Showing posts sorted by relevance for query santos. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query santos. Sort by date Show all posts
Monday, December 2, 2013
Santos IMBA Ride Center
The Santos is a huge trails system in Ocala Florida. Including the marked in progress trails I did rides over 54 miles long(5.25 hours. Most of the mileage are on easy trails, with a significant amount on intermediate trails. The advanced trails are in the minority, but are pretty sweet. I put them together in a loop that only doubled back on the fire road going into and out of the Vortex. It starts at the Santos trail head and took about an hour and a half. Pine east to Cow Bone, which flows so nicely into Magic Mountain, that really continues best, right on Rattlesnake Ridge, jump back on to Cow Bone to get to Anthill, take that around to DR Ruth (very briefly, to get to John Brown, including the bench cut along the blue highway to the pit, back to the the Blue Highway (left) to Intermediate Bunny Trail, West Pine takes you over to the Vortex trail head. After a loop of Vortex, back out to Dog Bone south to Dog Bone north, get you to Twister, Puppy, Dog Bone west, Canopy, Speedway connect you to Shorty, a bit of DR Ruth to get you to Sink hole in my favorite direction. Marshmallow to Pine west gets you back to the trail head.
OMBA has a well marked trail system and a super Google Map of the Santos Trails
Short with all the advanced (Red) sections. Facebook Page
Long mostly easy trails with some intermediate and in process trails to keep it interesting.
Santos
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Santos IMBA Epic mostly Plus
I wanted to get in the whole thing and rode the trails out to where the orange flagged trail ends, near the Marion County-Dunnellon Airport. The trail out that way is very rough in places and dug up by wild pigs in others, it was just not that fun. So when I got to the end I took the limestone road back to route 200. It is called the Tricycle trail. Except for the pigs, it does seem more ridden in than last March, but it could use a few hundred wheels on it. I chose Paisley Woods and San Felasco as my other long days, to keep this fresh, as I did a good chunk of the Santos Epict a few weeks ago. Ern N Burn and Nayles trail are worth the trip for sure. Lots of rollers of all sizes, with lots of tight twists and turns over rooty terrain, with the occasional moon rock thrown in for ambience. For shear distance and variety, the Santos epic ride is tough to beat!
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Santos Kwik Stats
After feeling off for a few days, Touch of the flu maybe. I rechristened the Ferrous as a Single Speed again. Still had the 22 on the back, from when I entertained SSing Pisgah. So, I wanted to keep it between one and two hours today. Tammy has the flu for sure and I didn't want to be wrecked. What to do all the Black Diamonds near the main trail head, hit twister to get er over an hour, but skipped Vortex for now. Cow Bone to warm up, Magic Mt into Rattlesnake around to Anthill to John Brown. Then out Bunny to get to Twister, Canopy to Speedway to my favorite( in this direction) Sinkhole. Then a all of Dr Ruth to do John Brown, Magic Mt and Cow Bone the other way.
Up Coming event 12 Hours of Santos
I original post on Santos
Up Coming event 12 Hours of Santos
I original post on Santos
Thursday, January 30, 2014
6 and 12 hours of Santos
As I sit here in Florida, in what feels like the New Jersey winter weather I most despised, 32 to 50 degrees, damp and rainy, I may have caught a bug and not that flu that my wife and everyone else seems to have. No I am talking about the Racing Bug. I was thinking about doing either the 6 hours on a geared bike or the 12 on a Single Speed. I didn't see a 6 hour class for SS class listed on the website, but both the online registration and the downloadable form has a SS class listed for the 6 hour event.
Conversely, the website listed a 12 hour SS class.
That is fine by me. I really wanted to race my SS, but not for 12 hours.
In order to use Vortex, the split it in two. From the Strava files I have seen, it looks like one part is ran in reverse order. As Vortex is a one way only trail, that presents problems for pre riding. As it turned out, it was quite empty before noon on Tuesday. So I snuck in 3 laps, of my best guess of the reverse portion was, before riders started to hit the trail.
I rode with Jim Matthews at Tussey ridge, near State College, PA last May. On Facebook he asked me about SS gear selection after my Santos Post. Here they are: "The 34x22 was crazy low. My log must have been wrong. 20t is good in the Vortex pit and tolerable on the yellow and just fine on Twister." and "The 19 seemed heavy on Twister and the outer green was not faster today realy, than with the 20t. The first lap was 19 seconds faster on the 19t, than the 20. But the 20t had a couple Vortex laps first. Laps 2, 3 and 4 were very similar to the 20t lap"
I like to gear lighter than heavier on a ride of this length, I think the 34x20t will be my gear, if I do this race.
Here are those two Strava Files:
34x22t and 34x20t
34x19t
Santos Map
http://sadlebred.com/2014-races/
http://goneriding.com/index.php/events/2014-events/ccs/13-12hrsantos
12 hour 2014 Flyer
http://omba.org/maps/OMBA_Bike_Trails_Map_Jan_2012.gif
https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/halpata.html
https://www.facebook.com/groups/OcalaMtBikeAssn/
OMBA Trailheads
OMBA Epic
http://ocalabicyclecenter.com/map.cfm?ID=1
Conversely, the website listed a 12 hour SS class.
That is fine by me. I really wanted to race my SS, but not for 12 hours.
In order to use Vortex, the split it in two. From the Strava files I have seen, it looks like one part is ran in reverse order. As Vortex is a one way only trail, that presents problems for pre riding. As it turned out, it was quite empty before noon on Tuesday. So I snuck in 3 laps, of my best guess of the reverse portion was, before riders started to hit the trail.
I rode with Jim Matthews at Tussey ridge, near State College, PA last May. On Facebook he asked me about SS gear selection after my Santos Post. Here they are: "The 34x22 was crazy low. My log must have been wrong. 20t is good in the Vortex pit and tolerable on the yellow and just fine on Twister." and "The 19 seemed heavy on Twister and the outer green was not faster today realy, than with the 20t. The first lap was 19 seconds faster on the 19t, than the 20. But the 20t had a couple Vortex laps first. Laps 2, 3 and 4 were very similar to the 20t lap"
I like to gear lighter than heavier on a ride of this length, I think the 34x20t will be my gear, if I do this race.
Here are those two Strava Files:
34x22t and 34x20t
34x19t
Santos Map
http://sadlebred.com/2014-races/
http://goneriding.com/index.php/events/2014-events/ccs/13-12hrsantos
12 hour 2014 Flyer
http://omba.org/maps/OMBA_Bike_Trails_Map_Jan_2012.gif
https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/halpata.html
https://www.facebook.com/groups/OcalaMtBikeAssn/
OMBA Trailheads
OMBA Epic
http://ocalabicyclecenter.com/map.cfm?ID=1
Friday, February 28, 2014
Games Loop/UWF Pensacola Florida
If you are ever near Pensacola, and need to get in a ride, check these trails out. Don't let the No Trespassing signs throw you. The sandy Trailhead parking lot is to the right, with it's entrance right before the first No Trespassing sign, this is the UWF side, the Games side is directly across from that entrance with a closed gate. It was not obvious, there were no TH parking signs. Nor were there trail markers pointing to the Games side, until you get past the gate. The directions from SingleTracks.com were spot on though.
