Freeriding

[stumpjumper23]

I started wanting to do freeride kind of stuff and i started by just jumping off small walls. Though when i try to go off higher stuff i have trouble. Could anyone just give me some tips on how to become a better freeride mtn. biker?

[manual63]

There a lots of tips, even doing drops, in the Riding Tips section. I've written a lot of the info there and so have some others. Do some reading and of course, you can't just jump into it and get good overnight. It takes time and practice.

As far as doing drops, stick with the smaller ones until you land them perfect every time, mostly by landing on your rear wheel first and then your front wheel. Once you are good at the smaller ones and can land smooth every time, move up to something a little higher. Keep doing this and someday you will be able to do the big drops. Whatever you do, don't just go find a big drop and try it, if you don't land it correctly, you can get seriously hurt. So be care and take your time learning step by step. Start out small and develop the skill and bike control before moving on to the bigger stuff.

[Buck]

If the drops have a landing you defintly don't want to land back wheel 1st you may loop out...I'd shoot for both wheels at the same time, then when the the landings are really really steep poke that nose down and come in nice and soft...:cool: oh yeah and have fun!

L8R
Buck

[SpecHR55]

I started wanting to do freeride kind of stuff and i started by just jumping off small walls. Though when i try to go off higher stuff i have trouble. Could anyone just give me some tips on how to become a better freeride mtn. biker?

do to that i would stick with the smaller stuff then perfect it as already written above. if u then have to get bigger dont lose courage, if u do you'll eat it belive me. also try to go off the drop straight cuz landing side ways is no fun.

peace

[manual63]

If the drops have a landing you defintly don't want to land back wheel 1st you may loop out...I'd shoot for both wheels at the same time, then when the the landings are really really steep poke that nose down and come in nice and soft...:cool: oh yeah and have fun!

L8R
Buck

This is correct. If there is a sloped downside, you want to suck up the back and push down the front of your bike to land the downside, preferably with both wheels at the same angle as the downside slope.

If the landing is flat, it's best to land rear wheel first to allow your legs to absorb some of the landing and you won't land so hard on your front wheel. I do see a lot of guys with these huge travel bikes land both wheels at the same time, but it's not how I would ever do it on a flat landing. I guess if you think you bike can handle a two wheel landing to flat and you are comfortable with that, go for it....just don't land front wheel first. If you are landing front wheel first, it's because you are not pulling up hard enough on the bars or leaning forward too much or both. Pull up hard and have you butt over the rear tire when you go off the ledge. Make sure that as you are dropping, keep your arms bent and pulling towards your chest to keep the front end from dropping down. Practice bike pitch control on smaller drops and learn how to control the angle of the bike for landings. Learn how to land both wheels and rear wheel first. Then learn how to land with the front end angled down for sloped downsided landings.

Good luck!

[Earthman]

Whatever you do, don't just go find a big drop and try it, if you don't land it correctly, you can get seriously hurt.

if are biking in Downtown Mps watch out for the ING building it has some nice steps and some fun drops but as i found out last week when heading north on the hennepin side TAKE THE STEPS not the drop by the steps unlike the south end that is about waist high this ends up bing about shoulder high on me ( i am 5'8) and is a tire popper i got the 2 for one special which is great at the bar but not on the bike

that being said find out what the max PSI for your tires are and run it about 5 to 10 PSI below that you will have a little harder landings on fat to flats but less pinch flats and less chance of messing up your rims i keep mine at around 50 PSI

[manual63]

Also watch for security at the ING building. I got kicked out just sitting there waiting for others to show up. They are on to us.....:)

[gordanfreeman]

yea whenever i bike around the ING building i always make it a quick run thro maybe once or twice and move on. same with almost any building downtown--those security types like to give you an evil eye just for riding a bike near their building much less doing anything like hitting stair gaps and whatnot.

[Earthman]

my 2 tire pop was right in front of one of them i think he pooped him self becuase he did not see me come up i just was next to him he was on the stairs and i was on the ledge needless to say i went to the corner to change my tires

[Beau]

How to learn how to freeride in five easy steps-

1. Don't ask how to do it. Observe others.

2. Ride a lot, try stuff and get hurt.

3. Ride with people who are better than you.

4. Get some safety gear

5. Go to Challenge Park

[manual63]

1. Don't ask how to do it. Observe others.


Observe others....yes.

Don't ask how to do it....I don't agree. I am willing to give pointers and getting little tips on how to lean or pull up or whatever can greatly help you improve your riding. This is why I do the Skills Sessions (one tomorrow at 6:00 and Leb). Always feel free to ask others and if they give you an answer like..."just ride" or "just do it like this" as they do it......don't bother with them. They don't want to take the time to show you how to do it and you might as well not bother asking riders like that.