I know what she needs to do but I'm not sure why she just isn't quite getting it or how I can better describe it for her.

    Will try to find a pic to post haha.
    Bird Aeris. DMR Trailstar. Spesh Rockhopper pub bike.
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Why not just let her ride the way she wants.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • Maro
    Maro Posts: 226
    I do, we have a group ride at BPW next month and one of the other women is currently having lessons, my Mrs. has gotten a little competative about it and asked me for a few tips.

    Her riding is good but she stands just a bit static and she slows down to roll over bits that I would launch off of in order to miss bumps/obstacles, she only slows down because she is unfamiliar with having the wheels off the ground, I'm also helping her ride through berms with more confidence.
    Bird Aeris. DMR Trailstar. Spesh Rockhopper pub bike.
  • pesky_jones
    pesky_jones Posts: 2,890
    cooldad wrote:
    Why not just let her ride the way she wants.

    Perhaps that's what he's trying to do?