The trails are marked well with really nicely carved and painted wooden posts. The posts are Supplemented with the original arrows and blazes. There are a lot of cross trails that lead into the pits and stunts on the Games Side. The UWF has less of that, but there is an unmarked turn, that probably goes to the 10 mile TH and once you get to the far end, you get a red arrow to turn you on to a power line or fire road for a short bit. But the wooded posts keep you on the the fun stuff for the most part, just don't overthink it, like I tend to do the first time out. Just don't turn unless there is something pointing you in that direction. The one exception is in the Bayou on the Whiskey trail. The trails old flow is the the left, but there is a right turn at a piece of orange tape. You don't want to miss the WTF section, more on that later. If you hit the Dogs trail, you just missed WTF!
Both sides handle water/rain very well. It is said that they are actually better after a good rain. The first time I rode these trails, was the day after a good couple days of rain. The Games side hardly had a wet spot on the single track. There were some big puddles on the fire road and the clay in the pits looked wet in places. The UWF side was similar, but the elevation change actually had runs that flowed the water to low spots, that still had standing water even two days after the rain. Both sides had a enough pine needles laid down to keep you on your toes! The UWF side seemed to roll faster the Games loop, that first ride after the previous days rain. The 2nd time, two days after rain, the Games loop rolled faster than the first time.
At about 11 miles, Orange marks the outer Games Loop, it is mostly easy, with some intermediate sections. Mainly big V-gulches, some with bridges at various heights, some at the top, some almost at the bottom, this section is aptly named Donkey Kong. The Blue trail is about 6 miles with milder intermediate sections and the Pink trail is 3 miles of the easier single track. The XC trail loops around a pit like in Santos. This pit is mostly drop ins, dirt jumps and wooden stunts, including a one story tall start ramp, leading down to bridge like drop into a set of dirt and wood ramps jumps. The pit area seems to be in a constant state of evolution, with new features among the old, as well as discarded stunts scattered about. Unlike Santos that is constantly changing but always seems complete! I saw enough rotted bridges and stunts on old decommissioned trails (often right next to or criss crossing the active trails), that made me pay special attention every time I rode over any wood structure! All active bridges on the XC trails were solid though. I rode the XC trails mostly, but dabbled in the Twister section a bit. There was a center ridge with barely enough room for the the trail tread. Several drops fell from either side of the ridge. It was pretty cool. Outside the pit there are some mild climbs that fuel some of the twisty single track downward slants. The Games loop is a good warm up for the UWF trails across the street at the Trailhead.
The University of West Florida trails has four loops, Red, Blue, Green and White. The longest loop is all of Blue at about 12 miles. At over 1000 feet UWF has more than double the elevation change of the full Orange Games loop and more than you would expect in Florida. The trails seem to always be going up or down and rarely a straight section. Plenty of rooty stepped climbs and descents. One local wished it was cut with more flow, but I like the raw, rugged natural old school feel to much of the system. he also clued me in on the Whiskey/Tango/Foxtrot or WTF section. Very twisty with a couple good change up surprises, such as a flow into a short steep climb that fades away to the left and drops immediately into a 10 foot V-gulch, completely boarded. You'll want to do it again. Except for probably the most drastic change up on Foxtrot near the fence line. After a few short moderate to steep rooted climbs, you drop down say 10 feet into the bottom of a steep 15-20 foot wall, with a big cement block semi-protruding from the dirt, with a hard left at the top. I made it all 3 times that I did it and am not sure quite how, especially on the SS with a 34x19 gear. Keep your speed up and get around or over that cement block and you got it!
There are 2 mile(Yellow), 5 mile(Green), 9 mile(White) and 10.5mile(Red) options as well.
http://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/uwf-mountain-bike-trails.html
http://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/bump-trails.html
http://porc.org/localtrails.htm
Add your Comments below and share it on your favorite Social media if you like it.
The trails are marked well with really nicely carved and painted wooden posts. The posts are Supplemented with the original arrows and blazes. There are a lot of cross trails that lead into the pits and stunts on the Games Side. The UWF has less of that, but there is an unmarked turn, that probably goes to the 10 mile TH and once you get to the far end, you get a red arrow to turn you on to a power line or fire road for a short bit. But the wooded posts keep you on the the fun stuff for the most part, just don't overthink it, like I tend to do the first time out. Just don't turn unless there is something pointing you in that direction. The one exception is in the Bayou on the Whiskey trail. The trails old flow is the the left, but there is a right turn at a piece of orange tape. You don't want to miss the WTF section, more on that later. If you hit the Dogs trail, you just missed WTF!
Both sides handle water/rain very well. It is said that they are actually better after a good rain. The first time I rode these trails, was the day after a good couple days of rain. The Games side hardly had a wet spot on the single track. There were some big puddles on the fire road and the clay in the pits looked wet in places. The UWF side was similar, but the elevation change actually had runs that flowed the water to low spots, that still had standing water even two days after the rain. Both sides had a enough pine needles laid down to keep you on your toes! The UWF side seemed to roll faster the Games loop, that first ride after the previous days rain. The 2nd time, two days after rain, the Games loop rolled faster than the first time.
At about 11 miles, Orange marks the outer Games Loop, it is mostly easy, with some intermediate sections. Mainly big V-gulches, some with bridges at various heights, some at the top, some almost at the bottom, this section is aptly named Donkey Kong. The Blue trail is about 6 miles with milder intermediate sections and the Pink trail is 3 miles of the easier single track. The XC trail loops around a pit like in Santos. This pit is mostly drop ins, dirt jumps and wooden stunts, including a one story tall start ramp, leading down to bridge like drop into a set of dirt and wood ramps jumps. The pit area seems to be in a constant state of evolution, with new features among the old, as well as discarded stunts scattered about. Unlike Santos that is constantly changing but always seems complete! I saw enough rotted bridges and stunts on old decommissioned trails (often right next to or criss crossing the active trails), that made me pay special attention every time I rode over any wood structure! All active bridges on the XC trails were solid though. I rode the XC trails mostly, but dabbled in the Twister section a bit. There was a center ridge with barely enough room for the the trail tread. Several drops fell from either side of the ridge. It was pretty cool. Outside the pit there are some mild climbs that fuel some of the twisty single track downward slants. The Games loop is a good warm up for the UWF trails across the street at the Trailhead.
The University of West Florida trails has four loops, Red, Blue, Green and White. The longest loop is all of Blue at about 12 miles. At over 1000 feet UWF has more than double the elevation change of the full Orange Games loop and more than you would expect in Florida. The trails seem to always be going up or down and rarely a straight section. Plenty of rooty stepped climbs and descents. One local wished it was cut with more flow, but I like the raw, rugged natural old school feel to much of the system. he also clued me in on the Whiskey/Tango/Foxtrot or WTF section. Very twisty with a couple good change up surprises, such as a flow into a short steep climb that fades away to the left and drops immediately into a 10 foot V-gulch, completely boarded. You'll want to do it again. Except for probably the most drastic change up on Foxtrot near the fence line. After a few short moderate to steep rooted climbs, you drop down say 10 feet into the bottom of a steep 15-20 foot wall, with a big cement block semi-protruding from the dirt, with a hard left at the top. I made it all 3 times that I did it and am not sure quite how, especially on the SS with a 34x19 gear. Keep your speed up and get around or over that cement block and you got it!
