Used to practice jumpy stuff a few years back at Swinley, but didn't really keep it up (no pun intended 
).
Don't tend to see myself as the sort to practice per se - more a case of just riding. Having said that, I did just buy the DirtSchool DVD and can see myself practicing loads of stuff from that.
nedrapier - MemberDifferent people do learn differently, everything i've ever learned has been without really practicing, biking, guitar, work etc. Everything I have learned is basically effortless I just batter into something when i feel like it. It infuriates my brother actually as he has always been that focused repetitive type of learner. I'm not, I learn things by just going on a journey with them..
I've been riding bikes since I was 3ish. I've always wanted to be better than I am. I get a kick out of learning, no matter what it is, bikes, boards, work.... so I've always got an idea of what I want to improve.
Maybe that's another difference. like i say dunno, I'm just blabbering! 
TandemJeremyI think it's clear from this thread though that there are alot of people who practice mtbing. So maybe not so different, just that there are different ways of learning.I am talking about people who have been riding motorcycles for decades still doing it - actively practising technique and analysing / reflecting on it.
Its just a differnt ethos I think
Totally - always working on my consequential gaps.
WTF is a "consequential gap"? Is it the Suez Canal?
Yep. Love it.
Sadly I am a bit limited timewise at the mo and my wed night crew prefer going for a ride.
I hit forty this year so the testosterone has gone along with the bravery of youth. If I want my riding to progress then it's skills courses and practise for me...
Just bear in mind that there is no point practicing doing things 'wrong'. How I wish I had gone to more snowboarding lessons earlier, before I picked up such bad habits!
Now where the hell is Jedi's number...
i am always trying stuff differently or new things. riding is aspirational innit
If you don't 'practise' biking what do you do - just sit down, pedal and wait until you get somewhere 
When i've got a day off and my mates haven't i'll often build a bit of practice into my solo ride, usually sessioning sections of our local trail that I find more difficult, or just doing trying out core skills.
I practice all the time. The local woods dont have much of a distance lap(about 3 miles) but its well techy so. I use that for practice. Really,really useful. Builds confidence and the stuff in the woods are at least black grade and tougher. Very handy and I would recommend it to all.
TandemJeremy
I am talking about people who have been riding motorcycles for decades still doing it - actively practising technique and analysing / reflecting on it.
TBH it doesn't work like that for me. When I try to think about what I'm doing it generally goes to pieces. If I just get on and ride it's fine.
birky - Member
When I try to think about what I'm doing it generally goes to pieces. If I just get on and ride it's fine.
Yes, you're so right - stop to think and it all goes wrong, let your bike/body 'do it's thing' and it usually goes better.
Riding a bike is (IMO) more of an art than a science, you don't have to think "how much lean do I need, what speed, what suspension setting etc to ride this corner" just ride the corner 
In answer to my own question, I am in the "practise" camp. (I can even spell it some days).
I believe everything I read and it does have a positive effect. Did a bit of skills training recently too. Right now, I am forcing heels and wrists down and trying to make it natural. On the way to work every day, up down kerbs, down sets of steps etc etc even if I cant get a proper session in at the woods. I have even stuck my brake levers up unnaturally flat to try and force my wrists down while braking.
I was interested because I have riding Mates (who are very good) who never read the manual, never go on the skills course and wouldnt dream of spending a morning on one technique!
Off to standish woods tomorrow. There is loads in a tiny area and my wife has stolen my free time. Bless her
I practise, doing something exactly how you planned/felt in your head is challenging and rewarding. I practise turning a lot, especially in mud, you can always get better at turning.
I work in a shop and do shop rides, i always get asked "how do you do that", I then ask if they've ever tried or practised it, the response is usually a no.
Hilldodger raises a good point where it is an art rather than a science. For those people that are naturally amazing, it is an art, but us mere mortals do need to think about it somewhat. There is over thinking though, if you get the right idea, relax and don't panic, it normally works out nicely.
Might incorprorate a particular section into my route twice but I don't session anything on a xc bike!
Never . I just get on and ride . If im on my own i will start slow , warm up , ride somewhere at my sensible speed , stop , turn round and ride back .
sorry
odd as it may seem, top roadies (the two specifically mentioned to me were Cancellara and Hushovd) practice bike handling skills.
Just want to get better.
Taking one of my fav trails, for example, I can thrash my way down it until right at the bottom where I scrub off all my speed to go AROUND a log drop off. Similar story with other trails. Ruined flow and and your mates are off in the distance. I cant get by on balls (*I have none) so my only chance is technique
practice - a bunch of lawyers
practise = lame
sessioning a feature/section/trail = rad to the power gnarr
I 'practise' my favourite bits of trail in the way the first beer or glass of nice red is 'practise' for the next one.
Gary Player said it best 'the more I practise the luckier I get' and MTB is the new golf after all...
And Fred Astaire (I think?) If it doesn't look easy, you haven't done enough work.
You wouldn't say that about general bike riding, but would translate better to slopstyle or something.
I honestly struggle to see how and why people don't practice. Bikes, musical instrument, driving, sport, cooking..anything really. The more you practise the better you get?! If time limits, ten mins Evey now and then is better than nufink.
Maybe some of us don't care about 'getting better'? Maybe 'getting better' is not directly proportional to enjoying yourself? I'd rather my riding style/ability just reflected the hours in the saddle I'd done and the terrain I'd ridden, rather than laboriously hitting the same section over and over just so I can measure up to GW
Can't be arsed breaking the flow of a ride anyway, which is why I can never 'session' a trail, just can't help but keep pedalling and keep going.
Maybe some of us don't care about 'getting better'? Maybe 'getting better' is not directly proportional to enjoying yourself? I'd rather my riding style/ability just reflected the hours in the saddle I'd done and the terrain I'd ridden, rather than laboriously hitting the same section over and over just so I can measure up to GWCan't be arsed breaking the flow of a ride anyway, which is why I can never 'session' a trail, just can't help but keep pedalling and keep going.
Each to their own I guess. Hours in the saddle is great and of course nobody likes breaking flow. Practise for me personally is a seperate event to a 'proper' ride and the better my technique gets the more I enjoy my 'proper' rides.
I do both, spent 6 hours(ish) pedalling natural XC today.
and there's **** all "laborious" about the time I spend on my bike
WTF is a "consequential gap"?
top roadies (the two specifically mentioned to me were Cancellara and Hushovd) practice bike handling skills
Thanks...
I was named after Gary Player = true story 
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