Has anyone got any special tips for riding slippery rooty singletrack fast? What's the best approach mentally - to slow down a bit in view of the changed conditions (as if you were driving) - or to attack it with more confidence so the bike digs in more? I always instinctively go a bit slower but I wonder if more attack is needed. Of course in practice I'm sure it's a balance of the two - but when is one approach likely to work best and vice versa? e.g. in mud you want to dig in hard, but on wet roots do you want to be very light?
I remember Nico after he won the Worlds at Are in the rain said it was because he mentally approached it as if it was a dry track whereas everyone else held back a bit.
Having said that I have crashed spectacularly at DH races before trying to attack trails in the rain. One time I almost broke my leg and someone else behind me actually did, doing the same thing. So I don't think it's as simple as just saying "attack attack attack".
Part of the problem is that I just don't know the limits of my bike in these conditions because I've not really pushed it yet. Assuming the rider is skilled (ha!), how far can a modern 6" bike with good tyres be leaned on off camber corners before it will wash out under any rider? Can they get over wet roots positioned at an acute angle to your direction of travel, or do you need to bunnyhop/go round them? I never used to be able to but I wonder if my new bike can take this.
nb I know, I know, part of the solution is having your brakes on the right way round...my pride still has not recovered from that...
