Send questions to lee@leelikesbikes.com
Hi Lee,
I’ll be surprised if I get a response to this email but I’m going to try anyway…. I recently picked up a copy of mastering mountain bike skills vol.2. I noticed in some of your pictures you’re wearing what appears to be some nifty Sock Guy republican socks…..just wondering where I could find a pair of those for myself? Thanks for your time!
Michael S
West Virginia
PS. Come to the east coast, and make a stop in Snowshoe or Fayetteville.
Lee,
I have a question about foot positioning when using flat pedals. I recently read that with flats you need to have your feet centered over the pedals for better balance and power. I converted to flats two years ago but after years of using clipless I automatically have the balls of my feet centered over the pedal axles. I tried the recommended positioning during my nightly drill session and it just didn’t feel right. Should I change my phantom clipless pedal position, or am I just going to break something that’s already been fixed?
P.S. Any chance of a clinic in Hawaii?
Mahalo,
Keoni
Hey there Lee
I am a mediumly ordinary MTb rider, who does not get out often enough. I have bought Mastering Mountain Bike Skills edition2, and it is a great book, however I really do not to get to session stuff much which would imprint skills into my old brain. And so often ” just riding” gets in the way of actual learning.
Recently a couple of pump tracks have been built where I live ( In Wellington, NZ ) and they are of course just ideal for sessioning and skills. I am just starting to ride awkwardly on them.
My question is this: might is be worthwhile getting a BMX bike for the purpose of fun and skill acquisition?
I have a peferectly excellent MTB (an Ibis Mojo) however in a way having a completely different bike would make riding a pump track an event, and I would be more likely to session it and not be tempted by the nearby MTB trails?
I do not want to build a hard tail MTB as the Mojo is just fine for all the trails, and in some ways a HT is an unbalanced beast compared with a fully rigid BMX or a fully sprung MTB ?
Your BMX book does look enticing!
cheers
Rob
Wellington, NZ
Hi Lee,
I’ve been getting my cornering kung fu on, diligently following your bible of a book, and putting the Specy Butcher 2.3 SX to task. Things have really started to come together.
For todays ride I slapped an Eskar2 Control on the back to lighten things up, and I was amazed at how well that tire corners. Better than the Butcher, the Eskar rails. There are a series of turns that I use as a benchmark, and man on the second corner I could of sworn I was Curtis Keene on page 91 of your book. It was a blast.
I remember reading on your site that Specialized is ditching this tire for 2012. Is this true? And if yes is there anything that can be done to save it? The updated version of the Eskar with the higher side knobs is just about the best cornering tire I have ever used. I mean if it can make me feel like Curtis Keene, even for a split second, thats a tire that can perform miracles!
Max
Forgive me. I know you must get besieged with questions. The area I would most like to build in, and that I believe the city would support because it is just across from the Sheriff Department and ambulance garage, and it is just behind the current skate park, is wooded. Is it possible to build a small track in a wooded area? Am I out of my mind for even thinking of doing that?
Jonathan
Lee!
I love your site and great advice you give! I recently bought an Ibis Tranny and love it! I switched from road to mountain biking about 4 years ago and have always used full suspension up until now. I wanted something that suits our trails that include short steep climbs, descents and tight twisty single track, thus the Tranny. So far I love it, however, I do not feel very secure on faster descents. The back end feels very twitchy. How do I get the back end to skip around less? More weight over the back? As well, with all the hype surrounding 29ers, can I get my Tranny to corner as well as a 29er with a proper technique or will the bigger wheels always have an advantage in this area?
Thanks,
Mike
Hi Lee,
I’ve been inspired by your comments about flat pedals and so just put some Eclat Surge alloy flatties on my singlespeed. I’ve ridden flats at dirt jumps & BMX tracks so I’m not coming to them cold, but riding them on trails brings a different set of questions! I’ve looked through your books and most of your comments on pedaling style are based around clipless pedals. So …
Do you have any suggestions on pedal stroke style for flat pedals? I’m mashing the pedals and spinning out on loose stuff more than with clipless, so I’m trying to wipe dog dirt from the sole of my shoe at the end of the stroke. Any other hints?
Lee,
The local pump track here was built with bad dirt and it has a lot of gravel in it. As the dirt erodes away the track fills up with gravel and it becomes tough to ride. Do you have any advice on how to help this situation? I have thought about taking a push broom and trying to sweep the gravel off. Please let me know.
Thanks,
Travis
Hey Lee,
Although I have been racing BMX for about 6 years and consider myself competent at the downhill aspect of mountain biking, I have trouble pulling G’s out of off-camber turns. I think my lean angle is pretty good, but I am unsure as to how my pedals should be positioned. In berms, I like to keep my pedals level for a nice, uniform pump, but I’m not sure that this is the best for off-cambers. Should I drop the outside pedal instead to get more weight to the other side of the bike? Thanks. -Rex
Jaison, a tall skills client from NorCal, is looking for a new bike. He’s been riding a large Santa Cruz Superlight, which looked short to me. He wants an Ibis Mojo SL. His LBS wants him to buy a large frame (which they have in stock) and a 110mm stem. He asked me about that.
Our man Chris in Marin asked Is my stem stiff enough?, then he asked about accidently catching air at Downieville.
It’s amazing what a quick email — and a simple skill — can do for your riding.
Hey Lee,
I read your articles involving your shoulder surgeries and issues. I myself have a torn labrum and am looking into surgery due to the instability of my shoulder and it’s frequent dislocation. I was curious if you went with the open surgery or if yours was laproscopic and how that is working out for you as a rider. On a lighter note, i’ve purchased all three of your books and can’t put them down. Thanks for such a great contribution to the biking community.
Jordan C.