woohoo! finally did the expert loop

[zerpy]

OK, I know that this is lame for most of you, but for me finally riding the expert loop at leb is a big deal.

Holy crap there are a lot of log crossings...:)

I was probably pretty pathetic riding most of it, but normally I'm too darn tired by that time to even try the loop so this is a big step.

Anyway, that was cool - can't wait to ride it again. And just when you though this sport couldn't get any more addictive...:)

[noise_is_life]

There's nothing like the feeling of making that progression.

My goal now is to nail the entire XX, I've cleaned every challenge individually, I just need to string it all together.

The hardest part for me is the ramp over the big log, I've only fully ridden it once, I usually end up sliding off the exit ramp. Last time I rode it I slid off the entrance, rode right into the log and ended up stuck between the tree and the ramp. Pretty humourous...

Some things in the XX look harder than they really are, like the log after the tabletop. The biggest challenge is just to get the nerve to try it.

[zerpy]

I think that is true, we really psych ourselves out and tend to be our own worst enemy. For me, it is log crossings. The "large" log crossing on the intermediate loop has always given me probs and I always dig my chainring into it and come to a abrupt stop and fall over. I think it has gotten to the point where it is a mindset that I AM going to have a problem with it. It isn't very big and shouldn't be a problem. I found that most of the large log crossings in the X loop I planted my feet on and pushed myself over, sometimes completely stopping. Again, I get really tense when I come up to them. However, alot of the medium and smaller sized log crossings I was just popping right over toward the end of the X loop without even unclipping. There are just so many of them in that loop that I started to just go for it. ALso, I think that the loop is "easier" to ride than the intermediate loop, less climbing. So I wasn't dog tired everytime I came up on something.

The boardwalk is another good example of getting psyched out. I don't think it is any more narrow than the trail but I got all tense on it and slipped off. Just mind set!

[noise_is_life]

I know other riders here have fancy tricks for getting over logs like wheel bops and other things that I don't really comprehend, but for me it's all about trust.

You have to trust that you will make it enough to stay off the brakes and just let your momentum carry you through. Sure you also need to unweight your front wheel so you don't end up crossing without your bike, but for me it is never more complicated than that.

[pwpatton]

I think that's exactly right. It's about trusting in yourself and trusting that if you bif on the obsticle you'll be just fine. You have to weigh the benifit against the cost. Like with those big hucks the free riders do, for me the cost is too high a price given the benefit. But I've found at the lebanon xx loop (and other places) the obsticles aren't nearly as hard as they seem. And that's what I find really cool; like getting a rush of fear before hitting jans rock or the table top. It's just too much fun....

Phillip

[denis-on-enduro]

IS THERE ANY CHANCE LEBANON WILL GO EXTREME OR JUST A LITTLE OVER THE EDGE?!:crazy: IT DOES KINDA GET BORING WHEN THE STUFF IN THE XX LOOP IS NOTHING NEW AND YOU CAN CLEAR ALL OF IT!

[noise_is_life]

YOU COULD ALWAYS GO RIDE OFF A BUILDING OR DO SOME STAIR GAPS. I HEAR THOSE SHORE TYPES LOVE THAT KIND OF SILLINESS.

[gopherhockey]

Originally posted by denis-on-enduro
IS THERE ANY CHANCE LEBANON WILL GO EXTREME OR JUST A LITTLE OVER THE EDGE?!:crazy: IT DOES KINDA GET BORING WHEN THE STUFF IN THE XX LOOP IS NOTHING NEW AND YOU CAN CLEAR ALL OF IT!

We added some new stuff today... see some more discussion on this in the trail work post I'm going to do separately...

[Rebecca]

I will have to agree with Pat about te whole trust idea...

Last night I rode most of the Double XX at Lebanon for the first time. Some things seemed pretty simple to clear and some things I had to "talk myself into doing".

I do have to say that riding Lutsen help me overcome my fear of going through Rock Gardens! They seemed a little easier at Lebabon.

I am excited to be able to ride though all of the XX. This is a huge accomplishment for me! :

:)

[zerpy]

Originally posted by Rebecca
I will have to agree with Pat about te whole trust idea...

Last night I rode most of the Double XX at Lebanon for the first time. Some things seemed pretty simple to clear and some things I had to "talk myself into doing".

I do have to say that riding Lutsen help me overcome my fear of going through Rock Gardens! They seemed a little easier at Lebabon.

I am excited to be able to ride though all of the XX. This is a huge accomplishment for me! :

:)

Hey cool, congrats:)

I'm hoping to talk myself into riding the XX before the season ends (I'm not a cold weather riding fan!). I saw that log pile at the beginning of the loop yesterday for the first time and said holy s#!t :)

I now understand peoples issues with rock gardens, I got cut up pretty good yesterday on the one in the X loop. I'm gonna have to figure out the path though that thing...:)

[noise_is_life]

The XX entrance log pile is so big it's more like a small hill than a log pile, so with a little momentum (very little usually since group rides often stop there for a rest) you can just roll right over it.

The X rock garden is the hardest one on the trail (including XX), I've lost skin to that thing myself.

[Rebecca]

As words of encouragement....The initial log crossing seemed like one of the hardest things for me to do in the XX. It looks really intimidating. I tried it twice and got stuck on the top..so I walked my bike over it and continued on. But next time I will nail the first log crossing.

Good Luck! :-)

[gopherhockey]

Originally posted by Tom S.
On a lighter note,:D a lot of the obstacles in the XX are very easy with momentum. In the first uphill rock garden you can darn near coast through half of it with enough speed on the downhill before it.:D

It actually wasn't always this easy.. but some riders apparently couldn't make it up with the rocks that used to be there and they moved them - now its much easier. We'll have to fix that on one of our trailwork sessions ;)

[manual63]

Wow....this is too cool. I love to hear that riders are pushing themselves and enjoying the experience of new challenges. For me, biking has always been about new challenges.

Keep up the good work, stay well within your limits (no one likes to get hurt), and enjoy!!!!

Post in the Ridng Tips section if you have questions. Other riders and myself are usually very willing to give input.

[Bigring_King]

Speed is your friend, use it. The log crossings, the rock gardens, the log "ramp", etc. They are all cleared easiest with momentum, and the bikers friend "gyro"... Meaning that a spinning wheel is more stable than a stationary wheel. You gotta keep the wheels spinning to stay stable, and everything you come across on the trails of Lebanon can be done. Of course there can be too much speed, which will cause you to blow a corner, or to run off the trail, but you will know your own limitations and once you get comfortable you will be amazed at how easy all of the obstacles are.:shocked:

[pwpatton]

Originally posted by Bigring_King
Speed is your friend, use it. ... once you get comfortable you will be amazed at how easy all of the obstacles are

Agreed, speed or momentum really is paramount to just about everything at leb. Except for that damn log ramp in the XX loop just before the uphill with the logs. When you make it over it's easy, when you crash (at speed) before the apex it sucks!!!!

I always take that one in 2nd or 3rd at slow speed cuz the last time I took it at speed my front wheel came off the ramp before the big felled tree it goes over and I, well, I biffed. Hard:hit:

That one feels great to make at any speed.