Self-Taught, Lousy Instructor
The dirt-and-rock jump at the top of Zig in Lambert Park is not a big jump. At least, some of you wouldn’t think it’s a big jump. But ever since I first saw it, about five years ago, it’s been big enough that I have never been brave / foolish enough to try it.
Sure, I’ve come close to doing it. Several times, in fact. I ride up to it, stop, take a good look at the approach, decide what the best line is and make sure that the landing looks safe.
Then I ride back a couple hundred feet, turn around, and come charging at it.
But by the time I’m 25 feet away from it, I already know I’m going to bail out. I’ve already started the process of bailing, in fact. My fingers are on the brakes. Instead of looking at the line for the jump, I’m looking at the little trail that veers away from it.
The line that’s been created for and by people like me. People who want to do this jump, but chicken out before they get there.
Five years I’ve done this. Abandoning every single time.
Until last Sunday.
The Hammer and I have been riding in Lambert Park, because Corner Canyon seemed like it might be too muddy. She’s been riding her singlespeed, I’ve been riding my Ibis Tranny 29. And I had told her, “Let’s make sure we come down from Corkscrew onto Zig. I’m going to do that jump today.
So, following my usual script, I rolled up to the jump, looked at it, made note of a little rock embedded in the dirt jump that seemed like a good mark for me to target. I rode back a couple hundred feet, turned around, and started toward the jump.
But this time, I did things a little differently. I took my braking fingers off the levers and wrapped them around the grips. I made myself focus on the little rock that meant I was lining up for the jump…instead of fixating on the bailout line.
I pedaled, hit the jump, caught nice air (probably four or five five horizontal feet, but felt like a lot more), landed comfortably and safely, and rolled to a stop by The Hammer, who was watching.
“I did it,” I said. “I finally did it, and it was easy.”
Then I went back and did it again. Twice.
Why Now?
So why, after five years of inspecting and fretting and last-moment-bailing, did I finally have the confidence to do this jump?
I think there are a couple reasons.
First, I have Rush to thank. This very popular down-only flow trail in Corner Canyon has—guessing here—a dozen whoop-de-doo-ish jumps. You can slow down and roll over them (which is what I used to do) or you can hit them fast and get some air (which is what I’ve started doing as I’ve become more confident this past two years).
Yes, that’s right. This past two years marks the first time I’ve dared get any air at all.
Second, I have the new Ibis 941 wheels to thank. They’re much wider than normal mountain bike wheels, and can be run at much lower pressure without burping or pinch-flatting. I’ve been running them at around 15psi on all my rides, and they’re the most confidence-inspirting wheels I’ve ever used. They just seem to grip everything, corner unbelievably, and allow me to just stomp landings on my (admittedly modest) jumps.
And so, with the confidence that comes from lots of positive experience on smaller jumps, combined with wheels that I trust won’t betray me if/when I land hard, I’ve started doing some things that I haven’t dared do, up ’til now.
Why Not Before?
And now I’m getting to the point of this story.
Like most cyclists, I’m more or less entirely self-taught. And I’ve never really questioned whether that was the right way for me to learn during this twenty-or-so years I’ve been riding. I mean, after all, I already knew how to ride a bike, right? So all I needed to do was ride more, and I’d get better.
Which is true, up to a point.
But a lot of what I learned about mountain biking got ingrained back when wheels were small, tires were hard as rocks, suspension didn’t suspend, and bike geometry was more guesswork than anything else.
Plus, I’m not what you’d call a “natural” at technical riding. I’m not one of those flowy, graceful smooth riders. I’m the opposite. Indeed, scientists postulate that if Danny MacAskill and I ever met, there would be a universe-ending talent/anti-talent explosion.
But while I don’t think I’ll ever be able to claim grace, I think I could aspire to technical competence. To confidence.
Maybe even to not riding like a complete goofball. A goofball that is making do with what he’s been able to figure out himself, rather than learning from people who have actual expertise.
From what I understand, there are some skills camps that are exactly for people like me. People who ride a lot and love riding and think about riding…but never actually, you know, learned to ride.
I think, maybe, it’s time for me to learn to ride a bike.
Comment by Doug (Way Upstate NY) | 12.3.2014 | 10:48 am
A skills course is a lot of fun, even if you “know” what you are doing. I have taken one and would take another in a heart beat. Totally worth it.
Comment by Tom in Albany | 12.3.2014 | 10:59 am
I think you should run a ‘go to a skills course with Fatty’ kind of fundraiser.
