skinnys?

[MTB4LIFE99]

whats the best way to ride skinnys? standing up or sitting?

[manual63]

whats the best way to ride skinnys? standing up or sitting?

I like to stand and I use the seat between my knees/thighs to help keep the bike under control. If you start to lean too far one way, you can always hand a foot off the opposite side to counter the lean. The big key is to look ahead where you are going and not at your front tire. If you look at your front wheel, you will ride right off the side. Keep eyes forward and just point and go.......trust yourself.

[Thewavebb]

When i was learning, i built a nice course at my parents that was about 2-4 feet off the ground. If you can ride it at 4 feet off the ground you can ride them at 10. Just a mental thing. I spent some time trying to ride the railroad tracks in town as well. Never really got it down, but it helped a lot to try. Also learn to do you track stands (Standing on your bike balanced while not moving) real well as sometimes you get stuck and have to stop and hop out of a situation.

[Buck]

I can do them on really high things and give you tons of pointers, but that won't help you...best thing to tell you is go out and try to see what works best, I can do skinnies sitting, standing, crouching...just find something low and find out what works for you!!!

Have fun!
L8R
Buck

[manual63]

I don't have a ton of skinny experience, but after riding the tree at Steeplechase, all I can say is......wow.....that is scary stuff. I was nervous, but I just concentrated on looking ahead where I was going. I had to start from the top of the tree because I was on my singlespeed P.2 and didn't have a low enough gear to get up the ramp to the top. So, starting out from a stop is really scary. I just made sure and pushed off really good.

One thing that I saw and learned that was important, was how to bail. Nat was making sure he gave us bail suggestions because as with everything, you are gonna have to bail sometime, so you better know how to do it. Make sure you don't go off the side with the bike, that was the main point. Jump off on side and let the bike fall off the other. If you can, you can almost jump off onto the skinny and let the bike go. I saw one rider let the bike fall in front of him and he held it so it wouldn't fall hard and he landed his feet on the tree and then he was leaning to far over to keep balance, so he let go of the bike and jumped down as if he was never on a bike.....pretty slick. However you bail, just don't bail with the bike or you are in a hurt box.

Oh, and please don't be clipped in when riding skinny's.......unless you are just that damn good!

[thebionicman]

Don't do them in clipless pedals. Flats give you much more control, though I assume you are already using flats.

[Magic]

Clipless is the only way to go.

[bolmsted]

Also, remember that like a trackstand, looking down throws your balance off so look ahead at where you are going.

[manual63]

Just wait.....more practice and I will wheelie that tree.......now that would be kewl......probably want my helmet for that one.....:p

[Tetreves]

I use clipless pedals, and part of what helps me is knowing exactly where my feet are. If I'm clipped in, my feet are in the same spot on the pedal. Always.

I get in a low stand/crouch to keep my COG (center of gravity) lower, and still give me the ability to float over the bike. I'll move my hips left or right for major corrections, and for smaller corrections, I'll throw a knee or elbow out to shift small amounts of weight left or right. If it's a very narrow skinny, you might see me with both knees and both elbows sticking out to the sides, which also helps me lower my COG. I look at the end of the skinny (but NEVER straight down). If it's a raised skinny or a drop-off at the end, you HAVE to focus on the skinny, not on the ground, as it throws off your depth perception (and your sense of balance). Truth. Try walking on a curb, it's not too tough is it? Now walk down a curb 30 feet in the air. It's the same width, but much tougher. The reason is your depth perception is thrown off, and it messes with your inner ear.

This takes time and practice to get used to (you have to "train" your eyes). Some people take longer than others, and some will never do it (they claim it's a "fear of heights", usually it's just a severe symptom of this). Your inner ear is thrown out of whack and you get dizzy.

The only skinnies I still have a real problem with are:

1. Really high and I don't have a full face helmet or a FR bike(i.e. over 10 foot drop)
2. Curvy (not like XX Leb, but REALLY curvy)

Hope this helps a bit.

[manual63]

I use clipless pedals, and part of what helps me is knowing exactly where my feet are. If I'm clipped in, my feet are in the same spot on the pedal. Always.

This is why I wear skater shoes. They are not super stiff and they grip good on platforms. I can also feel where my foot is on the pedal because of the thinner flexy bottom. This is why platforms are so big, the bigger the better. They keep your shoe and foot from being too flexy. Small old school platforms didn't do this well, but to find them......we have to go back to the 80's BMX days. Once Shimano came out with DX pedals (parallelagram), it's what everyone copied from there on out.

I mentioned this once before, good platforms only work well with the correct shoes.

[bolmsted]

I get in a low stand/crouch to keep my COG (center of gravity) lower, and still give me the ability to float over the bike. I'll move my hips left or right for major corrections, and for smaller corrections, I'll throw a knee or elbow out to shift small amounts of weight left or right. If it's a very narrow skinny, you might see me with both knees and both elbows sticking out to the sides, which also helps me lower my COG. I look at the end of the skinny (but NEVER straight down). If it's a raised skinny or a drop-off at the end, you HAVE to focus on the skinny, not on the ground, as it throws off your depth perception (and your sense of balance). Truth. Try walking on a curb, it's not too tough is it? Now walk down a curb 30 feet in the air. It's the same width, but much tougher. The reason is your depth perception is thrown off, and it messes with your inner ear.