There are 2 mile(Yellow), 5 mile(Green), 9 mile(White) and 10.5mile(Red) options as well.
http://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/uwf-mountain-bike-trails.html
http://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/bump-trails.html
http://porc.org/localtrails.htm
Add your Comments below and share it on your favorite Social media if you like it.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Paisley Woods Florida
Santos is plenty fun, but I needed a change of venue, to switch things up for my long ride. Even the green trails at Santos are fairly twisty, which is more fun in general, but makes it harder to do sustained endurance riding, when you are accelerating out of turn after turn. Most riders are not concerned with this. But if you are and would rather not get your long ride on the road, Paisley Woods certainly fits the bill. The main loop is about 19 miles with a half a mile feeder. There is a cut off to make a half loop. I was running about hour and a half laps, so multiple laps are need to get the higher durations. The Paisley Woods trail has a different feel in each direction, so between that and the half loop you can put most any duration rides together without getting bored. Don't get me wrong this trail is like 90% flowy singletrack.
Wider tires, such as 2.35 or 2.4s work best in the occasional sugar sand. I got to try out a 2.35 Maxxis Ikon up front for the first time. I have had it for a while, but was waiting for a tire to wear out. I switched back to the 2.2 for the half lap at the end to compare. Even at the same 20 psi the 2.35 felt less harsh and I should be able to run even softer.
Wider tires, such as 2.35 or 2.4s work best in the occasional sugar sand. I got to try out a 2.35 Maxxis Ikon up front for the first time. I have had it for a while, but was waiting for a tire to wear out. I switched back to the 2.2 for the half lap at the end to compare. Even at the same 20 psi the 2.35 felt less harsh and I should be able to run even softer.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Bruce and Lois
Bruce, messaged Tammy and asked for some medium rides, for a trip they are planning later in the year. Years ago back in Jersey, Bruce and Lois helped me through a tough period in my life and helped keep me riding after I got slow and fat and depressed. I don't know if they know how much it helped. I have had many friends that seem to come into and out of my life. I like to think of it as our paths coming together for a while, before they diverge. Even when I met, Bruce and Lois had been riding for many decades and liked somewhat technical riding and would not interested in Strava KOMs or accumulated feet of climbing. Just having a good ride. There have been times that they had to put the Mountain Bikes away for various reasons. It is good to see them even planning such a trip, leaving sunny California.
I would recommend the following Epics:
Kansas Switchgrass
Kerr Scott, North Carolina
Dupont State Park, North Carolina
Ocoee Trail, Tennessee
Big South Fork, Tennessee
Rock Lake, Cable, Wisconsin
Levis-Trow Mounds Wisconsin
Cuyuna Lakes, Minnesota
Alafia River State Park, Florida
Santos, Florida
MOCO Epic, Maryland
Maah Daah Hey, North Dakota
But only well after a rain and when it is not scorching hot, kind of a small window in the end July, early August I guess.
Copper Harbor, Michigan
This does have some tough climbs, but they are not too long. But it may be my favorite trail system yet.
For rides not on the IBMA list:
Redbug Lake Overstreet Tallahassee, Florida
San-Lee Sanford North Carolina
Tannehill Forge Alabama
Add your Comments below and share it on your favorite Social media if you like it.
I would recommend the following Epics:
Kansas Switchgrass
Kerr Scott, North Carolina
Dupont State Park, North Carolina
Ocoee Trail, Tennessee
Big South Fork, Tennessee
Rock Lake, Cable, Wisconsin
Levis-Trow Mounds Wisconsin
Cuyuna Lakes, Minnesota
Alafia River State Park, Florida
Santos, Florida
MOCO Epic, Maryland
Maah Daah Hey, North Dakota
But only well after a rain and when it is not scorching hot, kind of a small window in the end July, early August I guess.
Copper Harbor, Michigan
This does have some tough climbs, but they are not too long. But it may be my favorite trail system yet.
For rides not on the IBMA list:
Redbug Lake Overstreet Tallahassee, Florida
San-Lee Sanford North Carolina
Tannehill Forge Alabama
Add your Comments below and share it on your favorite Social media if you like it.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Caught in the Vortex
Lynskey SS shake down run and gear selection run. Comment below if you want to know what gear I settled on for 6 hours of Santos this weekend.
Uncharacteristic of me, I have not ridden a SS, from when we got to Brevard in October till just a couple weeks ago when we got to Ocala. The Ferrous was still apart, from when I put the drive train on the Lynskey to race Swank now both are Single speeds (the ferrous just needs a chain adjustment to play back up at the race, if allowed)
Uncharacteristic of me, I have not ridden a SS, from when we got to Brevard in October till just a couple weeks ago when we got to Ocala. The Ferrous was still apart, from when I put the drive train on the Lynskey to race Swank now both are Single speeds (the ferrous just needs a chain adjustment to play back up at the race, if allowed)
Geckos in the Bathroom
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Just checked in at the 6 hours of Santos
Monday, August 26, 2013
Copper Harbor IMBA Epic
Most fun trails yet! Can I back this up?
I think I can. Plenty of elevation gain, but not just up a mountain across a ridge and and back down, like Shenandoah Southern Traverse. Not nearly flat like in Santos or Alafia River State Park.
Nice stiff climbs, that reward you with that gravity gain, every so often. Not a fan of climbing, just wait a few minutes and enjoy a technical descent. Don't like it rough, smooth flowy trail is right around the corner, need to drop in or ride some banked planking, they got you covered. Just got to have a bermy flow trail, they named it The Flow, just so there would be no mistake. You can even choose Daisy Duke for a side dish of table tops and doubles towards the end.
It is weird though, cause I really am not fond of all the planking. particularly banked planking. I watched their video of the Edge and I saw the rider rail it, but I guess it is part of that berm thing I still am working out. Michigan, like Wisconsin, use a lot of planking. Going down Stairway to Heaven, had me say "Here We Go", ironically the name of my favorite downhill trail here, followed closely by the red trail. Stairway to Heaven, had me thanking a deity when I finally made it to that nasty rock drop at the end, of which I was much more comfortable with! Those twists and turns while gaining speed or trying not to lock up the rear tire, rivaled any pucker factor I can remember. AND it is a two way trail. Luckily, out of 3 times down, I only came across one rider coming up. He stopped and luckily again, it was one of the few places that you could step off the planking with less than a 2 foot drop or greater. I would vote for this one becoming one way.
While the IMBA Epic loop described here can be ridden in full, they have taken Paul's plunge and John Lincoln Green off the the map. Deep in the woods there is a sign for Paul's Plunge, but I saw nothing for John Lincoln Green (it may be what another map called Kamikaze XC trail).
Note: Go Left, when taking the turn off of Say Hello on to DZA Beet.
There are new trails and with this being one of the shortest Epics, I think some of the new stuff needs to be added to the Epic.
