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Post by sonnydgr8t on Sept 18, 2006 14:40:58 GMT 8
Got this from an except from Dirtworld.com
I am about to give you the key to speed. One phrase. Are you ready?
Don't use the brakes.
Don't look so disappointed. What were you expecting, Magic? Now just a second, before you reach for the back button let me explain. I don't mean to not use them at all, just use them less.
One of the best ways to improve your riding is to go with someone that is faster than you. Not way faster, so that you get discouraged, but a bit faster, so you really have to work to keep up. Once you've found someone that fits the bill, try following him (or her, that could be fun too) through some downhill singletrack. Notice how the gap keeps getting bigger? You're not doing much pedaling so it's not likely a strength issue. What could it be? I'll tell you, the faster rider is using their brakes less.
Have you ever been on a ride when, for some reason, you had no brakes, or a lot less than you wanted? Maybe a cable broke or your rims iced up or something. I know it was scary. Careening downhill, unable to slowdown to a comfortable speed, you thought you were going to die. But you survived, and you went down that hill a lot faster than you otherwise would have. If you want to go faster every ride you need to harness a bit of that experience and apply it in a more controlled manner.
Moving out of our comfort zone can make us apprehensive. To try to calm the fears of your rational mind have your irrational mind tell it this: Speed is our friend; Speed brings stability; Stability is good. The wheels underneath do more than just hold us up. They also act as gyroscopes, like those spinny things you may have played with as a kid. They're also the things that keep spacecraft stable in the vacuum of space. The faster a gyroscope spins, the more rigidity it has. This means the faster your wheels are turning the more they will fight to stay upright and pointed straight ahead, just what we want. Now you know why sometimes when you get anxious and slow down you biff, but if you stay fast and ride it out you make out okay and look like a hero.
The hard part is knowing how fast is really too fast and when to say whoa. You can set yourself up with an exercise to explore these limits. Find a section of downhill singletrack steep enough that you won't have to pedal much and fast enough that you definitely have to brake for the corners. (Keep IMBA happy and make sure you won't encounter any hikers or horses on the way down). Make your first run at your normal blistering speed. Try to note where you apply the brakes for each corner. On the next run, each time you reach for the brakes fight the impulse for one second. Remember that every bit of speed that you can carry through the turn is speed you don't have to gain back on the next straight. And that's energy in the bank, my friend, better than money. A little bit saved every corner can really add up over the course of a race.
In all your subsequent training runs try to brake just a tick later than the time before. One tip to avoid the temptation to brake too early or when you really don't need to is to ride with all eight fingers wrapped around the bars. Don't have one or two hanging over the levers just in case. You know where the brakes are, you'll find them if you need them and this will give you a more secure grip. If there's a corner where you have to just barely brake for try running it with no brakes at all. Just keep all your digits clamped on the bars. Remember, keep your head up and keep looking well down the trail.
The key to pushing the envelope is to do it gradually, in small increments. Riding a downhill with your front brake disconnected may make teach you how to go really fast. More likely, it'll teach you just how brittle collarbones really are. Even though improvements may seem small one corner at a time, it will add up and it will make a difference. You worked way too hard for that speed to just turn it into heat for no good reason.
Happy riding...
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Post by <eVs10nacious< on Sept 25, 2006 9:35:58 GMT 8
1. Try to note where you apply the brakes for each corner.
2. try to brake just a tick later than the time before.
3. to avoid the temptation to brake too early or when you really don't need to is to ride with all eight fingers wrapped around the bars.
4. Don't have one or two hanging over the levers just in case. You know where the brakes are, you'll find them if you need them and this will give you a more secure grip.
5. Just keep all your digits clamped on the bars.
6. Remember, keep your head up and keep looking well down the trail.
a. Riding a downhill with your front brake disconnected may make teach you how to go really fast.
b. The hard part is knowing how fast is really too fast and when to say whoa.
c. the faster rider is using their brakes less.
d. Are you ready?
e. Don't use the brakes.
thumbs up! (no hands)......ride on! ;D
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Post by ian_rex on Sept 25, 2006 11:01:24 GMT 8
so long as you know how manuever the bike without crashing, you'll succeed.
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robpax
Bike Commuter
Veni, Vidi, Vici
Posts: 73
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Post by robpax on Nov 20, 2006 14:08:57 GMT 8
I tried it and it works.
I now delay my braking in downhills. I brake less and anticipate corners.