Comment by Jim | 12.3.2014 | 11:25 am
Fatty…
Gene Hamilton’s camp…
Betterride.net
Attended a couple of years ago in Fruita. The money I saved from doctor/hospital bills and broken bike parts, more than paid for the camp 10 times over!!!
Good luck!
Comment by MattC | 12.3.2014 | 11:36 am
LONG ago (back in the 60’s when our dad was a pro bowler) I recall a sign in the alley pro-shop that said “Amateurs teach amateurs to be amateurs. Take lessons from a Pro.”
I think this explains a lot in how I ski, mt bike, and pretty much any other sport I’ve tried.
Comment by Welnic | 12.3.2014 | 12:17 pm
I did a course with Better Ride a couple of years ago. Time and money well spent.
Comment by Mark in Bremerton | 12.3.2014 | 1:45 pm
You are sooo right!
No camp, but back when I was getting “serious”, a new chap joined our little group and took charge. I learned more about road riding, pace lines, racing, overcoming pain, etc., etc. in one summer than I thought possible. He’d never be a close friend, but he does know his cycling and I’m grateful. (He has since become a USAC coach and travels with the USA junior team).
I agree with @Tom in Albany; get Carmichael or some other camp organization (road or MTB, doesn’t matter) to donate a course for a fundraiser contest, I’d be all over it!
Comment by Noel | 12.3.2014 | 2:18 pm
I started working with a coach for the first time this year and, while he’s done wonders with helping me lose weight and gain a bunch of speed and fitness, one of the most eye-opening things about it has been the skills work he’s had me do. My coach is a very competitive cyclocross and mountain bike racer and he works with me frequently on skills. I’ve not been riding mountain bikes for that long, but he’s got me looking at trails and obstacles in an entirely different way.
Comment by wharton_crew | 12.3.2014 | 2:25 pm
Fatty, I feel ya. On a trail close to me (any Dallas DORBA riders probably know this trail in Frisco) it’s very simple single track but someone built a log pyramid that is about 4 feet high. Everytime I pass it, I take the bypass, because I can clearly envision the perfect endo that would kill me if I tried to hit that thing.
Plus, I’m a relatively new MTBer and I clip into my pedals. This makes things very interesting if I hit a rock, root, or anything that disrupts my momentum. I feel like my ACL is at risk everytime I have to panic-and-unclip to avoid falling over.
Do the rest of you guys ride MTB clipped in or on normal flat pedals (not clipped in)?
Clipped in for sure. – FC
Comment by MattC | 12.3.2014 | 2:43 pm
Clipped in is the ONLY way to MTB (Downhill is another animal). Can’t imagine NOT being clipped in on a MTB ride. Not only do you get used to it, but after a while, NOT being clipped in gives a BAD feeling.
Comment by MattC | 12.3.2014 | 3:41 pm
So Fatty….today is the 3rd…contest ends today..(or did that mean it ended YESTERDAY?)…so is there still time to get $ to WBR?
Also…I meant to ask this yesterday: IF I put $ on Hamer’s WBR page, does that get entries into the contest?
E-mail me. – FC
Comment by Jared13 | 12.3.2014 | 7:21 pm
Fatty,
A camp/clinic would be a great investment. I’ve taken a few clinics and loved all of them. None were as intense/long/expensive as the betterride ones, but if one is close by and I can get the time off, I’m signing up. I took two clinics while I vacationed in Boulder, Colorado with Lee McCormack and Kevin Stiffler from Lee Likes Bikes, they were well worth the money and Valmont Bike Park is AWESOME.
@Wharton_crew
I ride with flats because I have more fun while riding with flats compared to clips. If I raced competitively, I would probably switch to clips, but still use flats occasionally.
Comment by rb | 12.3.2014 | 8:31 pm
Great write up on gaining confidence and the power of the big, fat wheel. Are you sure you’re not trying to distract from your winter physique by drawing attention to the FATness of the rims? Regardless, you will surely be bombing racecourses down as well as your usual goat-like climbing in the near future.
No comments on the embedded pic so far?
The ohnoelden picture is truly fantastic. Based on the fact that the bike says “Gary Fisher” not “Specialized” or “Ibis” are on the downtube, I’m going to guess it’s 7-10 years old. Certainly deserves a photo credit, and I’m really curious what happened….next
Ten years is a pretty good guess, I think that’s about right. My friend Cori Jones took the photo at the perfect moment: right as my tire folded and the Stans exploded out. I went over the bars and landed on my head and shoulders just to the left of the bush you see at the far right of the photo. – FC
Comment by Wife#1 | 12.3.2014 | 9:53 pm
I’d pay good money to see you and Danny MacAskill appearing together in a “mad skills” video! The possibilities are sublime!