Mango could replace Paul's Plunge altogether. Mango is a funner, well thought out trail. Paul's Plunge is old school and could be prone to erosion. While Paul's Plunge is still there, but taken off the map, it is best if Mango takes the majority of the traffic. You will lose about a mile from this already short epic, but add Bullwinkle in to get it back. I put it all together for a still short 14 mile funfest;
Copper Harbor Loop, Garden Brook, Woopidy Woo, Bullwinkle, right on Garden Brook, Blue Trail, (do not go to the lodge, go down the water line to) Dza Beet, Here We Go, Ma Maki, Say Hello, left on Dza Beet, Simeh, De Deet, Red Trail, Mango, right on Ma Maki, right on Manganese road, left on Clark Mine Road, left on Pauls Plunge, left at bottom (John Lincoln Green maybe), stay right after the bridge, left on Manganese Road, right on unnamed trail, Ma Maki, Der we Went, Stairway to Heaven, Copper Harbor Loop to Trail Head
Note: Very easy to miss towards the end. Once you start up the Manganese road a steep trail juts off to the right. It is a fall line trail and steep (the only place I needed the granny ring)
Most riders will be happy going left on Ma Maki off of Mango. Paul's Plunge is definitely a double black diamond and the unnamed climb is just to say you are a tough guy!
I wish there was a way to add in The Flow and keep it a loop. There is a slight duplication on Ma Maki as it is. So what's a racer on sabbatical do? He does three 11 minute intervals up Brockway mountain road, then took a right down The Flow twice, Daisy Duke on one of them. And then took a left down The Edge. And filled in with things I missed the previous ride and tried some things in reverse.
Race Memorial Day Weekend http://www.keweenawadventure.com/fat_tire.htm
I followed Dave down the red trail to get this video:
Here are some links that might help you out:
http://www.copperharbortrails.org/trails
http://www.imba.com/epics/copper-harbor-trails
http://trailgenius.com/trail-genius-map/copper-harbor-trails
http://www.keweenawadventure.com/CH_trail_map_1000.jpg
http://trails.mtbr.com/cat/united-states-trails/trails-michigan/trail/copper-harbor-pathway/prd_325209_4555crx.aspx
http://www.moronacity.com/images/Copper_Harbor/red_trail.html
http://www.moronacity.com/images/Copper_Harbor/dancing_bear.html
http://www.moronacity.com/images/Copper_Harbor/pauls_plunge.html
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=jl
http://www.moronacity.com/images/Copper_Harbor/
http://www.copperharbortrails.org/trails
I think I can. Plenty of elevation gain, but not just up a mountain across a ridge and and back down, like Shenandoah Southern Traverse. Not nearly flat like in Santos or Alafia River State Park.
Nice stiff climbs, that reward you with that gravity gain, every so often. Not a fan of climbing, just wait a few minutes and enjoy a technical descent. Don't like it rough, smooth flowy trail is right around the corner, need to drop in or ride some banked planking, they got you covered. Just got to have a bermy flow trail, they named it The Flow, just so there would be no mistake. You can even choose Daisy Duke for a side dish of table tops and doubles towards the end.
It is weird though, cause I really am not fond of all the planking. particularly banked planking. I watched their video of the Edge and I saw the rider rail it, but I guess it is part of that berm thing I still am working out. Michigan, like Wisconsin, use a lot of planking. Going down Stairway to Heaven, had me say "Here We Go", ironically the name of my favorite downhill trail here, followed closely by the red trail. Stairway to Heaven, had me thanking a deity when I finally made it to that nasty rock drop at the end, of which I was much more comfortable with! Those twists and turns while gaining speed or trying not to lock up the rear tire, rivaled any pucker factor I can remember. AND it is a two way trail. Luckily, out of 3 times down, I only came across one rider coming up. He stopped and luckily again, it was one of the few places that you could step off the planking with less than a 2 foot drop or greater. I would vote for this one becoming one way.
While the IMBA Epic loop described here can be ridden in full, they have taken Paul's plunge and John Lincoln Green off the the map. Deep in the woods there is a sign for Paul's Plunge, but I saw nothing for John Lincoln Green (it may be what another map called Kamikaze XC trail).
Note: Go Left, when taking the turn off of Say Hello on to DZA Beet.
There are new trails and with this being one of the shortest Epics, I think some of the new stuff needs to be added to the Epic.
Mango could replace Paul's Plunge altogether. Mango is a funner, well thought out trail. Paul's Plunge is old school and could be prone to erosion. While Paul's Plunge is still there, but taken off the map, it is best if Mango takes the majority of the traffic. You will lose about a mile from this already short epic, but add Bullwinkle in to get it back. I put it all together for a still short 14 mile funfest;
Copper Harbor Loop, Garden Brook, Woopidy Woo, Bullwinkle, right on Garden Brook, Blue Trail, (do not go to the lodge, go down the water line to) Dza Beet, Here We Go, Ma Maki, Say Hello, left on Dza Beet, Simeh, De Deet, Red Trail, Mango, right on Ma Maki, right on Manganese road, left on Clark Mine Road, left on Pauls Plunge, left at bottom (John Lincoln Green maybe), stay right after the bridge, left on Manganese Road, right on unnamed trail, Ma Maki, Der we Went, Stairway to Heaven, Copper Harbor Loop to Trail Head
Note: Very easy to miss towards the end. Once you start up the Manganese road a steep trail juts off to the right. It is a fall line trail and steep (the only place I needed the granny ring)
Most riders will be happy going left on Ma Maki off of Mango. Paul's Plunge is definitely a double black diamond and the unnamed climb is just to say you are a tough guy!
I wish there was a way to add in The Flow and keep it a loop. There is a slight duplication on Ma Maki as it is. So what's a racer on sabbatical do? He does three 11 minute intervals up Brockway mountain road, then took a right down The Flow twice, Daisy Duke on one of them. And then took a left down The Edge. And filled in with things I missed the previous ride and tried some things in reverse.
