Trick to try going over an obstacle while climbing

Disclaimer: These tips are for the blog author, pls seek professional instruction as this sport may be dangerous!

Cell phone case and the glove for the obstacle height reference



I should be standing or partially standing


Roll the front wheel over an obstacle

Compress suspension and hop over the obstacle with the rear wheel

I keep the front heel low

Cornering- lean the bike into the corner- NOT your body

Disclaimer: These tips are for the blog author, pls seek professional instruction as this sport may be dangerous!

When cornering I try to do this:
Lean the bike into the corner
but DO NOT lean your body into the corner, keep it VERTICAL
Keep your body straight up.
What helps in achieving it:
PUT MOST WEIGHT on the OUTSIDE pedal and keep that OUTSIDE heal DOWN (lowered outside heal lowers your center of gravity and applies max pressure on the outer knobs of the tires)
Put OUTSIDE knee against the frame if needed
Keep OUTSIDE ELBOW HIGH (VERY IMPORTANT it helps keeping your body vertical, it is a good thing to use as a conscious mental check
LOOK to the corner exit point
USE Dynamic pedal idea

Elbow position on steep climbs

Disclaimer: These tips are for the blog author, pls seek professional instruction as this sport may be dangerous!

When I have to muscle up a very steep section this is what works well for me:

Imagine someone attached ropes to your elbows and pulling on them up so they are parallel to the chest line (or armpit to armpit line). Elbows are bent and are pointing up.

This prevents the front wheel from going up in the air and puts more weight slightly forward.

May 12, 2012 update:
Do NOT keep elbows in this extreme forward position when descending.
Correct descending  elbow position is as if doing a pushup or holding a basketball at chest level

Straight Line riding-Keep those heels down

Disclaimer: These tips are for the blog author, pls seek professional instruction as this sport may be dangerous!

Heel position-straight line traveling:
Keeping heels DOWN (especially the front pedal heel makes for a much better, relaxing, obstacle- absorption- ready  ride)

Momentum as THE KEY to success

Disclaimer: These tips are for the blog author, pls seek professional instruction as this sport may be dangerous!

It took me a while to figure out what helps me roll over an uphill, flat or downhill obstacle on a tough part of the trail where I could not before...

The answer is MOMENTUM!
Even with a very tiny and modest momentum one can roll over surprisingly difficult stuff. This can include an acceleration or more often simply NOT SLOWING DOWN in regards to the initial approach speed.

How do I measure success?

Disclaimer: These tips are for the blog author, pls seek professional instruction as this sport may be dangerous!

Beyond the obvious: not falling and not stumbling where I used to fall and stumble. Beyond endurance: riding bigger distances between resting. What else is left then?

Here it is:
The true measure of better technique and performance is whether you can go over difficult sections in GRANNY gear in places where you used to employ the MIDDLE chainring!

Why? It takes more skill and technique to ride in GRANNY gear. You can no longer rely on torque availability to get out of trouble. You have to rely instead on correct body position, weight distribution, correct speed approach, momentum, etc.

How many scoops of Stan's for a heavy guy?

Disclaimer: These tips are for the blog author, pls seek professional instruction as this sport may be dangerous!

Three. For 240 lb of a person this seems to work the best. 2+ months of riding-no pressure lost
Update March 26, 2012   3+ months going strong no issues

Universal gear combination for Bridal Path

Disclaimer: These tips are for the blog author, pls seek professional instruction as this sport may be dangerous!

After experimenting for a while, I decided that Granny and Second Biggest rings on a 9 speed cassette is the combination that can be used on any stretch of the Bridal Path.

Two Exceptions where I would use the Middle upfront and the Biggest in the back:
-Entry point to Suicide Connector (going west) and
-The entrance on Bridal Path by the golf course by the fence (going west)

March 29, 2012 update: I can use the Granny and the Second biggest ring in the back EVERYWHERE on BRIDAL PATH NOW. My knees are saying thanks...

For increased cardio workout, I would use Middle chainring upfront and the biggest one in the back for the entire trail.