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Heard lots of good tips on how to improve your riding so interested in what people have to offer.
Mine will be:
Ride in all conditions, especially in the mud. This will toughen you up, improve fitness and strengthen your balance and traction finding technique.
Rule #5
Look where you want to go. Look further ahead than you think you need to.
My rule is worth repeating three times, just like I always have to repeat to myself:
"Don't look at the tree, don't look at the tree etc"
It's a great rule, since you can apply it to big rocks, vertiginous drops, etc. doesn't do me much good, but I repeat it anyway.
Define "improvement"
If it means "get fitter", the quite simply... Ride more often, harder and faster.
If it means "get rid of my bad habits, learn to handle a bike properly, and enjoy myself more"... Then book a day with Jedi. He's worth his weight in gold, and will get you doing things you never thought you would in hours, and he'll break your bad habits in minutes!
Of course though, the real answer is... Buy a new full sus/LTHT/Rigid/Singlespeed/Tyres/Brakes/Forks (delete as applicable) as EVERYONE knows the only real way to get better at something is to buy new kit cos your old kit isn't suitable... 😉
[i]Look further ahead than you think you need to.[/i]
This. Especially in ruts.
always wear the essential apparel
If you have had a break start on the canal towpaths beofore heading back to the rough and tough of the trail centres.
lose the helmet peak
wear a roadie cap
get a small gold earring.
this might not make you any faster but it will make you look like a Belgian classics rider & everyone knows they ride fast.
😉
Go SS for a while and ride hard, then back on your geared bike, you'll notice a huge difference in fitness.
make sure tyre logos lined up with valves, its all about aerodynamics
My #1 rule of cycling :
"Actively partake in more than one discipline of cycling."
The skills you learn in one are automatically transferred (and beneficial) to the others.
enjoy yourself
Rule #5
That was me today, 50 solo miles in torrential rain. 😈
ride with a group of riders of mixed abilities - pick up skills from/train to be faster with the faster guys and help newbies/other people learn at the same time 🙂 loads of mtb clubs round the country. suppose doesn't help if you prefer riding on your own with the ipod on full whack mind!
If you have had a break start on the [s]canal towpaths[/s][b] trail centers [/b]beofore heading back to the rough and tough of the [s]trail centres[/s][b]real world[/b].
If you want to get faster, drop a couple of stone and ride your bike as much as you can. Sounds obvious, but pays back much more than new frame/forks/tyres/helmet/bell.
Oh and wear white gloves 😉
Ride with people better than you.
Ride a road bike.
Use an AM bicycle does help too!
+1 for getting Jedi'ed ....... and I've not even got there yet, just meeting the guy improves confidence by 25%!
The Vampire (OH) now giggles instead of squealing while riding, this all down to Jedi.
My wife is off to see Jedi on Saturday. I hope he doesn't cause her to replace all squealing with giggling. It could be very bad for my self esteem.
My rule is worth repeating three times, just like I always have to repeat to myself:"Don't look at the tree, don't look at the tree etc"
you wanna know why that doesnt work?
seriously break it down and all you have is, "look at the tree, look at the tree"
praps try, look where you wanna go, or "look at the trail"
Only ride for enjoyment. Light hands, heavy feet.
Sorry, that was 2 tips - maybe even 3... 
My wife is off to see Jedi on Saturday. I hope he doesn't cause her to replace all squealing with giggling. It could be very bad for my self esteem.
mrsconsequence was transformed by jedi, with the addition of spinning classes in prison there are times i struggle to keep up with her now... its awesome 😀
you wanna know why that doesnt work?
seriously break it down and all you have is, "look at the tree, look at the tree"
praps try, look where you wanna go, or "look at the trail"
He's not wrong. It's all to do with the subconscious mind not hearing the negatives. So essentially your subconscious hears "look at the tree" which is of course where you then go!
If you want to remember something tell yourself "I must remember" not "I must not forget". This is quite well proven psychologically so I'm informed by a couple of psychology students I know. I've tried it too, it seems to work.
enjoy yourself
Must say I assumed this as a given, but now you come to mention it, you do see too many sour faces out on their bikes for what is essentially a leisure pastime. So I'll give this a BIG +1...
When asked how to become a champion, Fausto Coppi replied "ride your bike, ride your bike, ride your bike".
But wearing white gloves helps as well.
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He seems to be getting bummed by a pensioner.
if you do nothing else whilst riding, smile 🙂
Your best tip for improvement?
Be absolutely and thoroughly shite to begin with.
with the addition of spinning classes in prison
What was she in for mate ?
That pensioner pleasuring Fausto up there, he looks like Grant Mitchell.
Relax .......
focus on the positive. Don't think "I musn't hit that rock" but think "I must go to the right of the trail"
If you do the former you will be thinking about the rock, probably looking at it and then will probably hit it.
Brake less, roll more.
Dragging the brakes makes the bike handle poorly. Brake in an on/off style and your riding with improve dramatically.
Ride.More.
Squats. A month of these makes all your usual rides far to simple. 🙂
Ride lots with other people. Set yourself a stupid target, the go and do it.
Try to ignore the weather.
Lean the bike!
As above, relax. Your bike can do it, it's just you that's holding it back 🙂
mix it up 😀
Chickenwings.
Summarises all the above - but I guess you have to be there to know about weight forward, look forward, arms/elbows poised, turning body......
And yet I'm still learning. And most importantly for me- happy to learn.
Brake less
Stickier tyres. Failing that, more suspension. If that's still not working, new bike.
The saddle is not a seat, the handlebar is not a leaning rail: balance on your pedals.
Try new stuff!
On your usual ride, look for other routes, unusual lines, obsticles that ARE challenging, mix it up a bit and above all, enjoy it 😉
Slow down to go faster. Talking technical riding here.
AKA - slow is smooth smooth is fast.
Martial artists do this, soldiers do this, anyone trying to master a technique would do well to practice slow and increase speed only when it is comfortable.
This ^^ focus on riding smoothly and flowing, less on going fast