for me it is having a had a vo2max test done so able to train in correct heart rate zones.
Also had advice from a strength and conditioning coach which has solved my back problems and improved my gluteal strength/power.
And yours....
A cheap £10 HRM from Aldi. In my other sports I've always subconciously warmed up, but on my bikes I've generally gotten on and gone for it - the HRM has told me a few things I didn't know about myself and possibly improved my endurance in just a few weeks of using it.
Cider 😆
Just generally getting out on the bike as much as possible. Also if im riding anything tricky and I dont make it up/or down in one I go back and ride it again to try and nail it!
Doing a lot of miles and spending a day at glentress just practising correct weight distribution for cornering
could do with another day to get it totally automatic but its made a huge difference
Riding!
not breaking any bones....... but there are still a few weeks left of 2010 to change that 😕
Chasing my mate Huw down massive Scottish mountains.
Playing bike-polo (brake control, hard cornering) and all the playing on bikes between games. (can now ride backwards and manual on my mtb)
I used to subscribe to the Eddie Mercx technique to get better "ride your bike" but with more time constraints this year have found by improving cardiovascular system and strengthening cycling muscles improvements can still be made.
Nowt, been on an even keel this year, too many bouts of minor illness/niggles have screwed up my riding - mileage is way down on last year.
Actually that uplift day at Ae may have spruced up my technique a little but not much.
Trying harder.
Finding what I think was the last trigger (milk) for my asthma leaving me in a position to breathe normally again.
http://www.ukbikeskills.co.uk/
given me the basic skills to ride anything. 🙂
shortly followed by a trip to the alps to test those skills.
Nicolai Helius AM
drugs
Riding more challenging trails this summer has definitely helped.
giving up the tabs 🙂
Getting a frame that fits me properly...
My original Rock Springs is a medium and I'm 5' 11" and knocked my knees on the stem far too often. I couldn't bear to part with it though as it's a fantastic fun bike so I did the only honorable thing I could... I gave it to Mrs PJM1974 who is 5' 8" and it fits her like a glove.
That went some way to assuaging my guilt over buying a size large Wolf Ridge.
giving up smoking.. chasing down the radical awesome downhilling youfs that I sometimes ride with.. discovering new trails..
I just have to give up smoking again now..
Lesson with the dirtschool guys at glentress, I can now manual and have the confidence to hit bigger obstacles than i ever thought i would.
Swimming.
Single speeding
thomthumb - Member
> http://www.ukbikeskills.co.uk/given me the basic skills to ride anything.
+1... sorted out a load of basic errors I'd been making for years.
Loosing a stone in weight.
10 speeds instead of 9; losing 10g off my inner tubes; removing one headset spacer for a slammed front end; reducing my q factor by 3mm
It's been a hell of a year
Saint Brakes: knowing I can scrub speed quickly, easily and while maintaining control has made a massive difference to my technical riding.
Being generally fitter through commuting has helped with everything else
I've ridden a LOT more this year than i ever have. Rode wales coast to coast and also rode london to Barcelona in August. Completed the kielder 100 (in 11.30hrs) which I was pleased about (wasn't sure if i could do it)
Also cut down my 10m TT time from 29.07 last year to 26:10 this year.
Can now pump the trail, bit of jumping and drops thanks to jedi 🙂
http://www.ukbikeskills.co.uk
Huge improvement in my riding in less than 12 months ! 😀
Thank you guys for your props! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Course with Jedi, Brian Lopes' book, riding more, spending a fortune on my bike. Maybe not the last one.
Single speeding
This. Running 34:17 and I'm now clearing all the climbs i used to do in 1st gear (1x9). Improved my commute to work too, now faster with only 1 gear despite spinning out on the flats/descents.
A big bright front light.
going out riding as much as i can and pacticing... lots. much like each year.
the year before that it was picking up my Alpine frame and ragging it till bits broke before replacing them with tougher bits.
Winter road rides to build endurance helped mtb summer racing a lot.
dropping from 82kg to 73kg
2 days doing the flow course with Ed Oxley of great rock up in Lee and Cragg quarries has improved my riding much more than my new coil shock, fox 36's, tyres etc but i bought the rest anyway lol!
The real danger of being well and truly trounced by my son at cross racing. Desperate times have resulted in me spending much dosh lightening my bike whilst secretly making his heavier.
Sadly, I think it will all end in tears (mine).
Getting my ankle fused; so now I go riding st weekends instead of climbing! Legs much fitter now so actually ride uphill in the middle ring instead of resorting to the granny.
Downside is I'm more scared of rock gardens than I used to be !
Genuine ROFL at ooOOoo
Maxis HR super tacky 2.35 😀
It's a toss up between a day with Jedi, breaking my bad habits, and the 10 gallons of EPO I liberated from some roadies before the TDF began... 😉
On balance though, I'd say the day with Jedi... Getting a GF that has REALLY got into MTBing and pesters me to go out at every available opportunity has also helped too, especially as she's now getting pretty quick!
Chickenman - ouch!