I sort of agree. true you need to focus on the skinny, but try to let your eyes do it and don't look down at it. Thank god your eyes move in their sockets. If you started pointing your head down, THAT is what throws your equilibrium off. If you don't believe it try standing on one foot with your head level and your eyes closed. It's tough, but doable. Now try standing on one foot with your eyes closed, but point your head down. ...much harder.

There are hairs in your ears that sense the level of the inner ear fluid. When you change the level of your head, the hairs sense the change but are not as refined in determining balance from this position so your body has a harder time reacting. This is something I always point out to snowboarders when I'm teaching spins.

[coflo]

For me it's standing w/ low center like Ed mentioned, somewhat over the font at times always looking ahead. One thing I've notice is you must breathe! Don't hold your breath ...I always lose it. Stick with it as long as possible even if you think you're gonna fall, you'd be surprised.

-CF

[thebionicman]

Just ride bike with clipless and flats back to back. Its amazing how much more control you have for balance on flats. You can get a lot more leverage to keep the bike upright.

[MTB4LIFE99]

all right now i can ride any skinny that can be thrown at me:cool: , i now have a 3ft high skinny 30ft long in my back yard constructed of 3, 2by4s, and a lot of cinder blocks. i also have a 1 inch wide skinny 4 inches off the ground and 10 ft long that i can ride. thanks for your tips, they helped a lot.

[bigwheel]

all right now i can ride any skinny that can be thrown at me:cool: , i now have a 3ft high skinny 30ft long in my back yard constructed of 3, 2by4s, and a lot of cinder blocks. i also have a 1 inch wide skinny 4 inches off the ground and 10 ft long that i can ride. thanks for your tips, they helped a lot.

FYI, we measured the new log ride at Steeplechase. It is over 60 ft long, about 5ft up. The main part is fairly wide, but the ride up is probably about 6 inches wide, with a slight curve. The ride down is on one of the branches that we shaved a bit off the top. It is pretty intimidating. There's no way I'm riding that sucker.

We got to watch Shad take a pretty nice spill on the exit. (sans helmet)

[Kosk]

60' eh? Nice, I was thinking it was 50'-something, pretty close! That's one of the funner skinnies I've rode, nice and tight going up and coming down, but a walk in the clouds up top.

That's the next thing you'll want to work on, riding on turns, inclines, and a combination of the two. It is WAY harder riding up a 6" incline than along a 6" flat. The log at Steeple has all these elements combined. I rode it about 5 times once totally complete and only nailed it 2wice with out a dab at the top of the incline or my back wheel dropping off the curve on the way down. It's so fun though. Be sure you learn how to hop the bars feet first or properly execute a swinging-monkey-save on a nearby sapling, they come in handy, just ask Brad!

[Buck]

hahahah, heck yeah Nat scoped that log and that night(fri) we went to town with saw, axes, and chainsaws. Turned out pretty awesome!!!! Bob and his crew finished it off on Sunday!

L8R
Buck

[manual63]

We got to watch Shad take a pretty nice spill on the exit. (sans helmet)

Yeah, but that was nuthin'. I was about 1/2 foot off the ground at that point. Plus since my front tire slid off the side like it did, my bike just flipped out of the way and I landed on my hands and knees in the nice soft dirt....it was like a pillow.....:)

Actually, from now on, I will have my knee and shin pads for sure.....a helmet if it's required, which I am sure it will end up being, and maybe elbow pads and chest protector if I am gonna do the big drop and hip rock. I just don't want to hit any trees with an unprotected shoulder.....my right one is already pretty messed up.

[Tetreves]

I just don't want to hit any trees with an unprotected shoulder.....my right one is already pretty messed up.

So is your head, but you don't seem worried about that.

[Buck]

Yeah, but that was nuthin'. I was about 1/2 foot off the ground at that point. Plus since my front tire slid off the side like it did, my bike just flipped out of the way and I landed on my hands and knees in the nice soft dirt....it was like a pillow.....:)

Actually, from now on, I will have my knee and shin pads for sure.....a helmet if it's required, which I am sure it will end up being, and maybe elbow pads and chest protector if I am gonna do the big drop and hip rock. I just don't want to hit any trees with an unprotected shoulder.....my right one is already pretty messed up.

Just so you know Shad a roost guard/Chest protector does nothing in an actual bike accident, they are designed to stop ROOST from dirt bikes hence the name, not blunt impacts. Try looking into a jacket that will provide way more protection and it will work better. Yes, at Steeple Chase helmets will be required, as well as at Spirit Mtn.
L8R
Buck

[manual63]

Just so you know Shad a roost guard/Chest protector does nothing in an actual bike accident, they are designed to stop ROOST from dirt bikes hence the name, not blunt impacts. Try looking into a jacket that will provide way more protection and it will work better. Yes, at Steeple Chase helmets will be required, as well as at Spirit Mtn.
L8R
Buck

My chest protector will protect me from impacts to the chest and shoulders. It is not just designed for roost protection. I used to use it when I was learning ramps and spines and yes, I crashed on it and it did wonders for me. The part I didn't like was how I slid forever on the wood after I crashed because it was all plastic.....:laugh::laugh:. Now I don't use it for skateparks anymore because I know how to ride and crash on spines and other stuff. But I think it will come in handy when I do downhill stuff. Now I just need to work on getting a bike for it.

Thanks for the suggestion though. I also have two full face helmets. I will probably use those if I do any serious downhill stuff. I guess it's just peace of mind. I used to wear a full face when I raced BMX and it got used many times. The silly little platic lids most MTBers and even the tard lid style skaters, BMXers, and skaters wear will do very little in the form of protection on a DH or DS course.