So I've had the day off today and took my bike to the woods for a little mess about. I thought I'd try and put some of the stuff I've read on here in to action and learn to jump. Only started off small and filmed it so I could look back at my technique. Thing is I don't really know what I'm looking for. I was going for 'heels down' and looking toward where I would land rather than the lip. Any further tips or critique looking at this? And I mean the riding, I know the video is shit! Particularly why I ended up on my head with a broken bike on the last one....
nice drop technique per se. you drop your head and sometimes pull which makes you turn off the drop. you need to film the take off so i can see what you're doing pre air.
heels down sounds odd for jumping, works ok on rough downhill but I dont do it when I do jumps.
is that that little jump in Endcliffe park? And you had a day off to go biking AND DIDN'T TELL ME. Git.
😉
There's a little jump in Stainburn that's perfect for practising this kind of jumping
sheffield eh?
you'd be better off pedalling up the hill for 15mins - and playing at the Bolehills bmx track.
Thanks! So look as far ahead as I can? Yeah I'm definitely landing turned sometimes. Will do another one for you next time I can get out in the light!
heels down is required as you push into a drop/jump to make sure you are under rotated and don fall forwards nor kick the pedals/bie away when you feet point down in the air
Pook - you not started working again now? I procrastinated all day and then just managed to drag myself out of the door before it got dark
I'm not sure I'm ready to be falling off in front of teh kidz at Bolehills yet!
So heels flat? I was loosing the pedals when I tried that (unnerving in the air!)
So heels flat? I was loosing the pedals when I tried that (unnerving in the air!)
Apparently not accodring to Jedi, I cant say i notice having my heels down intentionally. Saying that, Im a true natural a jumps
No I'm not - starting in jan. Come on skype for two mins
I'm far from a natural!
I'm interested in this one, learning to jump too.
I find speed helps, I was trying to get 'radical air' around Lee quarry on the weekend. If I didn't have enough speed it felt like I was pulling too much on the bike and landing with the front wheel at an angle. Like I was trying to force it. If I had a bit more speed it felt like the bike flowed more....if that makes sense?
From the little I know you get into the attack position with elbows out and bent, pump into the ramp, look ahead and hope for the best. I'm sure there is more to it but I have yet to learn.
I found all the jumps on the link down to Lee quarry to be do-able baring these in mind and having some speed.
you dont pull!!! thats why you land with the wheel turned or you fall out the side door 🙂
bolehills bolehills bolehills bolehills.
it's full of 30yr olds falling off, learning to jump, working on lines.
bolehills bolehills bolehills bolehills.
just ride around at first, find a few projects, work on them, you can't fail to make rapid progress.
It gets confusing, I have read so many threads and tips on learning how to jump.
Some people say they pull up on the bars a bit! I have to agree with you Jedi. My limited experience, this weekend included has taught me that pulling is a very bad idea!
from what I can gather it is best to let your body follow the flow of the bike over a jump.
I have another question. When you looking to land from a jump, something like the OP was doing, do you aim to touch down with your rear wheel or front wheel first?
Or on what kind of jump would you aim to touch down with your front or rear wheel?
Sorry for the nooooooob questions but i would love to learn.
Pull back and yank if you want massive air.
both together is the best landing
Depends on the jump.
If its a properly maintained dirt jump with kicker and landing you don't need to pull on the bars
the correct speed will see you through - just follow another rider in.
Some of the trail centre style tabletops I've ridden are a bit long to clear just with speed so you often need to generate a bit more air to get to the down slope. Pull on the bars into a bunnyhop style movement works.
...for me that is 🙂
"It gets confusing, I have read so many threads and tips on learning how to jump. "
Listen to Jedi, end of.
timpol is right, listen to Jedi
I'd second what ahwiles is saying about Bolehills, failing that the play track in wincobank is good fun as well. It depends what you want to learn to do. That jump is esentially just a small kicker with a downhill landing. Therefore Jedi is right in that respect that you want to land both wheels together or slightly rear wheel first. If it's a properly built jump (Double or tabletop it doesn't matter) then bumhands is correct in saying that the correct speed and weight distribution will carry you over. In that situation you want to land front wheel first just beyond the top of the landing having followed a smooth arc from the take off to the landing. Your rear wheel should then land where you front wheel did as you ride out the landing. If you get it right then you can pump the landing for increased speed.
Listen to Jedi I will....
Jedi are you Tony from this thread????
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/was-my-skills-course-worth-it
I watched a bunny hop video the other day, it looks like there are skills there which could be really useful in jumping.
Thanks for the input guys.
Thanks Pete0,
That makes good sense.
OP.. sorry I didn't mean to hijack your post.
slightly front first is next best!
yeah i'm tony 🙂
I'm no teacher, I'll leave that to Jedi but a bunnyhop unlocks lots of different skills on bikes.