Race Memorial Day Weekend http://www.keweenawadventure.com/fat_tire.htm
I followed Dave down the red trail to get this video:
Here are some links that might help you out:
http://www.copperharbortrails.org/trails
http://www.imba.com/epics/copper-harbor-trails
http://trailgenius.com/trail-genius-map/copper-harbor-trails
http://www.keweenawadventure.com/CH_trail_map_1000.jpg
http://trails.mtbr.com/cat/united-states-trails/trails-michigan/trail/copper-harbor-pathway/prd_325209_4555crx.aspx
http://www.moronacity.com/images/Copper_Harbor/red_trail.html
http://www.moronacity.com/images/Copper_Harbor/dancing_bear.html
http://www.moronacity.com/images/Copper_Harbor/pauls_plunge.html
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=jl
http://www.moronacity.com/images/Copper_Harbor/
http://www.copperharbortrails.org/trails
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Bethel Biloxi Mississippi
Always looking for 20-40 miles of riding, I saw Bethel in Singletracks.com, listed 30 miles. Well that was an error or old info. The Directions are for the northern Trailhead, which is now for Motorcycles and ATVs. I put in a correction to Single Tracks, so it may be accurate when you read this. There may have been 30 miles when the north trails were for bicycles and the south was for motorcycles and ATVs. A few years ago, to keep everybody happy, things were switched around. So while there is a Bicycle TH sign of of Bethel rd to the north, after a fair ways on a graded dirt road, you come to an unmarked clearing with only a couple orange arrows and ATV tracks on the trail. The current TH is just a short way up FSR 426, just off of route 15, with a map kiosk, cinder block restroom, picnic table and fire ring (bring your own H2O). Located in the De Soto National Forest, it is easy to feel that you are nowhere near civilisation. Strange how quickly that happens after leaving Biloxi Mississippi.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/gulfcoastbicycleclub/
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There are currently between 19 and 20 miles of mountain biking at Bethel, with only one on the forest service road and another on old double track. I bumped into and rode with Tracy and John from Bethel Mountain Bike Trail Group. Tracy said there were plans to replace the fireroad between the Couch and the Badlands, trail with single track. While there are no bluff on the Badlands trail, the tall grass was reminiscent of the Maah Daah Hey, though it was named for the oppressive heat in summer due to the lack of shade, also much like the MDH of North Dakota. The sandy soil handles rain much better than the slough of the MDH, Tracy pointed out several places that used to be big drainage problems, that they had successfully ameliorated. Some bridges were replaced with spaced pavers on the bottom of the washes. Different sections of the country have different views on paver is the water crossing, I am not sure why, yet. There are a just a few places that still hold water. Pavers have also been used make berms, in certain fast corners to firm up the sand. There is still sand inside the turns so those die hard old school riders can still play in the sandbox and get their sand on! They are also working on new sand management methods.
To me the trails have an old school, natural feel, not overly manicured, yet well maintained. Some sections flow and some corners test your skills more than others, a nice mix. Pine needles made themselves known as well, they have good traction up to a point and then just slide out!
No big elevation here, about 1k for the Full Monty. But it is not as flat as the non-pit sections of Santos, more like Paisley in north central Florida. It is more akin to the Games loop in Pensacola FL(but longer), which is not surprising as they are so geographically close to each other, even down to the touch of clay. But not the elevation change of UWF, just across the street from the Games loop.
You won't find pump or jump tracks or pits, just good old fashioned singletrack, with enough personality change from trail to trail to keep it interesting. There is a nice section of Couch that follows the Tuxachanie river. The system can be done as one big loop or shortened at several places that cross the main fire road or FSR 426 or a trail aptly called Bail Out. All the major intersections are well marked, most with a map with a "YOU ARE HERE" star. The only tough spot is the Clay climb, which is basically a stair case for giants. It suffers from erosion, so a much more gradual switchback was made around it. There are may water drainage, mainly dips between humps and usually small, though a few bigger ones sneak up on you.
They have a really cool Google Earth map for your smartphone. You need the Google earth App on your phone to open it, but once you load it, it uses your phones GPS signal to show you where you are on the map, regardless of cell reception! Pretty darn cool.
Here are some videos
There are a few other trails that are available like these from SAMBA
Standard trail Map
http://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/bethel-bike-trails.html
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BethelMountainBikeTrailGroup
http://www.gulfcoastbicycleclub.com/index.htmlYou won't find pump or jump tracks or pits, just good old fashioned singletrack, with enough personality change from trail to trail to keep it interesting. There is a nice section of Couch that follows the Tuxachanie river. The system can be done as one big loop or shortened at several places that cross the main fire road or FSR 426 or a trail aptly called Bail Out. All the major intersections are well marked, most with a map with a "YOU ARE HERE" star. The only tough spot is the Clay climb, which is basically a stair case for giants. It suffers from erosion, so a much more gradual switchback was made around it. There are may water drainage, mainly dips between humps and usually small, though a few bigger ones sneak up on you.
They have a really cool Google Earth map for your smartphone. You need the Google earth App on your phone to open it, but once you load it, it uses your phones GPS signal to show you where you are on the map, regardless of cell reception! Pretty darn cool.
Here are some videos
There are a few other trails that are available like these from SAMBA
Standard trail Map
http://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/bethel-bike-trails.html
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BethelMountainBikeTrailGroup
https://www.facebook.com/groups/gulfcoastbicycleclub/
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Friday, February 7, 2014
San Felasco Hammock Preserve, Gainesville
Do you like riding for hours of curvy, natural feeling single track, in old growth pines with great visibility of what is coming around the next curve? Well I do. Heck I even the first loop, Cellon Creek, had me grinning. With 8 miles,Tung Nuts is the anchor of the system. Need some hill repeats without repeating a hill? Then hit Conquistador.
If you're looking for gravity feed, feature rich, jumping and hard tech, look elsewhere.
Cruisin through an Endor like forest of tall pines, with hardly a palm frond or scrub to be block your view around corners, really lets lets you open it up and let her rip. Unlike most of Florida, where it is either flat or pit, there are enough hills to work climbing and use gravity to work your corners faster than pedaling speed.
My favorite was the Hidden hills Loop, I kept expecting a mountain to emerge from what seemed like foothills. But wait I am in Florida, right?!
Any downside? My personal compulsion to make everything a big loop is not possible here, most loops lollipop off of another.
Considering how well the far end of the park is marked, I had a little trouble following the core trail, Tung Nut. I think that some of the signs need to be replaced. Particularly where feeder trails come in. Likewise, I kind of had to hunt and peck and look at the map intently, for the two feeders to Conquistador.
I believe they are working on a new map, as the current map looks kind of like a flow chart. Which might be for the best as an exact rendering my might be hard to follow. See my Strava file below. The map does put loops in their relative location to each other, pretty well though.
I feel like this system is between Paisley and Santo (excluding the pits) in terms of ripping twisty trail. Paisley was more steady state, Santos was as twisty, but you can see others coming form the other way much better at San Felasco. Plus you got some non-pit hill climbing to boot.
A small note on flow. I really enjoyed the flow of these trails. I have read reviews that said they did not. These trails have a very natural feel to them. The trail builders really put these trails together well. You won't find a man made berm, although a couple natural berms have been incorporated into the system. If you have read some of my other articles, you will know that I prefer more natural trails. Berms can be fun, but I had to unlearn how to take a corner, as the berm does the work for you. Being able to flow natural trails at blasting speed is where it is at. Learn to corner and fly.
I found out about San Felasco Hammock Preserve, Gainesville, in an article on Single Tracks.
http://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/sanfalasco.html
http://www.sanfelasco.net/docs/SanFelascoBikeTrails11-2013.pdf
http://www.sanfelasco.net/index.shtml
If you're looking for gravity feed, feature rich, jumping and hard tech, look elsewhere.
Cruisin through an Endor like forest of tall pines, with hardly a palm frond or scrub to be block your view around corners, really lets lets you open it up and let her rip. Unlike most of Florida, where it is either flat or pit, there are enough hills to work climbing and use gravity to work your corners faster than pedaling speed.
My favorite was the Hidden hills Loop, I kept expecting a mountain to emerge from what seemed like foothills. But wait I am in Florida, right?!
Any downside? My personal compulsion to make everything a big loop is not possible here, most loops lollipop off of another.
