Another trail ride. I Still Hate It, But Still Gonna Do It.

[crfjedi393]

There's one little six-foot "detour" on our trail where one rut goes between trees that are narrower than your handlebars! I found out that's where the "A" riders just wheelie through with their handlebars turned. Needless to say, I took the rut that had 1 inch clearance on either side.:

[Macho393]

JEDI,If your shroulds will go through it............your whole bike will. Thats the measuring stick around here. I got a place in the front yard I practice on. I'll get the girls to take a pic soon for ya.

[char393]

Macho...those are some GREAT pics you posted. Give them gurls the camera and tell 'em to have at it, I'd love to see more.

[wFo250]

On those narrow splits, I usually just slow down while standing, and weave in the grips one at a time. Then I will turn around and laugh and point at the four-wheeler...IF he's still with us that is
But I won't be pulling any wheelies! I ain't in that big of a hurry to get through!
It sounds like a pretty demanding loop you are doing.
I hope you keep at long enough to do our woods ride when planned!

Trees and big uphills are always a blast to me personally, but I could do without some of those goggle foggin, rocks!

Roost on!

[Macho393]

for you CHARBUGER

This my Char impression

my favorite burm, you can slam up against the tree some

[wFo250]

That looks like a fun place to ride

[char393]

Originally Posted by Macho393

This my Char impression

Made me smile.

[OLDMXRACER 393]

That's better Macho! I've been on some h*ll rides before. It's erie to be in a group of 20 or so bikes and not hear a single engine running because everyone is dragging their bikes through unrideable rocks and downed trees! That pic in wFo's post looks like most of the stuff at the local clubgrounds these days.

[wFo250]

Downed trees? ....no prob!

[mtk]

I broke my femur last August on a tree, so I know all too well the fear of which you speak.

However, before my little tree-kissing incident, one thing I found that helped me immensely in tight woods was a pair of Cycra ProBend handguards. Before I mounted them I'd snag a vine or something every now and then and we all know how much that sucks. Knowing it can happen is enough to add a bunch of unnecessary stress, which just makes thing worse. Once I mounted the handguards I could ram through vines with impugnity, never once mashing a finger or the brake lever or anything else. Even better, when I inevitably dropped the bike the handguards pushed a nice hole in the mud, saving my levers.

Now I know handguards are considered bad juju on the MX track so I don't know if you'd want them all the time or not. But for woods riding, they are definitely nice.

As for wheelieing between tight trees, I'd need a testicular implant to attempt that maneuver. But with handguards, doing the "handlebar shuffle" while still moving no longer raises a dimple in the seatcover as you anticpate snagging a lever or mashing a finger on a tree.

[ThumperTDC]

Some other things to think about when trail riding. I know you ride MX, so I am guessing your bike isnt set up for trail riding. A bike with a stiff suspension is going to wear you out so much faster on the trails than a bike with a softer suspension, since in the woods you dont have to worry about large jumps. Also your bikes gear can make it a little difficult to ride in the woods. Most trail bikes are geared a little lower than MX bikes due to the different terrain they are used in. This also makes it easier to ride, due to putting the power lower in the powerband and not having to work the clutch as much.

Next time you are going to hit those trails, if you havent done so already, but write down what your current clicker settings are and set your compression to the softest position, then make changes accordingly. Folks that ride in the woods have their bikes set up for the woods. Folks that ride MX have their bikes set up for MX. If you are going to try both, then you will have to find a happy medium so you can use the same bike for both.

The skills are bascially the same between the two, the bike set ups are different. Try messing around with some different settings if you have not done so, I am sure this will help. Also another thing I like doing when riding. I absolutely hate being the leader of the group. To me the only advantage to this is you dont get as dirty. But what I do like about following someone, is that I can see obsticles infront of me better due to having someone going through them first, as well as seeing what lines they took in tricky spots and also can see their body position andhow their bike handled the obsticle. This helps me prepare for what I am going to do in the same spot. I may take the same line, or I might see something completely different. Also something to think about when riding in the woods is tire pressure. Not sure how much you are running, but I normally run about 10 - 12 PSI front and rear, and have heard of guys in my area running less (but we have a lot of rocks out here). As far as being afraid, there is always going to be the fear factor when it comes to crashing, but if you keep thinking that your going to hit something your gonna end up hitting something. For me when I am on the trail, I only focus on whats infront of me, and prepare myself for that. The only time I am afraid is when I know I am riding way over my head.

The smoother you are the faster you will go, if that makes sense. Hope this helps.

[Keetoman393]

Great point Tony. I forgot all about the suspension. It will definately beat you down if you have it stiff for MX.

[mtk]

Thumper brings up an excellent point: look where you want to go, not at the trees.

I learned that road racing, but it applies in any discipline. You go where you look so if you look at the trees, you'll hit the trees. Alas, in my own case I target-fixated on the tree for a split-second and sure enough, I hit that sucker. It pisses me off because I know better than that, but one mistake netted me a rod in my femur and one very painful reminder about how not to be stupid.

[ossagp1]

40 years ago I wouldnt have wasted what riding time I had riding anything that kept me in low gear as much as trails. if your time really isnt being well spent on them, and you don't have enough time to practice, or the resources to wear your race bike out by trail riding, then don't.

To be honest I didnt really like MX at first, because unlike the hare and hound races and flattrack racing that I wanted to do, you were again in low gear too much of the time. (a couple of times a lap was too much in my opinion then. second gear ditto. most mx tracks made high gear which was 4th then pretty useless). It wasnt until I went to a place called Poso Park near Bakersfield Calif and this guy named Jim Wilson (on a Greeves no less) came and smoked the entire expert field BADLY. He told me he rode slow trails and actually rode trials courses on his PRACTICE bike. I started and picked up quite a bit of speed, just by the improvement in balance.

Oh, if you are getting as tired as you say, it isn't all the bike. Unlike a certain factory rider, you really can't get enough exercise driving your car. If you are not in the shape it takes to run 6 ten minute miles, you should spend the trail riding time to run. Pretty simple if you are looking for success. Gosh knows I like to hop up engines, but running an hour 4 times a week, getting to riding/racing school and practice are worth more than 5 hp. and worth way more than 10 added hp. By the time you get to the pro class, you should be able to turn the 6 and the 10 around and be able to run 10 6 minute miles.

[mtk]

But Andy, that would cut into my beer drinking time.

[Macho393]

Ok Jedi here is the pics I promised.
Move one

Move two

Move three


when I rode alot I could do this pretty quick............my girl told me today I should not do this on my new bike now,lol. I'm going to scatch it up.

[crfjedi393]

EXCELLENT advice guys! I'll soften my suspension next time on the trails.
Andy, you're advice about a fitness regimen is greatly appreciated. But I'm 45. I won't be makin' it to the pros.

[crfjedi393]

Okay, Mark. Where's your helmet! I know Mom wasn't there.

[Macho393]

never got it out of 2nd and I parked it right after taking these for you bro. But I did put my hat on backwards for you.

[crfjedi393]

Thanks for the demonstration. I heard you were an 'A' rider so how about a video doing it in 4th or 5th.