|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Myths like:
Find out why these myths compromise your control, balance and confidence and learn the correct techniques to get you riding at your best! By learning the correct techniques, you’ll ride smoother, faster and more efficiently.
Subscribe to BetterRide’s FREE email course and monthly newsletter with skills tips by entering your name and email address below.
SECURE & CONFIDENTIAL
We respect your privacy and HATE SPAM as much as you do. So, we promise to never sell or distribute your e-mail address to anyone. (our 11 reputation of providing the best coaching in the sport depends on it)
Here is tip 2.A with a video demonstration from the email course: "urban legend" # 2 "on a descent get your weight way back so you don't endo". This advice can even be found on YouTube from an "instructor" (in quotes because despite her years of experience she is not an educated or qualified instructor).
So why is this advice bad? This advice is bad for a number of reasons, first the goal. I certainly don't want to endo but my goal when riding is to have fun and be in control not, not endo. If I achieve my goals I will not only not endo but I will enjoy by ride too. Secondly with your weight way back you are out of control. With your weight way back you are taking your weight off the front wheel (by "hanging" on the handle bars) compromising your control (hard to steer or use the front brake if the front wheel is unweighted). This is far from a neutral, balanced position (where you can move/adjust in any direction) which is your goal.
When riding downhill the bike should pivot forward beneath you (giving the impression (relative to the bike) that your weight has shifted back because the seat has moved forward (relative to planet earth your weight has not moved)) but 100% of your weight should stay on the pedals (if you were to let go the grips you body wouldn't move and you should be able to move your hands side to side as there will be no weight on them), not behind the pedals (if you were to let go of the grips you would fall backwards off the bike). I am not recommending letting go of the grips, just describing how the "neutral position" should feel. Lastly, with your weight way back you will actually get pitched forward if there is a ledge or section on the descent where the trail steepens.
Remember, I didn't invent these skills I have been fortunate enough to learn from the best (World Champions Marla Streb, Greg Minnaar, etc.) and learn from the great riders that I coach (Ross Schnell, Mitch Ropelato, etc.). I am simply passing on what I have learned.
In these videos taken by a student in my Philly mountain bike camp this spring you can really see one huge reason (there are many) why centered is good and getting back is bad. This a simple drill done off a curb, imagine how much worse this would be on a bigger obstacle going downhill on trail! If the videos don't load please click on "updates" at the top right of this page and they will load (not sure why this needs to be done, sorry for the inconvenience).
This how to mountain bike video shows me riding off a curb with my weight back and arms extended. Notice how I get "pitched forward" as my arms are yanked down the curb. Also notice how my entire body weight drops the same height has the curb, Ker plunk! Imagine if the obstacle was a little bigger and I was on steep hill! Imagine how much worse this would of been if I was squeezing the seat with my thighs. Have you ever had the feeling of being pitched forward on a descent?
Now the same curb centered.
