Also, last night I went to the weekly CX practice in the park. Managed to cleanly bunny hop a single PVC barrier 2 laps in a row, then just barely bumped it with my back tire on the third attempt. I was pretty damn pleased with myself. Don’t think I could bunny hop two in a row right now, based on the sloppiness of my landings, but I’m going to give it a try.
You have a pretty damn good dismount/remount. Just don’t fuck yourself up showboatin’.
Should be quite useful for stuff like the log at the top of the “runup” at Woodland Park last year though.
FYI
http://on-one.co.uk/i/q/TBSCRRHTE/schwalbe_racing_ralph_ht_evo_tubular_tyre
Just pulled the trigger on 4 of these dudes. Shipping is kinda beastly but still a helluva deal.
[quote=tarckeemoon]
You have a pretty damn good dismount/remount. Just don’t fuck yourself up showboatin’.
Should be quite useful for stuff like the log at the top of the “runup” at Woodland Park last year though.[/quote]
It’d take some really ideal conditions to get me to try it in a race. Would maybe consider it on a single barrier like they had at the N. Bend race last year. The nice thing about trying it with the PVC barriers is they either get knocked down or just kind of explode at the elbow joints when you don’t clear it.
aight. what the fuck is this dismount/remount setup. i need vids/photos.
[quote=tarckeemoon]FYI
http://on-one.co.uk/i/q/TBSCRRHTE/schwalbe_racing_ralph_ht_evo_tubular_tyre
Just pulled the trigger on 4 of these dudes. Shipping is kinda beastly but still a helluva deal.[/quote]
Holyshit, I need to get in on that.
Thanks.
Yeah I’m gonna need a pair of Ralphs this season. GB?
i need to work on dismounts and remounts. dismounts are harder atmo when not on a fixed gear, and remounting is still something i’m working on–i’m starting with jumping on from a dead stop. while running, i’ll still do a little double hop thing when jumping on. yesterday while riding trails, i had to walk a couple spots cuz single speed, and i decided to make myself run and remount every time…more physically demanding and also working on those skills. definitely hoping i’m not a complete klutz at these things by the time cross season starts.
practice at least 15 minutes a day.
dismounting a freewheel ain’t harder, just different.
on the re-mount, start by walking side by side with the bike and swinging a leg over. progress that to a little faster walk every time until you’re jogging. finally, do it running.
stutter step is a mental barrier.
/repeatedcliches.
forward to 1:22. Watch repeatedly. Practice visualizing it, thinking about how your legs and feet move. Practice in real life. Repeat.
Also, everything 1%truck said is right on. Especially about the hop-step being totally mental.
If I remember to keep the bike further in front of me then I don’t stutter on the remount. Getting the hand on the TT quicker helped me improve my dismounts.
/\ Thirded. When I was first learning how to remount I would actually tell myself “jump” outloud to do the remount with out the stutterstep. Silly trick, but helped me get over that mental barrier. Eventually it just becomes muscle memory and is super easy.
Couple tricks for dismounts
Come in coasting at the speed you feel comfortable running the barriers at.
Be going that speed about 20 feet (i think? i suck at estimating distances) in front of the barriers. Swing your right foot out around the back of your left foot (step throughs are the worst idea). Coast with your hip leaning against the saddle, left hand on the bars, right hand on the top tube. Keeps the bike in better control/stops it from bouncing around on little bumps. Coast up until you’re 1 1/2 steps away from the barrier. put your right foot down, take a step with your left foot, run the barriers starting with your right foot over, take a few steps on the other side and remount. Basically the less time you spend off the bike, the faster you’ll be, so you don’t want to come off the bike 10 steps from the barriers like so many people do.
Was trying to find the episode of behind the barriers from last year with a clip of Bart Wellens running the barriers at 100mph, but came across this awesome photo sequence: http://www.cxmagazine.com/bart-wellens-barriers-photo-sequence-roubaix-world-cup
The hip on the saddle is a good tip too.
other shit: visualize yourself jumping ‘forward’, not up. the last thing you want to do is jump up, because that’s what’ll result in the hammered taint and ( if you’re a fatty or lack attention to detail in tightening the seat collar) a slipping seatpost.
other than that, it’s just a matter of doing it 10,000+ times and making muscle memoriez.
Fo sho.
Bullshit. Each method has its benefits. Crossover step for bumpy/slippery approaches when you need stability and a bail-out in case you fuck up. Step-through is for faster, smoother run-ins where there is less likelihood of a crash. It allows you to transition more quickly to running. Check the video I posted. Any non-pro can get away with only having a crossover dismount and be just fine (the same way all of us can get away with only being able to dismount and mount on the left while there is definitely a benefit to being able to do it from either side).