Comments on: Mountain biking in the off season – I need your help! http://www.womensbiketalk.com/2009/09/mountain-biking-in-the-off-season-i-need-your-help/ Guides and Articles about Women Biking Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:30:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Mary Hall http://www.womensbiketalk.com/2009/09/mountain-biking-in-the-off-season-i-need-your-help/comment-page-1/#comment-2341 Mary Hall Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:45:21 +0000 http://www.womensbiketalk.com/?p=682#comment-2341 Wow! Those are some great tips! I'll be out on the mountain bike tomorrow and will give them a try. I'll let you know how it goes... Wow! Those are some great tips! I’ll be out on the mountain bike tomorrow and will give them a try. I’ll let you know how it goes…

]]> By: Melanie http://www.womensbiketalk.com/2009/09/mountain-biking-in-the-off-season-i-need-your-help/comment-page-1/#comment-2332 Melanie Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:27:53 +0000 http://www.womensbiketalk.com/?p=682#comment-2332 Thanks, Krista! Great to have your advice!! Glad you found the site! Thanks, Krista! Great to have your advice!! Glad you found the site!

]]> By: Krista Park http://www.womensbiketalk.com/2009/09/mountain-biking-in-the-off-season-i-need-your-help/comment-page-1/#comment-2331 Krista Park Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:23:31 +0000 http://www.womensbiketalk.com/?p=682#comment-2331 I just ran across this post while looking for cycling info in AZ. My downhill switchback tips: If one direction is easier than the other you are probably putting the same foot forward while turning both right and left. If turning left is easier you probably have your right foot more forward than your left. Try putting your left foot more forward on right hand turns and see if that makes right hand turns easier. Step 2: point your inside knee into the turn, this will rotate your hips to point into the turn, which will rotate your shoulders, and head as well. If your feet are positioned correctly, they will not fight your hips. (once you really feel what I am talking about you can skip the knee part and just rotate your hips to point at the turn, right before you get there) Step 3: weight the outside foot a bit so you do not wash out. As for uphill: Step 1: yes, get low Step 2: look around the turn (not straight ahead) this will rotate everything in the correct direction. Step 3: Pull up on the inside grip, and push down on the uphill (outside) grip, this will force the front tire to stay low and follow the turn. At first, over-do the push/pull to get the feeling. If your front wheel floats up off the ground and you have enough push/pull force on the bar, it will magically reposition itself along the correct line and (as long as you are weighted correctly and keep pedaling) you'll swing right around the turn. In both cases being able to trackstand will give you more time and confidence. Hope this helps, Krista I just ran across this post while looking for cycling info in AZ.

My downhill switchback tips:
If one direction is easier than the other you are probably putting the same foot forward while turning both right and left. If turning left is easier you probably have your right foot more forward than your left. Try putting your left foot more forward on right hand turns and see if that makes right hand turns easier.

Step 2: point your inside knee into the turn, this will rotate your hips to point into the turn, which will rotate your shoulders, and head as well. If your feet are positioned correctly, they will not fight your hips. (once you really feel what I am talking about you can skip the knee part and just rotate your hips to point at the turn, right before you get there)

Step 3: weight the outside foot a bit so you do not wash out.

As for uphill:
Step 1: yes, get low

Step 2: look around the turn (not straight ahead) this will rotate everything in the correct direction.

Step 3: Pull up on the inside grip, and push down on the uphill (outside) grip, this will force the front tire to stay low and follow the turn. At first, over-do the push/pull to get the feeling. If your front wheel floats up off the ground and you have enough push/pull force on the bar, it will magically reposition itself along the correct line and (as long as you are weighted correctly and keep pedaling) you’ll swing right around the turn.

In both cases being able to trackstand will give you more time and confidence.

Hope this helps, Krista

]]> By: Melanie http://www.womensbiketalk.com/2009/09/mountain-biking-in-the-off-season-i-need-your-help/comment-page-1/#comment-2173 Melanie Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:16:58 +0000 http://www.womensbiketalk.com/?p=682#comment-2173 Hey Mary! Good to hear you are on the MTB! I will come ride with you sometime. We should do a team MTB ride! Anyways, some directions are easier to turn than others. For example, I am good turning left on a steep downhill switchback, but turning right is hard for me. Find out what direction is easier, and then practice a tough section in the hard direction until you get it and/ or feel comfortable! Good luck! Hey Mary! Good to hear you are on the MTB! I will come ride with you sometime. We should do a team MTB ride! Anyways, some directions are easier to turn than others. For example, I am good turning left on a steep downhill switchback, but turning right is hard for me. Find out what direction is easier, and then practice a tough section in the hard direction until you get it and/ or feel comfortable! Good luck!

]]> By: Heidi http://www.womensbiketalk.com/2009/09/mountain-biking-in-the-off-season-i-need-your-help/comment-page-1/#comment-2171 Heidi Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:36:42 +0000 http://www.womensbiketalk.com/?p=682#comment-2171 Hey Mary, Hope all is going well. Try while going up as you approach the switchback get your chest down while in the turn. Hey Mary, Hope all is going well. Try while going up as you approach the switchback get your chest down while in the turn.

]]> By: Spring http://www.womensbiketalk.com/2009/09/mountain-biking-in-the-off-season-i-need-your-help/comment-page-1/#comment-2166 Spring Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:02:40 +0000 http://www.womensbiketalk.com/?p=682#comment-2166 Hi Mary, I miss you. OK my two cents...butt way back past your seat on the down switchback and butt way forward on your seat on a climb switchback. Just try it...it works:) Hope to ride the trails together soon. Hi Mary, I miss you. OK my two cents…butt way back past your seat on the down switchback and butt way forward on your seat on a climb switchback. Just try it…it works:) Hope to ride the trails together soon.

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