One thing Jedi taught me was that landing rear wheel first is a bad idea, and boy is he right! Did it slightly over a drop on the black at cmwcarn, just before a corner, rear wheel first equals zero steering ability. Made it round but probably stained my pants!
Always important to remember that jumping and drops are two different activities so have slightly different techniques. On a mountainbike trail you find very few true jumps most are drops or step downs at best, unless you go looking for them 🙂 It also all depends how steep the landing is and what comes after it.
Listen to Jedi, or even better book a day with him. You will definitely get your money's worth.
I'd be up for a skills course.
Where are you based Jedi?
im in hertfordshire
thanks for your kind words mrgreedy 🙂
I'm in Yorkshire... bit of a drive but could be tempted to make a couple of days out of it. Possibly a couple of mates would be interested too... we have been kicking ideas about for what to do next, maybe a weekend away or whatever and I think this would be a cool idea.
Jedi, email is in my profile. Could you send me your prices? I might be able to make it an Xmas present from the GF!
Moonhead, look here for details of Jedi's courses http://www.ukbikeskills.co.uk 🙂
Bookmarked! TY Keyses2 🙂
no problem 🙂 , he does gift vouchers if the GF needs present ideas ...
Course with Jedi is the way to go!
The basics are push about a strides length from the lip, look forward to your next section.
You'll need to consolidate the mental and physical skill sets and extrapolate the boost for maximum effect.
You could always go and ride with others who can jump. Watch what they do and ask for tips - most wont charge for it.
moonhead - you have seen my experience with Tony, Euro is right and thats where Tony's ability to work on the mental side is so important. You could go and learn of others but i found it alot quicker and alot more effective learning it correctly from Tony first time. Dont forget he will also work on every bit of your riding, well worth the money in my book.
you need to make sure your suspension is not too soggy too. i have fun on my xc bike with undersprung forks if i dont remember to wind on the compression damping when trying to jump the thing at the bmx track.
that said its fine if i remember its set softer. i can compensate more i guess. its just alot harder work.
moonhead ygm. 🙂
bolehills bolehills bolehills bolehills.it's full of [s]30yr[/s] 50yr olds falling off, [s]learning[/s] failing to jump
my 8 yr old daughter laughs at me, says its easypeasy
On the suspension note,
I found a full susser really easy to jump badly
Try a fully rigid for learning the technique, I learn't on a trailstar with Z1 with the lockdown to about 25mm of very stiff travel.
Then go back to suspension which in some ways is now harder work, as it feels energy sapping, but equaly seems more rewarding when you get it right as you go for miles!
Practice Practice Practice though, its definately a summer technique as turning up at the dirtjumps to ride in this weather is a sure fire way to not be welcome back in the summer. Take a spade and make some friends.
I broke my hip 'learning to jump'.
My advice is;
a) take someone with you
and/or
b) ensure your mobile phone is charged.
In the absence of both of the above it feels like a long wait until someone comes along and wonders why there's some bloke lying on the ground with their leg at a funny angle.
Fully rigid is easiest to jump yeah, when I tried out bmx again I was amazed at how much momentum the suspension sucks out. It feels scarier though as if you **** up it's a bit harder to recover and roll away from.
Is the heels down thing really needed for jumping or is it a ploy to try to get the correct body position? I've never noticed myself doing it and, after doing a simulated jump or two in work just now, I honestly don't think I do do it.
Wwaswas, did you learn to jump in the Brighton vicinity? I'd like to get better at air (indeed a Jedi skillz course is planned for 2011) but half the challenge is finding beginner safe jumps.
🙂
[i]did you learn to jump in the Brighton vicinity?[/i]
I was at Shoreham bmx track (just under the railway bridge) - not been back since really so not sure what state it's currently in. Some very nice st johns ambulance people with a 4x4r came and rescued me.
tbh, since then I've only got both wheels off the ground at the same time by accident...
Nice Tony.
Different rider, different location, same old skool style 8)
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old skool is the best school.
like the eddie fiola tag line
I've never managed to "get" jumping a MTB feels weird. Rode BMX a lot when younger and still ride a little, I can still 360, x ups and few other simple jumps but MTBs feel awful in the air in comparison. A jump MTB I'm sure is fine but anything even slightly cross country bikes like most people ride are eughhhhh! in the air.
Coming from a bmx backgrouud, I know what you mean, but the bike in the above pic is this...
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Cheap and cheerful xc bike with the seat down = jump bike.
I jump ride herts on a hummer sometimes too.my mate atkins (bmx legend) jumps gaps on a scott scale. 🙂
Name rings a bell but can't place it. I'm sure some people can jump xc bikes well, but it's much more awkward.
bikes are bikes 🙂