As I sat at home after a tooth extraction (unrelated to biking) I came up with two fundamental acronyms about MTB riding:
BLT
B
Balance your weight on the pedals going down (this allows to keep the handlebar light among other things. Very good tip for steep descending terrain
L
Light hands heavy feet. This is the main riding tip, the holy grail (helps with weight distribution, floating over obstacles, not loading too much the front end, etc)
T
Three D riding- this is about putting more or less weight on the bike using the feet: (at any moment being either light or heavy, like a wave). Light- offloading on difficult terrain floating over obstacles (two ways of doing it: lifting the weight up on elbows and pedals or quickly dropping down with elbows and feet). Heavy- pushing on the pedals down on easy safe terrain. Remember keeping light hands no matter what. This tip is from Brian Lopez's book.
Day
Dynamic pedal as per Fluid ride video (pushing on outside pedal while cornering). Inside knee out.
http://vimeo.com/41742406
The second acronym is linked to "Day" and deals with cornering.
L
Look at the exit of a turn
L
Lean the bike into the turn without leaning your body
R
Rotate hips (turn with your belly button)
Here you go: BLT Day LLR!
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Friday, August 10, 2012
FOX DOSS TESTING
January 18, 1213 update:
Could not compress the post to lower it. This required a lot of down force.
To be fair Ed B. from Fox did an excellent job and issued the RA number right away. The post is traveling back to CA for evaluation. Ed said he will send the post back the same day.
So far excellent service that Fox is providing. Will update on the outcome.
FOX DOSS (Aug 2012- Jan 2013) with no service in Pacific North West. Too early to write the eulogy? Hope there will be some improvements! In the meantime what am I riding on? GRAVITY DROPPER TURBO LP! So far no problems!
January 12, 1213 update:
The Doss Post stopped extending. Checked air pressure. None! Added required amount with the shock pump, went for a ride, checked air pressure again. Only half was there and that is after one ride!
Changed shreader core, added required amount, will report after the next ride. Will submerge in water briefly to see if there are bubbles, not sure if that can damage the post.
January 3, 1213 update (Happy New Year!):
Jagwire ferrule works. A piece of tube attached to the seat hanging over the post actuation lever works. 10+ rides in wet, rainy, muddy weather and no need to change the cable yet.
FOX needs to think of the sealed actuation system. Post itself works fine (sometimes it does not return all the way up, it needs a couple of "warm up cycles"). I got used to it, although it is annoying.
December 8, 2012 update:
Jagwire ferrule with extension at the post lever seems to work!Lever actuation has been good for 4 very rainy rides. However, sometimes I need to pull the seat UP to extend it fully. This particular aspect shows inconsistent functionality and I can't get rid of this behavior no matter what I try.
November 19, 2012 update:
I clamp the post in the same spot all the time and one day it would not return UP from the trail position. I followed troubleshooting instructions to no avail. Then for the heck of it I clamped the post at a DIFFERENT height at a DIFFERENT angle. The post returns perfectly!
Is it possible that clamping in the same spot induces some sort of internals fatigue over time?
Fox: pls make the actuation lever on the post itself shielded, sealed, like the Gravity Dropper or LEV or something like that. Seal it at the lever as well so it does not function as a funnel direting water in the housing. I had 3 rides in wet conditions with Jagwire ferrule and so far so good.
November 10, 2012 update:
It is very sad to say but DOSS is not yet suitable for Pacific North West. This is a heartfelt conclusion as I really like the post.
Here is why. After I changed cable and housing (see update below), I went for 3 rides in really really wet conditions, the way it rains on North Shore, 50-70mm in one day.
After these three rides lever actuation became very very hard. It seems that the housing gets contaminated quickly and it is not feasible to change cable and housing after 3 eight k rides. Every time it is a $12 expense.
My last attempt to alleviate this problem is installing Jagwire ferrule on the post that has a thin extension that prevents contamination. I also installed a piece of inner tube to cover the actuation mechanism on the seatpost hoping that it will deflect wet debris.
I will post one last update after 3 rides or so.
I hope FOX engineers will address this issue as the only good time to use the post is during a very short dry window here in the Pacific North West. This is a sad conclusion for me as I do want to believe in this product. The post itself works very very well....
Oct 28, 2012 update:
After about 15 rides in dry weather, it started raining heavily on North Shore. On my first ride in heavy rain I started feeling that I needed excessive pressure on the lever, especially when I wanted to lower the seat (not so much when I wanted to raise it). I changed the cable only, the problem persisted. I coped with the problem for 5 more rides. Big mistake! I changed cable and housing today. Actuation became very smooth.