Riding fast requires scanning the terrain ahead and making quick decisions.
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Post by REDNEB on Nov 20, 2006 18:24:35 GMT 8
how to ride fast? apply silicon oil to front and rear rotors........... fill in application of medical insurance....... ehehehehhe....... or you can get a 600cc bike and practice 180-210 at star tollway for 2 weeks till u get all your motion sickness issues to go away......... ehehehe
......... it worked for me tho...
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Post by CARLOfornicator(censored) on Nov 20, 2006 19:09:25 GMT 8
silicon oil...that might work..hahha...no choice...
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Post by greywall on Nov 20, 2006 21:17:57 GMT 8
how to ride fast? apply silicon oil to front and rear rotors........... fill in application of medical insurance....... this i might try!!! ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by anshwa on Nov 21, 2006 1:10:09 GMT 8
Another technique to go faster: Pedalling out of the corners. Rail on the turn. Once you start passing the apex of the turn, right when the fork starts to extend, pedal hard. If you do it right, the front wheel would even pop off the ground & you'll feel like you're riding a motocross bike w/ the acceleration.
And of course, don't try to ride faster. I'm serious. Flowing on the trail & not "forcing" to go faster works well because your body doesn't stiffen up & stays neutral on the bike most of the time. Not that I'm a fast rider, though. Been trying to be one for the last 10 years... hay...
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Post by arcireyes on Nov 21, 2006 12:35:54 GMT 8
learn the hail mary ride  |
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Post by denise648 on Nov 21, 2006 15:03:19 GMT 8
Put a chain at your seat, for about 6 meters, and a attack dog in the end and let him chase you he he he ;D ;D ;D sorry for the OT, just for laughs guys.
Back to topic, for me even though on flat lands, try to pedal hard as if you were climbing, but be careful. The best place for me to practice how to ride fast is climbing the wall "maarat" and running at amari. For me, doing this practice gives me a feeling of using a single speed. I only shift when climbing the wall.
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Post by denise648 on Nov 21, 2006 15:04:37 GMT 8
learn the hail mary ride Sir Arci, what's the hail mary ride? First time I heard of it. |
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ghorio
Free Rider
Butiki ni Ghorio...
Posts: 397
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Post by ghorio on Nov 21, 2006 15:23:01 GMT 8
learn the hail mary ride Sir Arci, what's the hail mary ride? First time I heard of it. Yeah sir arci, first time to hear "hail mary ride" too.... Is it "praying while pedalling hard"? or think that ur chasing mary? hehehe |
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Post by arcireyes on Nov 21, 2006 16:50:25 GMT 8
in american football there is a jargon called hail mary pass. on the dying seconds of a game and when all things seems to fail, the QB (is that correct, the quarterback is the one that throws the ball) on seeing one of his team mates running free and headed for a possible touchdown throws a long pass to him and utters a prayer...... thus the Hail Mary Pass. in biking, take out the brake cables or put silicon oils or whatever, utter a prayer and bomb the downhill (thus a hail mary ride), it's guaranteed to make the ride fast joke lang po PEACE  |
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Post by Alphabolt on Nov 22, 2006 1:14:19 GMT 8
Amen  I ll try delayed braking this weekend...pray for ME |
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Post by pazigrider on Nov 22, 2006 14:25:00 GMT 8
...don't ride with me as i'm a slow rider ;D ride instead with nvp or driver - i'll guarantee - it'll make you fast ;D ;D
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ghorio
Free Rider
Butiki ni Ghorio...
Posts: 397
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Post by ghorio on Nov 22, 2006 17:30:34 GMT 8
Sir pazigrider, ur riding faster than me.....
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Post by pazigrider on Nov 24, 2006 11:11:21 GMT 8
Sir pazigrider, ur riding faster than me..... ;D ;D see you in our upcoming rides brad. ghorio i'm sure - next time "faster" ka na rin |
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xc
Urban Assaulter
maytowsmaynismayshowldermayhed
Posts: 90
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Post by xc on Nov 24, 2006 11:54:51 GMT 8
Put a chain at your seat, for about 6 meters, and a attack dog in the end and let him chase you he he he ;D ;D ;D sorry for the OT, just for laughs guys. Back to topic, for me even though on flat lands, try to pedal hard as if you were climbing, but be careful. The best place for me to practice how to ride fast is climbing the wall "maarat" and running at amari. For me, doing this practice gives me a feeling of using a single speed. I only shift when climbing the wall. if you have good medical insurance i say just dont use too much brakes and go pedal as much as you can. pedal while braking?? just like heal and toe on the gas and brake pedal at the same time. does anyone do that? late braking? is it applicable to bikes. someone told me brake early and get good flow on turns. said that late braking is good for gasoline powered vehicles beacause you can power out of the turns |
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Post by pjax on Nov 24, 2006 21:39:19 GMT 8
late braking is always good in a race environment. it's not good for, say, prolonging the life of your car (and saving gas if you power out)...