Considering how well the far end of the park is marked, I had a little trouble following the core trail, Tung Nut. I think that some of the signs need to be replaced. Particularly where feeder trails come in. Likewise, I kind of had to hunt and peck and look at the map intently, for the two feeders to Conquistador.
I believe they are working on a new map, as the current map looks kind of like a flow chart. Which might be for the best as an exact rendering my might be hard to follow. See my Strava file below. The map does put loops in their relative location to each other, pretty well though.
I feel like this system is between Paisley and Santo (excluding the pits) in terms of ripping twisty trail. Paisley was more steady state, Santos was as twisty, but you can see others coming form the other way much better at San Felasco. Plus you got some non-pit hill climbing to boot.
A small note on flow. I really enjoyed the flow of these trails. I have read reviews that said they did not. These trails have a very natural feel to them. The trail builders really put these trails together well. You won't find a man made berm, although a couple natural berms have been incorporated into the system. If you have read some of my other articles, you will know that I prefer more natural trails. Berms can be fun, but I had to unlearn how to take a corner, as the berm does the work for you. Being able to flow natural trails at blasting speed is where it is at. Learn to corner and fly.
http://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/sanfalasco.html
http://www.sanfelasco.net/docs/SanFelascoBikeTrails11-2013.pdf
http://www.sanfelasco.net/index.shtml
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Monday, February 10, 2014
Two Single Speeds are better than One
I am racing the 6 hours of Santos. But my Ti race bike still had gears since racing Swank. Stripped the shifters, derailleurs and cassette off. I set a third handlebar with just brake levers, so both bikes can be SS at the same time. If the rules allow, I will keep the Ferrous as a pit bike, in case the Lynskey gets a mechanical that would take too long to fix or for spare parts.
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Thursday, March 14, 2013
Sunday, February 23, 2014
6 hours of Santos Single Speed Race Report
I was so concerned about what direction the Red trail in the Vortex pit went, I did not even consider that they would run the Roller Coaster section in reverse. Twister and Dog Bone were run in the other direction as well, which was less of an issue, due to their less technical nature. Also the traffic jam, that was the first lap, gave ample time for recon. Through in a few key hike-a-bikes around bottlenecks and crashes I avoided. Avoiding getting caught up and getting around crashes is a skill in itself.
Le Mans starts are always a treat. I just jogged along the best I could. It felt like half a mile but was probably only a block. I made sure my bike was in a memorable place, that made the jog as short as possible and would not get tangled with another bike. Then about a tenth or three on the wide dirt road before the hard left into the singletrack making a huge bottleneck. It looked like a traffic study in Fort Lee New Jersey. Then later on Twister, two different nasty roots put someone down. After getting around the 2nd crash, I had to close down a pretty sizable gap. Closed the gap just in time to do the Roller Coaster section of Vortex in reverse and the mayhem that it laid down on the unsuspecting riders. This is where some riders first realized what was in store for them. Things were clogged and passing was tough, although some riders did start to allow passes graciously, a trend that continued as the race progressed. OMBA had reworked the end of the Red trail, but ran a short section backwards to get to the field pass-through. That short section was one of 2 places that was steep enough that I planned to pre dismount and hike up. The other was in the Vortex as well, a rooted, stepped, steep up to the big drop in for the dirt jumps. No we did not do the drop! I got around more than one rider that either tried to ride it or had that, WTF look, when they saw it. On one lap, someone called track just before the steep hill that just preceded that walk up. I was on a womans wheel and said not here. She got off before the roots and I did my hike-a-bike thing, I did not hear anyone call track for a while after that. I would catch riders and pass many on the tech of the Red trail. Being shortly after the transition area, many times a new team rider with fresh legs and all full of piss and vinegar, would roll up on me early on the Red trail, call track only succomb to the next steep climb or obstacle. There was little passing on Red, so at some point each lap, you just played follow the leader, until someone slipped up or let you by. Dogbone was another thing altogether. Gearies could usually outpace me and while still limited, opportunities to allow a pass without losing momentum were more available. On Twister those opportunities were less, but I could carve the corners better than most, so the slightly low gear that was good for 7 laps in the Vortex, allowed me to go fast enough, that few asked to pass. It was interesting that some Gearie team riders just would catch up somewhere on DogBone, then just follow my wheel.
I switched CamelBaks at 2:45, I packed too much ice in it, so it was too cold and sweet. It gave me stomach cramps. Luckily I left a bottle of water on the bike from the start. I had intended to ditch it. Glad that I did not. But lap 4 was a bit slow. I was on the rivet on lap 5, cause I was moving on Dog Bone, with a pretty fast rider on my wheel. I would usually rested a bit on Dog Bone, but the cramps were gone, the Powerbar Perform was diluting and oddly enough I was rested from that slower lap. I continued into Twister and stayed on the gas. I paid for it on lap 6 and finally got caught by a single speed rider on Dog Bone. He had a higher gear and pulled away a bit, putting me into what would later prove to be 4th place. I had one of those team riders pacing off of me at the time. I could still see 3rd place as we got into Twister. I knew I could reel him in. When I did we chatted a bit. That is when I found out that only laps under 6 hours counted (could not hear the pre race instructions over the chatter) Hmmm. I knew I was running 47-49 minute laps and that would put the end of lap 6 at about 5 hours 10 minutes, give or take the the Le Mans start, I was going to be tight. I did some quick math and with Twister winding down, I had to make my move. I asked to pass and put the burners on. The announcer seemed surprised, that I was going out for another lap, later another rider went out with 35 to go! I don't think he made it. 4th place finished his 6th lap a couple minutes after me and called it a day. But it was a 6 hour race not a 5 hour and 10 minute race. I thought I could make it, but the math was a little fuzzy after 5 hours of racing, "How long was that Le Mans start?". I looked at the actual time of day and it seemed like my chances were fleeting. A guy comes flying by, on a Single Speed. "It was not that 4th place guy, no couldn't be, he was too fast. Must be a fresh team guy or elite guy running his back up bike, like I saw earlier, was his bike orange, no it was black I think", I thought to myself. Back to my math. With my legs threatening to cramp, my thoughts turn to my wife Tammy, "This can't be as bad as she feels almost all the time, you can buck up and work through these measly cramps!" I refocused and just went for it. I was back to the pit and onto Roller Coaster, coming up on some slow tired riders. "He's not pulling over" It would have been so easy to settle on that pace, "I probably missed the cut off anyway. No, No, ask him to let you pass." "OK go, up the last hike-a-bike, hold it together through those last two tight switchbacks, now press to the the finish line!"
I never noticed where the big clock was, so I had to ask if I made the cut off? The announcer said yes by a couple minutes. Yeah! Sweet!