Broke my ankle in 3 places and dislocation 14 years ago while biking. So badly smashed they were going to fuse it, but luckily some whizz kid young surgeon came on duty and decided he could fix it. Lucky for me it worked so at least I have still got some movement.
Dropping my saddle for the fun bits.
Spending 5k+ on a new bike has made me ride loads more to justify it.
Getting the best frame, forks, brakes and gears I could afford.
800mm bars.
Riding with mates who are faster.
Going fully rigid, rather than relying on 5" of skill compensation!
discovering singlespeed when I swore never to 😆
LOVE IT !
Trying to sit down at work once and a while and cutting back from a six day week to the normal five.
Never had a sitting down job ever, and used to get to evening races with tired legs.
A big dose of MTFU.
Seriously, I've spent ages looking at small drops and braking before jumps. This year I made a conscious effort to MTFU and go for it.
2hr45mins on the turbo.
Nicolai Helius CC
Massively improved my riding on techy stuff despite having 20mm less rear travel than the bike it replaced.
Getting fitter, and a course with Great rock's Ed-o.
Also messing with bar position.
tubeless..
In 24 years I wouldn't claim to have improved at all really but the thing that has made me enjoy riding more this year has been getting air sprung forks. Before that it had been coil sprung and even with the lightest spring avaliable I couldn't get decent travel out of them for xc riding.
Joining this forum!
So many ideas for stuff to do and buy ... you've been great guys & gals
Leaving my job, moving to the USA and riding 75 miles of tight twisty singletrack per week on a singlespeed has done wonders for my fitness and strength.
And finally teaching myself to go left foot forward for some of the time, helps massively to keep the flow going and really helps get through technical stuff.
Stopping thinking about it and finally filling in the application form for the mega-avalanche (OK so the Mrs pushed me in the right direction). It really is as good as the hype but don`t listen to some arse on a forum, Fill in the form.
U-turn coil lyriks 😉
riding more
Mud. Singlespeeding in it with a silly-skiddy rear tyre for both controlling pedalling and not spinning the back wheel, and for not braking to carry speed and not lose the front wheel.
Gawton DH membership.
Riding with fitter faster and more skillful people sometimes.
I've spent less on bike parts this last year compared to the year before.
Day with Ed O has improved my confidence in really nail (Sick to the power of Rad) corners.
I'm now ever so slightly fasterer
Plum
Changing from MPH to KPH on my speedometer.
seriously... dropping down to 63Kg (6 ft 1) did wonders.
dropping down to 63Kg (6 ft 1) did wonders.
Blinking flip - you're skinnier than I am!
Losing 21lb since January, converting the h/t to s/s.
a different rider
joining a club, getting a drink/eating plan right for the endurance events. had a great year 9hr42mins kielder 100, 5th solo SITS, 9th solo ssmm.
mboy - MemberIt's a toss up between a day with Jedi, breaking my bad habits, and the 10 gallons of EPO I liberated from some roadies before the TDF began...
On balance though, I'd say the day with Jedi... Getting a GF that has REALLY got into MTBing and pesters me to go out at every available opportunity has also helped too, especially as she's now getting pretty quick!
how are you both riding now?
🙂
my dropper seatpost.
Racing downhill.
On my 6" bike; putting superwide [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/flamejob/5164138418/ ]flat bars on it[/url].
Riding DH; buying a Mondraker Summum - it is so much faster at speed than my BigHit it is scary
only getting out about once a month has made me enjoy the times I do get out more, been quick on the climbs oddly but all decending skills have gone to shit, heres for a better 2011 with less mayhem to deal with
I've rode my bike more this year than i have for the past 5 years !
I re built my Bullit and got fitter and fitter till i lost two stone, Just in time for the release of the SC Butcher: Which i rewarded myself with as a present for all the hard work and effort of commuting and riding week ends !
looking forward to 2011.
- continuing to ride through last winter's snow & ice
- improved core strength (from 100 pushup/situps.com)
- losing 17lbs
- more riding/climbing 😀
bigbob38 - Member
Cider
A lack of.... 😀 .....although I did enjoy some Perry's Red Streak recently. 😈
Properly setup suspension 😀
Sorry had to say that,
Tubeless wheels and tyres,
Wider bars,
Lots of turbo traning in the winter
Swimming.
no improvement over last year. Bought a nice skid lid though which is soooo nice to wear I never thought it possible.
Kev
building more challenging singletrack at herts shore has improved my riding.
geres wudnt chainge proply so i got new cabel but then i notised the ziptye i put on to hold my lok woz arownd the cabel to so i cut it of and now its wikkid swete
i spent £200 on a 24" bmx cruiser and went to play at the bmx track (bolehill - sheffield).
you can basically buy skills, it's called a bmx.
if you complain that you're crap at jumping, but haven't bought a bmx yet, then you've only got yourself to blame.
Saint brakes and wide/low handlebars. Can now ride harder and faster and still in control.
Nest year it will be a new bike (hopefully) and a skills course at inners.
oh yeah forgot the bmx! not the tailwhip is transferable to the mtb though 😕