I need to find out how long this smooth actuation will be there before the problem reappears.
Now that we are in the wet season and I have no idea about longevity of actuation mechanism in wet conditions. The design is such that water can easily enter the housing, that worries me a bit.
How often do I change cable and housing riding in wet conditions? We shall see...
Conclusion one: In dry weather, the post worked flawlessly.
Since there is no long term DOSS testing info online I decided to keep the riding log where I start using BRAND NEW FOX DOSS post
Trail: Bridal path on North Shore with some deviations. Length circa 8.500m. Elevation change 114m
Average use of the post lever per ride 20+. Mileage is totaled with each entry. Rider's weight 240lb (too much)
After Aug 16 I logged 15 rides in dry conditions, no problem.
Today (beginning of October) however it was poring rain. 2/3 in the same ride the remote lever started feeling very heavy and required a lot of force when trying to raise the post from the lowest position. Moving into/from other positions felt normal as usual.
I also noticed that the bracket on the seatpost that functions as a stop against which the post lever moves was a bit wobbly. Not sure if this is a problem. Remote lever has no problem and functions as usual.
Ideas:
Contamination of the post lever by dirt?
Remote lever adjustment problem?
Water?
I will see next ride if the same behavior persists.
Aug 3, 2012 Dry conditions 8,5km perfect function
Aug 5, 2012 Dry conditions 17kmm perfect function
Aug 8, 2012 Mild wet conditions, little mud spray on the post 25,5km perfect function
Aug 10, 2012 Dry conditions 34 km post lowered itself from the highest to the middle position
Aug 14, 2012 Very dry conditions 42.5 km perfect function
Aug 16, 2012 Very dry conditions 51 km perfect function
Could not compress the post to lower it. This required a lot of down force.
To be fair Ed B. from Fox did an excellent job and issued the RA number right away. The post is traveling back to CA for evaluation. Ed said he will send the post back the same day.
So far excellent service that Fox is providing. Will update on the outcome.
FOX DOSS (Aug 2012- Jan 2013) with no service in Pacific North West. Too early to write the eulogy? Hope there will be some improvements! In the meantime what am I riding on? GRAVITY DROPPER TURBO LP! So far no problems!
January 12, 1213 update:
The Doss Post stopped extending. Checked air pressure. None! Added required amount with the shock pump, went for a ride, checked air pressure again. Only half was there and that is after one ride!
Changed shreader core, added required amount, will report after the next ride. Will submerge in water briefly to see if there are bubbles, not sure if that can damage the post.
January 3, 1213 update (Happy New Year!):
Jagwire ferrule works. A piece of tube attached to the seat hanging over the post actuation lever works. 10+ rides in wet, rainy, muddy weather and no need to change the cable yet.
FOX needs to think of the sealed actuation system. Post itself works fine (sometimes it does not return all the way up, it needs a couple of "warm up cycles"). I got used to it, although it is annoying.
December 8, 2012 update:
Jagwire ferrule with extension at the post lever seems to work!Lever actuation has been good for 4 very rainy rides. However, sometimes I need to pull the seat UP to extend it fully. This particular aspect shows inconsistent functionality and I can't get rid of this behavior no matter what I try.
November 19, 2012 update:
I clamp the post in the same spot all the time and one day it would not return UP from the trail position. I followed troubleshooting instructions to no avail. Then for the heck of it I clamped the post at a DIFFERENT height at a DIFFERENT angle. The post returns perfectly!
Is it possible that clamping in the same spot induces some sort of internals fatigue over time?
Fox: pls make the actuation lever on the post itself shielded, sealed, like the Gravity Dropper or LEV or something like that. Seal it at the lever as well so it does not function as a funnel direting water in the housing. I had 3 rides in wet conditions with Jagwire ferrule and so far so good.
November 10, 2012 update:
It is very sad to say but DOSS is not yet suitable for Pacific North West. This is a heartfelt conclusion as I really like the post.
Here is why. After I changed cable and housing (see update below), I went for 3 rides in really really wet conditions, the way it rains on North Shore, 50-70mm in one day.
After these three rides lever actuation became very very hard. It seems that the housing gets contaminated quickly and it is not feasible to change cable and housing after 3 eight k rides. Every time it is a $12 expense.
My last attempt to alleviate this problem is installing Jagwire ferrule on the post that has a thin extension that prevents contamination. I also installed a piece of inner tube to cover the actuation mechanism on the seatpost hoping that it will deflect wet debris.
