just go with it or analyse analyse analyse?

phoenixliston
phoenixliston Posts: 112
edited August 2010 in MTB general
I was recently reading this technique article:

http://www.imbikemag.com/issue6/?page=73

Which reminded me of this bike radar article i read a while ago:

http://www.bikeradar.com/fitness/article/technique-go-with-the-flow-17812

It got me thinking..
that I'm probably not mindful enough of my fundamental riding technique, i think once you have been doing somehting for a while it is easy to 'autopilot' some of the more basic yet quite important elements..such as body position and cornering technique.

Do you find you tend to 'go with it' a lot like i seem to or am i missing out and do most of you keep a watchful eye on how you approach corners, trails and your general riding style at all times?[/url]

Comments

  • cavegiant
    cavegiant Posts: 1,546
    I cycle (bad opening pun sorry).

    It is important to occasionally reevaluate you technique or bad habits will creep in.

    My arse was slowly getting higher and higher while decending. Once I realised I was doing it, made sure I kept LOW when shooting DH, the jump in speed and control was significant.

    It all depends on your aims, I want to get better, so pay attention to what I do.
    Why would I care about 150g of bike weight, I just ate 400g of cookies while reading this?
  • phoenixliston
    phoenixliston Posts: 112
    agreed! and i definately want to get better...otherwise..what's the point i guess?

    having read the article and thought about it while riding i found that I often corner at high speed with the pedals at 9-3, rather than 6-12.so..in light of this i made effort to set them as suggested in the how-to and - I felt much more stable on the bike which allowed me to go through smoother and faster... winner :)
  • JimmerG
    JimmerG Posts: 143
    Its a good point - I've been riding for years and years - I've been reading technique articles for years and years too. On the whole I take it all on board, but the minute I go out riding I forget it all, and revert back to my natural riding style.

    But there is always the occasional tip that can easily be used out on the trails.

    Like for example - just remembering to stay loose, and not gripping the bars too tight when decending. Its all too easy to tighten up and make a real mess of things - I notice this if I'm tired or out of practise.

    Also MBUK noted how so many of us drag the brakes very slightly on downhills - thus imperceptively throwing our weight forwards and screwing up our balance. I'd never thought of this, and indeed I do do it - and it does make a difference when you remember not to do it.

    So I read the articles - ignore most of them - but the occasion hint does stick... But I certainly don't get too hung up on technique... like so many golfers do with their precious golf swing.

    I ain't no race demon - and I certinaly haven't threatened any podiums recently, I just rag around with mates in the woods/trail centres.
  • MountainMonster
    MountainMonster Posts: 7,423
    For me technique is always something i'm focusing on especially on my downhill sections. I ride mostly XC, but this is always to the top of mountains then we have to go back down, often averaging about 50-60kmh downhill sections through the trails.

    There are quite a few of those techniques he was talking about that I try to make a conscious effort to do, especially with pedal posistion and not trailing rear brakes. It may not feel comfortable at first to ride with pedals at 12-6, but after a while it does become comfortable, and the control difference is quite beneficial. For not trailing the rear brake, scare yourself a bit the first few times riding, and then you won't be so scared and trail the brake all the time. Worked well for me. Some real great tips in there!
    My London Road

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