Mountain biking give us plenty of opportunities to face fears. Perhaps the most stark form of mountain biking is dirt jumping. The jump face looms ahead, all tall and steep and imposing. You’re either going for it or you’re not.
Lately I’ve been SO STOKED on riding! I’m riding almost every day and getting really fit. As stoked as I am, I must admit I’ve descending slowly and carefully relative to my potential.
Why am I riding below my potential?
Valmont Bike Park in Boulder, CO is a world class facility with a huge range of trails, tracks and terrain. It’s the perfect place for a skills class.
20% of your class fees go straight to supporting the park.
We offer classes for all levels:
Level 1 MTB skills at Valmont Bike Park in Boulder, CO
Level 2 MTB skills at Valmont Bike Park in Boulder, CO
Women-only Level 1 MTB skills at Valmont Bike Park in Boulder, CO
Women-only Level 2 MTB skills at Valmont Bike Park in Boulder, CO
MTB skills series in Boulder, CO (4 classes -all levels)
2-day advanced trail riding skills in Boulder, CO (intermediate+)
Private classes with Lee McCormack (at Valmont and elsewhere)
Questions? Please email lee@leelikesbikes.com.
Hi Lee,
I purchased your excellent book Welcome to Pump Track Nation v2 (hardcover) because my son and I are building a pump track in our backyard. I was wondering if I could ask you a question. I’ve gotten a dirt sample from a friend who’s got an excavator and can deliver it to me. I did your ball jar dirt test, and while I clearly see the clay (62.5%) it’s above another layer (37.5%), which is undifferentiated. I can’t figure out, by looking at your photo in the book, whether that bottom layer sand or silt. Or could it be both? If you could check out this photo and let me know what you think, I would be super grateful! (I wish I lived in Boulder so I could take one of your lessons – I may head out that way next summer anyways, so I might be able to squeeze one in). Also, I live in VT, is 62.5% clay too much for an environment where it can rain a fair amount?
Hi Lee,
The information in these books (Dialed and F6) is great. I do have one question. I am planning on upgrading from a 2008 Med S-works Epic to a 2021 Epic Pro. The geometry has changed drastically especially with the release of the 2021 bike. Based on your charts in the Dialed In book, you recommend a reach of 410mm for my height (5’ 8”). Based on the radically different geometry this puts me on a small frame. As you are very familiar with Specialized can you give me any insight into going longer with the new geo on the med frame (possibly shorter stem depending on SHO) vs. holding back and riding a small frame? I live in the SE USA and the most technical riding is done during my Xterra races at Oak Mountain (way less technical than out west).
Thank you,
Trey
Hope this email finds you well my friend. You might remember our convo, but I’m writing you b/c I’ve been experiencing terrible hand and wrist pain on my rides and wondering if you could provide some help as the discomfort is so bad, it’s really bumming me out.
Some background info (again):
We already chatted stem size, and I still can’t find the answer, but what I do notice is that my wrists are never straight when I grip. My hands are always bent inwards and not parallel with bar.
Maybe I need to try SQlab?
Any advice would be helpful and thanks again in advance.
-J
Most mountain bikers have heard of pump tracks. Many have ridden one at their local bike park. With the right skills, you can fly around these dirt rollercoasters with ease. But did you realize that those same skills are immensely valuable on nearly any trail?
Pumping the trail on your mountain bike makes riding so much more fun! More specifically:
Hi All,
We are stoked to ride with you! In order to maintain COVID safety, we will be following these rules in our private and public classes:
Thank you for cooperating. See you in class!
– Lee and the LLB team
This piece originally appeared in the book Mastering Mountain Bike Skills v3, July 27 2017.
People on the interweb have been asking me (Lee) what I think of the new oval chainrings.
Before I tried them, my response was “I don’t need no help. My pedal stroke is awesome. Those are for people who suck at pedaling.”
Now that I’ve been riding a oval OneUp Traction Chainring, I’ll respond with more thought.
Here’s a great question from our remote coaching student Stefan in Switzerland.
One last question to the drops and speeds: Is this reasoning right: given all things equal with the drop except its height, I could approach all drops smaller or higher with the same speed I‘ve been using now? With higher drops I‘ll land longer with smaller drops I‘ll land shorter? but other than that it‘s the same?
Stefan
lee
center of gravity acts as a lever
( between tyre-contact and cg )
distance x 2 – 1/2 force needed
( or torque x 2 )
for a taller rider
real-!-emergency braking is more a problem
by definition
a taller rider can move more ?
yes – but
distance is longer = more time needed !
and the saddle must be down … always
( and no luggage above the rear wheel )
do you agree ?
thanks
