When going downhill?
Please don't let it be speed, as my local set have a nice drop to fall down if you fluff it! 
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What's the technique for tight switchbacks?
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Posted 1 year ago #
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The guy following me down the descents at Cannock the other week said it looks as though I almost manual round them, leaning right back and swinging the front wheel round. Doesn't feel like that though but I do feel as though my speed through them is getting better
Posted 1 year ago # -
with berms or not?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Look much further ahead than you think you need to and stick your outside foot down, keeping your weight between the wheels. It's not rocket science.
Posted 1 year ago # -
If you're approaching a switchback going left have your right leg forward. Reverse for a right switchback, ie, lead with the left leg. And try and look at where you want to go, not at the front wheel.
The above sometimes works for me
Posted 1 year ago # -
Obi_Twa
stick your outside foot down
WTFPosted 1 year ago # -
Aye - on the pedal.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Posted 1 year ago #
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Posted 1 year ago # -
approach slowly thinking "****, I'm never gonna get round that" whilst sweating like a fat lass at a disco. Close your eyes and then emit a shriek akin to a hamster going through a mangle, wait for it all to go earth/sky/earth/sky/ambulance and you're done. Works for me every time
Posted 1 year ago # -
The alternative technique is to not see them, barrel into them at warp and straight line them landing in a bloody heap at the bottom.
Posted 1 year ago # -
There aren't any tight switchbacks at Cannock are there? Not on the dog or monkey trails.
Posted 1 year ago # -
There aren't any tight switchbacks at Cannock are there? Not on the dog or monkey trails.
Define tight
I guess not super tight but M8 has some good switchbacks down it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Dragging a bit or rear brake helps with the tandem - that and special "tandem lines"
Posted 1 year ago # -
Going back on yourself tight! No berms...just drop.
Looking where I want to go is something to work on as is foot/weight/pedal placement.
Thanks
Posted 1 year ago # -
lol @ tazzymtb.
that and special "tandem lines"
tandems being the irresistable force that will plough through any immovable object, switchbacks included.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I did a couple of runs of very tight switchbacks last summer with a French guy, he would brake into a nicely balanced endo, then just line the back end up exactly where he wanted it and shoot off, it looked pretty smooth.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Go in high and wide to give you more space to turn, roll out through the apex and off you go.
Of course that's the theory but it tends to leave you at a tipping point with a long way to fall down the hill in my experience. Then you can either go for it, or jump off the bike.
A lot of it is not going in too fast and having a bit of balance on the bike - trying not to put a foot down at traffic lights while commuting has made a huge difference to my tech riding...
Posted 1 year ago # -
Brake late, heavy with the front and weight slightly forward. Gentle rear brake, lean into the corner, most of your weight on the inside pedal and force the light rear end round, still carrying a bit of brake to make it slide a bit. Bit like a power slide, without the power. Not particularly trail friendly, but great fun and very fast.
Very much like the endo technique described above.
If you do fall off, you will fall into the bend, not off the track!Posted 1 year ago # -
pmsl
Posted 1 year ago # -
most of your weight on the inside pedal
Great 'endo' technique, as in arse over endo
Posted 1 year ago # -
WWJD?
(What would Jedi do???)
Seriously, the "inside pedal back" has made a huge difference to my switchback technique, explained why I could do tighter left-handers than right-handers.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I can honestly say that in almost 20 riding mtb's, having my weight on the inside has never caused 'arse over endo' or anything even close for that matter.
Having the weight on the inside reduces the chance of washing out, weight forward keeps the front end planted and lets the rear slide round easily.
Worked for me since my bmx daysPosted 1 year ago # -
I would hazard a guess that this is more down to luck than judgement and that your very fast isn't relatively all that fast.
Posted 1 year ago # -
ayeee.. weight on that inside pedal all the way to the hossie lol.
::laughs with tony::
Posted 1 year ago # -
funkymonkey, if you don't want to go and see jedi, which I know would prove eye opening for you, at least watch a bit of footage of world cup downhillers and see if you can spot your techinique being utilised.
[edit] but if you're having fun, and don't really mind, then there is no problem, and I apologise for any criticism [edit]
Posted 1 year ago # -
You all know full well you're gonna go out and try it tomorrow
Posted 1 year ago # -
Not a chance I'll be trying that tomorrow. I can ride a bike and value my life.
Posted 1 year ago # -
weight otb, but I'm slow
Posted 1 year ago # -
Weight outside pedal, turn hips to point where you want to go, rest of you follows - try it slowly at first and exagerate the hip thing - you'll see what I mean.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I will admit to not being an expert but i find pedals level but outside foot forward feels right to me.
As for endoing, this works for me sometimes in thrutchy situations but its more of a trialsy endo than a beautifull smooth rolling turn (I wish!).
We rode the Black K Bour trail at Luchon a couple of years ago which was tight hairpin after tight hairpin. Its a long way to go to practice but having chance after chance gives you time to experiment..
Posted 1 year ago # -
If its tight pull an endo. If it isn't that tight normal cornering is correct. Key thing to any switchback is to take the widest possible line in. Common mistake is to just follow the worn line in the corner where there is lots of real estate to make the turn wider on entry. Also don't fall into the trap of turning in early and then having no exit space to use.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Was riding some yesterday and defo weight on the outside pedal and look round the corner at where you want to go rather than where you are at.
Weight on the inside pedal sounds like a recipe for a washout. Centrifugal forces and all that
Posted 1 year ago # -
on very steep rocky switchbacks lead with your out side foot so you dont pedal strike.
otherwise, outside foot down!Posted 1 year ago # -
There's some pony being trotted out on this thread. Suspect for most of us the answer us that we're not sure what we do, we just get on with it
Posted 1 year ago #
Topic Closed
This topic has been closed to new replies.
