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would like to add another +1 to the 1-2-1 session with Jedi.
I've never been that confident when my wheels leave the ground but after that day I was chomping at the bit to go and practice what I'd been taught ... subtle changes that make all the difference and a real 'do it at your own pace' style ...
...great day, well worth it
After OTBing yesterday into a nice patch of brambles while attempting to mince down something only slightly technical, I look like I've been in a fight with an angry cat.
I'm also not convinced that the 'I'm a mincer' mindset is much safer, unless you're going the whole hog and getting off and pushing a lot.
I need someone to show me how to ride loose, rocky, rooty stuff with a bit less hesitation and brake-grabbing, as trying to go through at a snails pace clearly isn't working.
Fellow member of the mincers club here ... dislocated my finger and cut my shin on Saturday and naturally got very cautious on Sunday. To me this is just part of riding, a natural cycle of pushing on then retreating a bit. Riding with mates really helps me, you can see what is possible and it's good as the company gives you more confidence. @martin it is about have the right amount of speed as you probably know, too slow and the wheels "stick" on the roots and rocks, you need that amount to help you skip over but not too much that you are out of control.
For about a year I went over the bars all the damn time. 3 times in 100 yards in Italy once, was ridiculous. My advice is much as above, just keep riding, find some rides with just very little challanges so you can just enjoy being out on the bike again. I would consider 1 to 1 coaching, and riding with mates/a group who are at a similar level than maybe your present/old riding mates are (i.e. find some people who are scared of things you aren't, such people are great for confidence 😉 )
Sessioning stuff would be a good start - maybe go to flats for a bit if you are cliiped in and drop the saddle if you ride with it at pedalling height - if you are sessioning, it makes sense to load the dice in your favour and there's no need to be able to pedal straight after completing whatever you are completing. Also go for some really big, grippy tyres - maybe even totally impractical for 'normal riding' a pair of 2.35 super tacky High Rollers for example - just to further load the dice.
You can get a lot out setup changes - one of my faves in winter is to pop the trusty old super tacky high roller on the front and a pumped up crossmark on the back - catching the back end gives the reflexes a work out, and you feel like Sam Hill drifting the back all over the place!
The OTB solo night-ride = broken ribs is exactly what happened to me in May so I can empathise. I lost a bit of confidence as a result too. Now I found that I'm back to the same level of 'bottle' I had before if I'm 'on it' on the day of a particular ride. Where I have found it affects me is on rides where I just don't feel on my A-game, the first hints of tiredness or loss of technique do seem to trouble me more than they used to.
It could be that I'm just getting a bit older, though! I feel like I used to 'fall well' - I can remember a couple of offs about 5 years ago where I managed to tuck and roll a bit - a couple of offs this year have had me landing like a sack of spuds!
Lots of good advice here on how to improve skills and confidence, but it's also worth remembering that (presumably) you ride for fun. I'm always surprised at how we (and I'm as prone to it as anybody) beat ourselves up over something that we chose to do. Do we get some strange kick from the self loathing? So what if you walked down a bit of trail that somebody else would fly down with barely a thought? You'll live to ride another day.
Cheers,
Andy
First ever coaching session booked for next weekend. Mincing drop-offs and steep roll-ins top of the priority list to sort out. Absurd mental block at the moment. Ok to push ourselves but don't agree with the MTFU comments. The trails will always be there tomorrow. If you don't feel right today, come back another day.
Interesting to see all the Jedi/coaching comments. It seems a peculiar Brit characteristic that we get to a certain level of technique in sport then hate to have further lessons/coaching to take us to the next level. Seems a very different pysche to the French who seem to have more of a passion for lessons and la technique.
If you can't see yourself completing a manouver don't attempt it. Simple.
My moto is " if in doubt bail out"
Served me well fo over 20 odd yrs 😀
Would love to be able to fly through the air like a young'un but my mate is currently nursing a dislocated shoulder and the torn tissue to go with it = months off the bike 🙄
I am too old to be worrying about being rad to the max dude 😉
@martin it is about have the right amount of speed as you probably know
Of course. But no matter how often I repeat the 'speed is your friend' mantra on approach, I've got the involuntary brake drag yips.