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Le Mans starts are always a treat. I just jogged along the best I could. It felt like half a mile but was probably only a block. I made sure my bike was in a memorable place, that made the jog as short as possible and would not get tangled with another bike. Then about a tenth or three on the wide dirt road before the hard left into the singletrack making a huge bottleneck. It looked like a traffic study in Fort Lee New Jersey. Then later on Twister, two different nasty roots put someone down. After getting around the 2nd crash, I had to close down a pretty sizable gap. Closed the gap just in time to do the Roller Coaster section of Vortex in reverse and the mayhem that it laid down on the unsuspecting riders. This is where some riders first realized what was in store for them. Things were clogged and passing was tough, although some riders did start to allow passes graciously, a trend that continued as the race progressed. OMBA had reworked the end of the Red trail, but ran a short section backwards to get to the field pass-through. That short section was one of 2 places that was steep enough that I planned to pre dismount and hike up. The other was in the Vortex as well, a rooted, stepped, steep up to the big drop in for the dirt jumps. No we did not do the drop! I got around more than one rider that either tried to ride it or had that, WTF look, when they saw it. On one lap, someone called track just before the steep hill that just preceded that walk up. I was on a womans wheel and said not here. She got off before the roots and I did my hike-a-bike thing, I did not hear anyone call track for a while after that. I would catch riders and pass many on the tech of the Red trail. Being shortly after the transition area, many times a new team rider with fresh legs and all full of piss and vinegar, would roll up on me early on the Red trail, call track only succomb to the next steep climb or obstacle. There was little passing on Red, so at some point each lap, you just played follow the leader, until someone slipped up or let you by. Dogbone was another thing altogether. Gearies could usually outpace me and while still limited, opportunities to allow a pass without losing momentum were more available. On Twister those opportunities were less, but I could carve the corners better than most, so the slightly low gear that was good for 7 laps in the Vortex, allowed me to go fast enough, that few asked to pass. It was interesting that some Gearie team riders just would catch up somewhere on DogBone, then just follow my wheel.
I switched CamelBaks at 2:45, I packed too much ice in it, so it was too cold and sweet. It gave me stomach cramps. Luckily I left a bottle of water on the bike from the start. I had intended to ditch it. Glad that I did not. But lap 4 was a bit slow. I was on the rivet on lap 5, cause I was moving on Dog Bone, with a pretty fast rider on my wheel. I would usually rested a bit on Dog Bone, but the cramps were gone, the Powerbar Perform was diluting and oddly enough I was rested from that slower lap. I continued into Twister and stayed on the gas. I paid for it on lap 6 and finally got caught by a single speed rider on Dog Bone. He had a higher gear and pulled away a bit, putting me into what would later prove to be 4th place. I had one of those team riders pacing off of me at the time. I could still see 3rd place as we got into Twister. I knew I could reel him in. When I did we chatted a bit. That is when I found out that only laps under 6 hours counted (could not hear the pre race instructions over the chatter) Hmmm. I knew I was running 47-49 minute laps and that would put the end of lap 6 at about 5 hours 10 minutes, give or take the the Le Mans start, I was going to be tight. I did some quick math and with Twister winding down, I had to make my move. I asked to pass and put the burners on. The announcer seemed surprised, that I was going out for another lap, later another rider went out with 35 to go! I don't think he made it. 4th place finished his 6th lap a couple minutes after me and called it a day. But it was a 6 hour race not a 5 hour and 10 minute race. I thought I could make it, but the math was a little fuzzy after 5 hours of racing, "How long was that Le Mans start?". I looked at the actual time of day and it seemed like my chances were fleeting. A guy comes flying by, on a Single Speed. "It was not that 4th place guy, no couldn't be, he was too fast. Must be a fresh team guy or elite guy running his back up bike, like I saw earlier, was his bike orange, no it was black I think", I thought to myself. Back to my math. With my legs threatening to cramp, my thoughts turn to my wife Tammy, "This can't be as bad as she feels almost all the time, you can buck up and work through these measly cramps!" I refocused and just went for it. I was back to the pit and onto Roller Coaster, coming up on some slow tired riders. "He's not pulling over" It would have been so easy to settle on that pace, "I probably missed the cut off anyway. No, No, ask him to let you pass." "OK go, up the last hike-a-bike, hold it together through those last two tight switchbacks, now press to the the finish line!"
I never noticed where the big clock was, so I had to ask if I made the cut off? The announcer said yes by a couple minutes. Yeah! Sweet!
Sorry this was so long, but it was a 6 hour race after all.
I was 3rd of a small field of 6 Single speeders.
29th out of 115 over all
29th out of 101 men
last to make 7 laps
Only 3 riders made 8 laps
Big Bling
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Sunday, March 31, 2013
Tannehill Kwik Stats 2
I took out my Single Speed on the Tannehill 12 hour race course and the Furnace Quarry trail. The rain was not so hard last night, and the trails held up well after yesterdays 12 hour race, some of it in light rain. I could not quite figure out the start the other day. But it became apparent after watching the race. That is correct I sat this one out. I have done one 12 hour race and it was not the the most fun I have had racing. I prefer two to 6 hour races, going from experience. I also weighed racing against, being wiped out and missing riding for a few days. I rode hard on Friday and had a great time at Oak Mountain. That left some sight seeing time Saturday with Tammy to check out the history that is just packed into this park! The rain was mild enough and there was a nice break, with some sun even, that made for a fun session working on my cornering in somewhat slippery conditions. I rode a berm up to high and smacked a tree pretty good. Even after all these years riding, I see that I can improve my cornering. Leaning into the corner early, keeping the center of my mass towards the center of the curve, knee in even. From a physics stand point, I thought that pointing the knee into the center of the curve took weight off the tire contact patch. As gravity trumps, the inertial forces, measured in G's, that pull you out of a corner, until about 60 mph on pavement on a road bike. But as the coefficient of friction is reduced in a greasy corner, it is easier for that inertia to overcome gravity and make you slide out. With more of your mass inside the corner, it kind of acts like a planet and your bike acts like a spacecraft being slungshot around it. And then if you still manage to slide out, allowing your body to move outwards, brings more weight to the contact patch, yes, but more importantly, I think, it acts like a weight shift, similar to a log hop, just in a different plane, reducing the force pulling your bike to the outside, as your mass, your body moves out and you keep your bike (and tires) tighter in the curve. I practiced this more and more as the lap progressed. I started late and was running out or light, which is good, cause I have a 6 hour drive in the RV pulling the car tomorrow. But I was tempted to get more practice in. Building on the carving I learned in the sand, leaves and pine needles of Alafia, Balm Boyette, Santos, Munson and the Lake Overstreet trails in Florida. I threw in a blast through the slightly wet rocks of on the Furnace Quarry trail, hoping for a little Strava glory!
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Cornering
Ever wonder why some riders just pull away when it gets twisty, even though others might be a more powerful climbers or faster in a the straights?
In mountain biking, you need sufficient fitness and power to weight of course. But without bike handling skills, you will be left in the dust. In this article I will discuss cornering.
There are a couple of camps on cornering. Cross Country or Down Hill/All mountain .
DH and All Mountain riders, generally run full suspension rigs with more travel, wider tires and bars than those used by the XC crowd. They will drop the seat post, unlike XC, where the length of the rides and races preclude standing the whole time. There is debate on whether the energy savings of staying seated is worth more than the aggressive handling that a dropped seat allows. Dropper seat posts are a burgeoning option to do both.
For all turns above tip over speed 4-5 mph, initiating the turn, with a counter steer, weighting the outside grip, momentarily turning slightly opposite the turn, helps set up turning in the direction you want to go.