Comment by Shugg McGraw | 12.4.2014 | 7:34 am
Congratulations.
I have zero technical skills. Went on a skills course and managed to bend my thumb right back and destroy a front whilst clearing a 12 inch jump.
Comment by Daddy Style | 12.4.2014 | 9:12 am
Sometimes I think we live parallel parts of our lives.
Ditto; 20 plus years, old school, “hard tail” pride. Don’t need no stinking full suspension, those are for people who don’t know how to ride. I did skills camps for years ya know, yada, yada yada.
Skip to a few years ago and I get involved with a project with a friend from the fire hall and the “Coastal Crew”. Local “kids” I met years ago when they and my son raced on the High school team.
They went on to become rock stars of the Mtn Bike Lifestyle, Freeride, Rampage scene. Hey why not if you can make a living on/off your bike. [living the dream but they work hard at it]
Now I spend way to much time at http://www.coastgravitypark.ca with the likes of Kyle Norbraten, Brandon Seminuk, Logan Peat, Brendan Howie and the like. Culture shock. Amazing what they can do on a bike! On the brite side I can still kick their ass uphill and if I hammer hard enough on a good day I can beat the shuttle.
Anyway, I digress, As a thank you [and I suspect an effort to stop me bouncing around on my hard tail, riding up the shuttle road decked out in my club lycra, racing the DH crowd looking like a goof trying to get air on the flow trails or getting in the way on the way technical loamer DH trails] they recently they gave me a custom, decked out park special Stump Jumper. A big bike for me with 5 inch’s of terrain eating of travel.
Combine a few lesson’s with Darren and crew at http://www.endlessbiking.com [My "skills" were so outdated], the bike and some time on the parks world class trails and I have actually got 2 wheels in the air. No much and you will never see me on video but it’s got a neat feeling to it. No sound of the tires rolling over the trail.
Of course the jump is easy, it’s the darn landings’ I have had a few spills and you and others will too. There have been some nasty falls at the park. That keeps you humble. I will continue to “ride within my limits”. Still have to work and make a living.
On the brite side, did I mention I can kick their ass going uphill, well except for Brandon,
Play safe my friends, Bob
Comment by Isaac | 12.4.2014 | 9:14 am
@ all the pedal people
I switch back and forth a bunch. It depends on where I’m riding and what I’m trying to do. If I’m racing, I generally ride clips. If I’m riding in snow, flats. If I’m out in the summer and just riding around, it’s a toss-up. The key to riding with flats is to have good flats and good shoes. If you don’t have shoes that are fairly purpose-built (you can’t just use running shoes), they won’t stick to the pedals at all. But with the right pedal/shoe combo, they’re not *that* far off from clips, and riders can have more confidence doing obstacles (at least till they’re comfortable with the feature — then start trying it with clips.)
I use a pair of Teva The Links (I’m on my second pair now) with a variety of pedals. Replaceable pins and a good-sized platform are key.
Comment by Daddy Style | 12.4.2014 | 9:32 am
I’ve been working on my flats to get the skills back. Clipless make it too easy sometimes. I forgot how much upper body work is needed to throw a bike around.
Big shout out to all the trail builders and help out there, everywhere. Enjoyed Home, Oregon and Utah this year. Love you and I don’t even know you
Comment by J | 12.4.2014 | 12:16 pm
Hesitation always was a killer to a good ride. Glad you finally made it!
Comment by Kevin | 12.4.2014 | 3:36 pm
Hi,
Many mountain bike riders that ride a lot and are over 30 years old are exactly the same, including me. A good skills course would be fun, inspiring, and a real confidence booster. Congrats on clearing that long awaited drop!
The Trek Dirt Series (Co-ed) mostly run out of Bend but they have camps in many venues including Whistler. Erica Tingey in Park City also has some co-ed clinics. Good luck! BTW, it’s not the wheels but I’ll give you that the flow trail helped you build confidence in leaving Terra Firma. I agree that flat pedals are a good way to start and safer.
Comment by JohnBoy | 12.4.2014 | 10:03 pm
I know this rock-dirt jump you speak of. I met it the day after thanksgiving two years ago. When I first saw it I thought “no problem, I can do this”. So I did the same thing you did and pedaled back a couple hundred feet, turned around and headed down the trail. As I rode closer to it my thought changed to “WHERE DID THAT MOUNTAIN OF A JUMP COME FROM!!” So I bailed at the last minute. Your experience now has me wanting to go back and conquer that thing. With this great weather I might just get my chance.