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Post by anshwa on Nov 24, 2006 23:08:57 GMT 8
Late braking also has a tendency to get the bike to skid hard when not done properly. This causes a good amount of damage to the trail.
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Post by pjax on Nov 26, 2006 20:49:31 GMT 8
so use the front brakes and NEVER SKID. pro riders NEVER SKID unless trying to skid their rear wheels on purpose, to change directions perhaps remember coefficient of kinetic friction is less than that of static friction |
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mountainmark
Free Rider
"Deus Patria Mons Montis"
Posts: 353
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Post by mountainmark on Nov 27, 2006 16:28:53 GMT 8
hmmmm is this a suicidal ride?? want to go faster? hmmmm let me think??? remove the front and rare brake and make it SS and pedal hard as you can during downhill and better ride with a pitbull at the back maybe this could help you a lot.. hehehee |
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Post by denise648 on Nov 27, 2006 22:47:07 GMT 8
hmmmm is this a suicidal ride?? want to go faster? hmmmm let me think??? remove the front and rare brake and make it SS and pedal hard as you can during downhill and better ride with a pitbull at the back maybe this could help you a lot.. hehehee Ey sir mountainmark, may I add to this one, set your tires to a sleek one, and make the pitbul a pair of 2 or 3 he he he ;D ;D ;D . |
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Post by denise648 on Nov 27, 2006 22:49:45 GMT 8
How about weights! I mean, carry a heavy back pack or some sort of sandbag on your feet, arms, hands?
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Post by pjax on Dec 1, 2006 22:06:24 GMT 8
slicks... ouch |
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Post by Ben Dover on Dec 5, 2006 10:31:23 GMT 8
just imagine you stole the bike from hannibal lecter |
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mountainmark
Free Rider
"Deus Patria Mons Montis"
Posts: 353
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Post by mountainmark on Dec 5, 2006 13:38:38 GMT 8
but seriously speaking... for me its not a matter of how fast you ride with your bike but how long can u stay with your bike? just enhance ur endurance in biking and fast rider will just left you for the starting but after an hour of pedaling that fast rider will be at ur behind, just like the story of the turtle and the rabbit? the question will be now how to increase ur endurance? a simple practice that turns into a hardcore soon, that perhaps made you not just a fast rider but a strong rider. |
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Post by arcireyes on Dec 5, 2006 13:49:20 GMT 8
i second mountainmark's opinion. if we want to enjoy our weekend recreational XC mtbiking(which i believe most of us are), we should focus more on developing our stamina and endurance to be able to reach and enjoy the view on top. it's not a matter of speed, it's a matter of being able to last the full ride distance, specially if the ride is full of unforgiving uphill stretches.
but if you're into XC racing, of course it's another story.
enjoy and ride safe!
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Post by Ben Dover on Dec 5, 2006 14:42:04 GMT 8
i think the original post is more about handling skill...the fastest and safest way of getting from point A to point B..overcoming your fears by telling yourself that speed is your friend, it is good, it brings stability, in short good for your health endurance or the staying power is another thing...regular bikers (fun riders) like us dont "normally" train for this...we "slowly" gain endurance thru regular weekend rides with friends etc. although i share some views with mark and arci regarding the topic, i believe that you are not going to gain much improvement in your endurance by staying within your comfort zone...if you want to get out of that plateau, sometimes you may need to ride hard...ride as fast as you can..floor the pedal hangang halos mahimatay ka...learn some technical riding too...believe me you'll get out of the trail a lot fresher than most. |
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Post by whoopi on Dec 5, 2006 15:19:45 GMT 8
you can go even faster if you switch to a heavier gear. you can't sustain a heavy gear if you don't have strong legs. you develop strong legs (and a taste for heavy gears) by riding single speed. riding single speed is a descent into darkness. may the almighty have mercy on your soul. ;D
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