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Why am I getting dropped in berms?

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Hi Lee,
I’ve been racing for a while, and I constantly get dropped by my friends in berms. When I follow, I end up just a little farther back after just about any berm. I consider my weight balanced, but it seems like my body position is biased to the front of the bike. This works great for attacking looser or rougher straights and turns where the front wheel leads and the rear wheel just tracks along, but I think my position is killing me in well-supported turns. I feel like I’m just standing on top of the bike in berms, and I’m just loosing speed. Do I just need to shift my weight back and carve with the rear wheel? Just sit down and rail?
Thanks, I love your website, and sorry for the long question,
Charlie

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Technique critique: Paul’s cornering form

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Hey Lee,
I just wanted some input on my cornering. I have included a picture of myself goin around a fast sweeper. If you could look at this and give me advice I would appreciate it. I have been working hard on my form all winter.
Thanks,
Paul

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Setting sag: Let’s ask Fitz

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We’ve all been wondering about the best way to set suspension sag — sitting or standing? — so I asked The Man Himself: Mark Fitzsimmons at Fox Racing Shox. As Fox’s MTB race manager, Fitz does suspension testing and setup at the highest level of our sport. He is also a ripper.

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Wrecking safely

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Hi Lee- I’m a CSU, Chico student. I’m TRYING to write a lesson plan for fourth graders about bicycle safety. My subject is how to wreck with the least amount of injuries.

My inspiration was my son. He had his helment on, got squirrely and dove off of the bike face first into the asphalt, busted three of his permanent teeth and his lip. He now wears a BMX helmet with the face guard! I don’t want to give the same old “wear your helmet” speech in my lesson plan because obviously you can still get injured.

So, I thought I could teach them the best way to land when they are wrecking. I have not had much luck finding any official websites or videos with this information. Do you know of any? I’d really appreciate any information you have.

Thanks so much,
Shauna

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Setting sag: sitting or standing?

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Lee,

I came across an interesting idea on a forum on farkin.net — someone was saying that you should set up the sag on you suspension while you’re standing. Everything I’ve come across previously says set the sag when you’re on the seat but the more I think about it the more it makes sense to set it while standing — when you are in attack position.

So when you’re in attack position you’ve got the correct sag front and rear and the suspension works at its best. When you’re sitting the forks will be a bit stiffer and the rear shock will be a bit softer so maybe you’ll get a bit more pedal feedback when you climb but maybe this is a good trade off? What do you think?

PS – link for that forum is: http://www.farkin.net/forums/showthread.php?t=165738

regards, Paul

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Sea Otter DH start: Which beep?

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Hey Lee,

At the start of the Sea Otter downhill there are 4? short beeps and then one long beep. When does the actual timing of your race run start? Can you go anytime during those beeps or is it after the long beep finishes?

Thanks,
Brian

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Effect of 26″ conversion on 2006 Bighit geometry

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Hi Lee,

Great site. A quick one:

The Bighit 2003 came out standard with a 24″ rear wheel. I’ve changed the seatstay to accommodate a 26″ wheel and I use the most progressive (bottom) hole on the frame and position A on the shock link. How will this affect the headtube angle? I do a lot of DH and some “downhill” freeriding if I can call it that. I know with the 24″ rear wheel the slackest angle is 66.3 degrees, but I’m concerned it has negatively impacted that angle. I have a 2004 Boxxer Team up front – 7″, and a Fox Vanilla RC at the back.

Regards, Adrian

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DH training in Kansas

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Hey, Lee

My family just moved to Kansas from northern Illinois shortly after I got into DH racing, and even though there are no DH trails anywhere near me I am dieing to get better. I have raced in a few midwest DH races with some ok results, however I want to get better. I am currently building a pump track, ride my fixie as much as possible, as well as ride street in Kansas City when i can. But what else can i do to stay at the same level or riding and even become a better DH racer given my situation? I will only be able to ride DH maybe a few times this summer and after that even less as i will be a poor college student in Chicago without a car.

Oh yeah, there are no BMX tracks or single track anywhere near me to ride.

Thanks,
Patrick

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Specialized tires: Chunder vs. Clutch?

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Hey,
I’m building up a new DH wheelset, and I’m thinking about trying a lighter tire than my current Minions. I’ve been thinking that the SX casing from Specialized could suit me well, but I can’t decide between the Clutch and Chunder. I live and ride in the Bay Area of NorCal, about an hour and half from Santa Cruz. Firstly, is the SX casing burly enough to not roll over in corners and handle DH riding? Also, which tread pattern is better for the riding out here?
-Zack

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How to pump a flat surface

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Lee,

How do you pump on a flat surface???

Ariel

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Timing devices and techniques for racing

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Hi Lee,

I am a big fan of your website and book (with BL). The fountain of information has definitely made biking a lot more fun. Thanks a lot man. Anyway I am just a recreational rider but I love to watch local DH and XC races here in the Philippines. I noticed though that race participants are still crudely timed manually via radios or cellphones and can’t help but wonder if this is accurate enough considering that a difference of less than 1 second can spell the difference between podium finish and not. I wonder what sort of timing devices and techniques are used in US or UCI DH and XC races.

regards,

Hansen Dy
Philippines

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