I will post one last update after 3 rides or so.
I hope FOX engineers will address this issue as the only good time to use the post is during a very short dry window here in the Pacific North West. This is a sad conclusion for me as I do want to believe in this product. The post itself works very very well....
Oct 28, 2012 update:
After about 15 rides in dry weather, it started raining heavily on North Shore. On my first ride in heavy rain I started feeling that I needed excessive pressure on the lever, especially when I wanted to lower the seat (not so much when I wanted to raise it). I changed the cable only, the problem persisted. I coped with the problem for 5 more rides. Big mistake! I changed cable and housing today. Actuation became very smooth.
I need to find out how long this smooth actuation will be there before the problem reappears.
Now that we are in the wet season and I have no idea about longevity of actuation mechanism in wet conditions. The design is such that water can easily enter the housing, that worries me a bit.
How often do I change cable and housing riding in wet conditions? We shall see...
Conclusion one: In dry weather, the post worked flawlessly.
Since there is no long term DOSS testing info online I decided to keep the riding log where I start using BRAND NEW FOX DOSS post
Trail: Bridal path on North Shore with some deviations. Length circa 8.500m. Elevation change 114m
Average use of the post lever per ride 20+. Mileage is totaled with each entry. Rider's weight 240lb (too much)
After Aug 16 I logged 15 rides in dry conditions, no problem.
Today (beginning of October) however it was poring rain. 2/3 in the same ride the remote lever started feeling very heavy and required a lot of force when trying to raise the post from the lowest position. Moving into/from other positions felt normal as usual.
I also noticed that the bracket on the seatpost that functions as a stop against which the post lever moves was a bit wobbly. Not sure if this is a problem. Remote lever has no problem and functions as usual.
Ideas:
Contamination of the post lever by dirt?
Remote lever adjustment problem?
Water?
I will see next ride if the same behavior persists.
Aug 3, 2012 Dry conditions 8,5km perfect function
Aug 5, 2012 Dry conditions 17kmm perfect function
Aug 8, 2012 Mild wet conditions, little mud spray on the post 25,5km perfect function
Aug 10, 2012 Dry conditions 34 km post lowered itself from the highest to the middle position
Aug 14, 2012 Very dry conditions 42.5 km perfect function
Aug 16, 2012 Very dry conditions 51 km perfect function
Monday, August 6, 2012
FIVE BIGGEST TIPS
At this stage I am working on what I call FIVE BIGGEST TIPS TO IMPROVE RIDING:
1. 3D riding on gravity assisted terrain - Be heavy or be light at any given point (alternate these two states all the time). Don't be ALWAYS heavy or ALWAYS light. Be like a wave: heavy-light-heavy.... (as per Brian Lopez's book) Here is a video example. Pay attention to pedals loading-offloading (especially at 2:45 onwards, but really throughout the entire video)
3. On steep downhill terrain balance on your PEDALS! This will tell how much back you should move. Heavy feet, light hands. Here it is very important unless you want to be a superman!
4. On downhill terrain move back as you go over the obstacle and as the bike dictates it at that particular moment. Don't set yourself back in advance. Otherwise you are a human catapult ready to shoot over the handlebars! (it is a bad thing, by the way)
5. Descend leading with your CHIN (this helps look ahead and keep the right ready/attack position). The chin should be low.
1. 3D riding on gravity assisted terrain - Be heavy or be light at any given point (alternate these two states all the time). Don't be ALWAYS heavy or ALWAYS light. Be like a wave: heavy-light-heavy.... (as per Brian Lopez's book) Here is a video example. Pay attention to pedals loading-offloading (especially at 2:45 onwards, but really throughout the entire video)
- Heavy- press into the pedals on easy smooth terrain
- Light- offload your weight (from the handlebar and pedals) on difficult terrain (offloading is done either "collapsing" DOWN (elbows and knees moving down) or moving UP by pulling and by taking the weight off the suspension
- 3D means that you move up and down (loading offloading) in addition to the 2D plane
3. On steep downhill terrain balance on your PEDALS! This will tell how much back you should move. Heavy feet, light hands. Here it is very important unless you want to be a superman!
4. On downhill terrain move back as you go over the obstacle and as the bike dictates it at that particular moment. Don't set yourself back in advance. Otherwise you are a human catapult ready to shoot over the handlebars! (it is a bad thing, by the way)
5. Descend leading with your CHIN (this helps look ahead and keep the right ready/attack position). The chin should be low.
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