Bike Skills: A smooth way to ride over a rock
Hello readers of Enduro Mountainbike Magazine, my name is Lee McCormack, and I am a MTB skills training expert in Boulder, CO. As part of my new role as Enduro Mountainbike Magazine’s skills expert and North American correspondent, I want to share this popular post from my site www.leelikesbikes.com.
There are many ways to ride over rocks, and I think enduro racers need the most predictable and efficient methods. What do you think of this approach?
Situation
Terrain: Skills rock at Valmont Bike Park in Boulder, CO.
Bike: Mighty Specialized Stumpjumper 29 Carbon with FOX 34 fork and full Shimano XTR. The suspension is balanced. The shifting and brakes inspire full confidence.
First the video
Watch the head. If your head doesn’t feel the rock, the rock does not feel sketchy.
Then the sequence
Head stays level. It felt smooth. Pretty good.
Preload
There is no good without evil, no light without heavy.
Body is centered, but front end is heavily loaded — thanks to a powerful push from a stable core. FOX 34 fork is compressed 120 of 140 mm. Hmm, it doesn’t feel that violent.
Pull!
Weight driving into the pedals. Arms rowing back HARD. Front wheel doesn’t touch the front of the rock.
The width of the Shimano PRO Atherton bar lets me pull my elbows back with my massive lats, rather than my puny biceps. Bike setup is crucial to executing this move powerfully and smoothly. More on that in an upcoming book.
Low
As low and centered as possible.
I’m a bit too far forward. See the cranks rolled forward and the butt on the seat?
I think that’s from pulling the bars toward me, and possibly from the rear wheel clipping the front of the rock. I’d rather be perfectly centered. Gotta work on that.
Push!
Drive the front wheel down the backside. Head and torso don’t move. Get some pump. Braaap!
I will work on staying more balanced across the top. What else can I improve?
About Lee
Lee McCormack of www.leelikesbikes.com is a world renowned mountain bike skills instructor and author. He works with riders of all types and levels, and as the skills development director for the U.S. nation high school mountain bike association, he creates the teaching curriculum and trains coaches to help young riders shred safely.
Lee wrote the books Mastering Mountain Bike Skills, Teaching Mountain Bike Skills, Pro BMX Skills, Welcome to Pump Track Nation, Pump Up the Base and Prepare to Pin It. Lee is Enduro Mag’s new skills expert as well as North American correspondent.
If you have a question for Lee, email him at lee@leelikesbikes.com.