Help with riding/jumping over stuff

[PlayWithFire]

I went out to the Schaffer Farm trail for the second time last night. I am starting to regret that i didnt' ride a lot last year.

Anyway, i would like to make my rides smoother and faster, and that means being able to go over trees without getting of. I can get over small ones failry OK, and large ones, if there's stuff stacked up in front of it that makes it smoother. But, sometimes my pedals will catch on the tree, or i try to pull my front tire up and as it hits the tree, it goes flying up and i loose my balace and have to put my feet down. Some big ones i don't even bother to go over.

What i do with small ones is just lift my front tire so it goes all the way over the tree, and my rear one just rolls over. With large ones, i just try to unload the weight from the front so it rolls onto the tree, without my lifting it at all.

I would like to be able to hop over smaller trees and get better at riding over the big stuff. Any advice?

Also, are there are rides in the Montgomery county area that are focused on improving trail riding?

[Brizn]

http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?t=4252

[PlayWithFire]

oh, sweet!
exactly what i was looking for, thanks!

[jabberwocky]

Heres my quick guide to log hopping.

1. I approach the log at a slow to medium rate of speed. I would say about one and a half times walking pace. You need enough speed to complete the motion fluidly without needing to pedal halfway through. Remember that momentum can help make up for lack of skill. It can also kill you. :)

2. Wheelie your front wheel onto the log. Getting the correct timing on this is a bit tricky. You want the wheel to hit a little in front of the centerpoint on top of the log.

http://www.peterbeers.net/peters_roadtrips/mbrt/10Avalon/7-02-05/images/I_MG_3940_JPG.jpg

3. Now comes the start of the tricky part. You want to let your weight shift forward a little so your body is just about centered over the log. As you are doing this, your front wheel will be rolling forward a bit, until it is just a bit past the centerline of the top of the log.

http://www.peterbeers.net/peters_roadtrips/mbrt/10Avalon/7-02-05/images/I_MG_3941_JPG.jpg

4. The most important bit. If you have done the pervious parts correctly, you will have your front wheel on the log, with your weight centered over it. PUSH off the front wheel, lunging your bike forward and pulling the rear up. The idea is to keep your weight in about the same place, but lunge the bike forward, shifting smoothly from the front wheel to the rear wheel. If you look at my ass, it has not changed its position relative to the log in photos 2 and 3. I was actually just starting my lunge in photo 2, and I am right in the middle of it in photo 3.

http://www.peterbeers.net/peters_roadtrips/mbrt/10Avalon/7-02-05/images/I_MG_3935_JPG.jpg

5. Your seat should pass between your legs, and you should end up with your weight way far back, your front wheel on the ground on the other side of the log, and your rear wheel centered perfectly on top.

http://www.peterbeers.net/peters_roadtrips/mbrt/10Avalon/7-02-05/images/I_MG_3942_JPG.jpg

6. Ride off. Mission accomplished. :)

[jabberwocky]

Heres another sequence, from long ago. Hopefully no one minds all these photos.

Wheelie. Wheel is hitting a little forward of center.

http://www.peterbeers.net/peters_roadtrips/mbrt/7Black-Hills_Hoyles-Mill/2005-03-19_BH-HM-SF/I_MG_2513.JPG

The wheel has rolled forward a bit, I am starting to jump.

http://www.peterbeers.net/peters_roadtrips/mbrt/7Black-Hills_Hoyles-Mill/2005-03-19_BH-HM-SF/I_MG_2514.JPG

Full lunge. My arms are totally extended, pushing the bike forward and down, and lifting the rear wheel into the air.

http://www.peterbeers.net/peters_roadtrips/mbrt/7Black-Hills_Hoyles-Mill/2005-03-19_BH-HM-SF/I_MG_2515.JPG

The front and rear wheel have exchanged positions on the log. The chainring never touches the log in either of these photo sequences.

http://www.peterbeers.net/peters_roadtrips/mbrt/7Black-Hills_Hoyles-Mill/2005-03-19_BH-HM-SF/I_MG_2516.JPG

And thats it. Pete, hopefully you don't mind me leeching all your bandwidth. If you do, you can take it out on me during the drive up to Big Bear tomorrow. :)

[Brizn]

Nice stuff Jabb, you make it look easy.

[PlayWithFire]

wow, very cool, thanks a lot
i'll be heading out saturday after some trail work, so i will defenetly work on that

[urbaindk]

Good tips y'all! When you get good at that try narrower suspended logs. Tire placement and timing become much more important. I still get stuck on the really big stuff. Gotta work on that timing or get rid of my bash guard so I have to pay a penalty for messing up.