Rock Gardens

[manual63]

Okay, they don't have these on BMX tracks or in skatepark, so I need some pointers here.

The ones that really get me are the ones during climbs. The flat or downhill ones are easy for me.

There is one in the new XX Loop that has a drop on your left and it is super narrow. I tend to lean and steer towards the downhill drop on the left. I don't know why, I just do. I use my granny gear and get about 1/2 way before I slip of almost fall to the left off the hill. Later, there is another hill climb one that is wider and more staggered. I try to pick a good line, but just get all messed up. Suggestions anyone?

[viv]

I tend to just hit em Not with any speed but as long as you keep your front wheel "clean" you should be fine. You need to stay real loose let the bike move under you. You also need all your Jedi skills to know where your back wheel is. Keep momentum in order to roll up on the rock and power off the top and down the back. The round rocks around here can obviously be quite slick, but if you can stay on top, I find its better than trying to go around. When you try to weave around at slow speeds the rear wheel never follows the front so it tends to hit an edge of a rock just as you think you are clear and turn on the power. Then you get to spin out. I've ridden some insane rock beds in AZ where there isnt any line. I just told myself to keep it light and keep the front end clean. And remember, "A full shoe is worth more than two in the horn"

[gopherhockey]

That tight uphill is fun... I wish we had more like that. We could, we just need guys to help move rocks. This is a good start for people though.

I was recently trying to help my wife get up that hill. It is hard for me to describe what exactly I'm doing if I make something - probably half the time it is just luck, or determination... but maybe thats actually part of it.

I have a harder time in a slower gear. If I avoid the temptation to shift down, it forces me to go through there faster, which forces me to look ahead farther up the trail than down at the rocks I'm going through. It also allows me to roll between some of the tighter rocks without having to give a pedal stroke. If I tried to actually pedal the entire time (even on an uphill) I wouldn't make it. Hard to describe, but sometimes you just have to stop cranking and will yourself up between a few of those suckers ;) This was the tip I gave my wife, and she made it up the very next time.

For her, rocks were actually a magnet. Normally you see a rock, you avoid it. At low speed they seem to suck her bike right in. When I got her to look ahead, that stopped happening. This helped her get over the small rock section in the old X loop as well.

I love that section. Love riding it, love watching riders negotiate up it. We need more like that in there... we will...

[manual63]

Oh that darn look ahead thing again. I bet I am looking at the rocks I am going over and not looking ahead, which will put you in a more direct path. That is why I want to fall down the hill on the left, I am looking at it saying, "oh, I don't want to fall off that sucker!"............LOL.

Some good advice....thanks.

[manual63]

Now that I have more Rock Garden experience, I have a few more pointers. First is tire pressure. The tire pressure plays a big role. If your pressure is too hard, you will slip off of the rocks and bounce around really easily, throwing you off balance. If your pressure is too low, you can get a pinch flat or ruin a rim. Second is pedal timing. I hit my pedals a lot and am learning to make sure I time it right so I don't hit a rock with my pedals, which also throws off your balance. Thirdly, I learned to look ahead and not down at my front wheel. This way I can pick a line and follow it easily. Looking at the front wheel makes you steer back and forth which messes up the whole balance and timing thing.

One thing to note. Don't try to avoid riding over every rock. Look for the smaller or flatter ones and choose a line that will go over those. The straighter the line the better. The more steering you do in a rock garden, the tougher they are. Pick a line and just follow it, even if you have to go over some smaller rocks.

If you mess up in a rock garden, it's very hard to regain control. Sometimes it's just easier to take a foot out and dab it on a rock to keep balance. Then just regain your thoughts and your line and keep going.

[pwpatton]

I agree, pick a line, look forward and, I would add, soften up. When I would tense up I would always hit a rock and it would stop my flow. I just started softening (I always do stuff by feel so I'm not sure of the mechanics) as if to glide through the obsticle. It's also important to keep a constant pedaling motion through the rock with very little torque. If you spin you back tire at all you are done.

Phillip

[manual63]

You made me think of something. I get up as much speed as I can before a rock garden, then when I am going over, I lighten the torque while on the rocks to keep the momentum up, but not spin the rear tire. Good suggestion Phillip, very good suggestion.