XC riders and racer, particularly those with a road back ground, will then steer into the turn and by weighting the inside grip and outside pedal(pedaling forward, not backwards to prevent derailing the chain and crossing gears). Not long ago more hardtails than full suspension bikes were found at the races. That ratio has flipped and there are more FS bikes now.
The DH/AM rider will also counter steer and then weight the inside grip, but here is were the dynamics differ. Ala BikeJames and Better rides, you keep your outside foot back to support the weight of the hip swing to the outside weighting that pedal down, akin to carving a ski turn, with a back pedal action.
Lee McCormack, is similar but you go into the corner with the outside foot forward, allowing you to swing your inside knee towards the inside of the corner, allowing a forward pedal to weight the outside foot.
In his article Seb Kemp states a concern that weighting the inside grip,may push the front tire to far to the outside.
I am in the XC camp. You can read below to see how that came about. My style is more of a blend. I run my saddle a little lower than my road bike height, but still in efficient pedaling range. I will slide my but off the saddle slightly to the outside. With the outside foot down, inside leg is up high enough to do this, or even let it move in front of the saddle to get more outside if needed. I keep my upper body close to the bars to weight the front wheel, to maximize traction, with a slight up words roll to the outside. Kind of automatic when you push the inside bar down, while staying close to the bars. But like Seb says don't let the front wheel stray to far outside. I learned pressure on the inside grip method. it comes from road biking where the handlebars are much narrower. So after the counter steer, weight the inside grip to get the lean going in the direction of the turn, then drive the front wheel into the ground with the outside grip. It kind of feels like flying and the handlebars are your wings.
There are times that keeping your pedals level ground, particularly in rough terrain. There is one technical section at the Vortex at Santos in Ocala Florida that I go in to the right and snake left and right in not much more than a bike length. I felt much more stable with the left foot back, because the two right snakes define the feature.
I see a problem with outside pedal back, weight the pedal down is effectively a back pedal. Even with a chain guide upfront, the chain can cross up in back across the the cogs. Sometimes just a nasty noise, sometimes the chain skips or jams, twists or breaks. The hopefully you just stop and not knee the stem or pitch off the bike, ouch.
I was part of a lengthy discussing at Mountain Bike Geezer.
I started to revisit cornering after encountering machine made berms for the first time at Tannehill Alabama, shortly after embarking on this Quest.
I mean man made berms, not the occasional natural banking off of a the base of a tree or the contour trails that cross washes, kills and runs. Now, I have been riding for decades on fire roads and deer trails. Deer don't have much need for berms. I taught myself how to corner after reading Davis Phiney's book "Training For Cycling", oh so many years ago. being a sprinter and not a climber, he used cornering skills regain contact with the peloton on the descents. You can get copies on online cheap.
Berms actually require little technique, at speed. I had to train myself not to do my usual technique on berms. You need to keep your weigh more in line with the bike. You and the bike lean in relationship to the horizon but is nearly perpendicular to to the banked surface. To actually increase your speed, bring your mass to the inside, swing your inside knee in and opening your chest facing it toward the exit of the berm, pushing the bike into the hole that is the apex of the berm and pull the bars back to the chest on exit, pulling a wheelie or almost pulling one. I am starting to get it, letting off the brakes and using as much speed as possible, seems to be the trick.
In mountain biking, you need sufficient fitness and power to weight of course. But without bike handling skills, you will be left in the dust. In this article I will discuss cornering.
There are a couple of camps on cornering. Cross Country or Down Hill/All mountain .
DH and All Mountain riders, generally run full suspension rigs with more travel, wider tires and bars than those used by the XC crowd. They will drop the seat post, unlike XC, where the length of the rides and races preclude standing the whole time. There is debate on whether the energy savings of staying seated is worth more than the aggressive handling that a dropped seat allows. Dropper seat posts are a burgeoning option to do both.
For all turns above tip over speed 4-5 mph, initiating the turn, with a counter steer, weighting the outside grip, momentarily turning slightly opposite the turn, helps set up turning in the direction you want to go.
XC riders and racer, particularly those with a road back ground, will then steer into the turn and by weighting the inside grip and outside pedal(pedaling forward, not backwards to prevent derailing the chain and crossing gears). Not long ago more hardtails than full suspension bikes were found at the races. That ratio has flipped and there are more FS bikes now.
The DH/AM rider will also counter steer and then weight the inside grip, but here is were the dynamics differ. Ala BikeJames and Better rides, you keep your outside foot back to support the weight of the hip swing to the outside weighting that pedal down, akin to carving a ski turn, with a back pedal action.
Lee McCormack, is similar but you go into the corner with the outside foot forward, allowing you to swing your inside knee towards the inside of the corner, allowing a forward pedal to weight the outside foot.
In his article Seb Kemp states a concern that weighting the inside grip,may push the front tire to far to the outside.
I am in the XC camp. You can read below to see how that came about. My style is more of a blend. I run my saddle a little lower than my road bike height, but still in efficient pedaling range. I will slide my but off the saddle slightly to the outside. With the outside foot down, inside leg is up high enough to do this, or even let it move in front of the saddle to get more outside if needed. I keep my upper body close to the bars to weight the front wheel, to maximize traction, with a slight up words roll to the outside. Kind of automatic when you push the inside bar down, while staying close to the bars. But like Seb says don't let the front wheel stray to far outside. I learned pressure on the inside grip method. it comes from road biking where the handlebars are much narrower. So after the counter steer, weight the inside grip to get the lean going in the direction of the turn, then drive the front wheel into the ground with the outside grip. It kind of feels like flying and the handlebars are your wings.
There are times that keeping your pedals level ground, particularly in rough terrain. There is one technical section at the Vortex at Santos in Ocala Florida that I go in to the right and snake left and right in not much more than a bike length. I felt much more stable with the left foot back, because the two right snakes define the feature.
I see a problem with outside pedal back, weight the pedal down is effectively a back pedal. Even with a chain guide upfront, the chain can cross up in back across the the cogs. Sometimes just a nasty noise, sometimes the chain skips or jams, twists or breaks. The hopefully you just stop and not knee the stem or pitch off the bike, ouch.
I was part of a lengthy discussing at Mountain Bike Geezer.
I started to revisit cornering after encountering machine made berms for the first time at Tannehill Alabama, shortly after embarking on this Quest.
I mean man made berms, not the occasional natural banking off of a the base of a tree or the contour trails that cross washes, kills and runs. Now, I have been riding for decades on fire roads and deer trails. Deer don't have much need for berms. I taught myself how to corner after reading Davis Phiney's book "Training For Cycling", oh so many years ago. being a sprinter and not a climber, he used cornering skills regain contact with the peloton on the descents. You can get copies on online cheap.
Berms actually require little technique, at speed. I had to train myself not to do my usual technique on berms. You need to keep your weigh more in line with the bike. You and the bike lean in relationship to the horizon but is nearly perpendicular to to the banked surface. To actually increase your speed, bring your mass to the inside, swing your inside knee in and opening your chest facing it toward the exit of the berm, pushing the bike into the hole that is the apex of the berm and pull the bars back to the chest on exit, pulling a wheelie or almost pulling one. I am starting to get it, letting off the brakes and using as much speed as possible, seems to be the trick.
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