Questions, comments and criticisms
Hey Lee…got the book and I’m practicing skills. The flatland cornering is coming along great. Next is ledges like the one Ron is going up @ Lyons. Just wondering what some technique tips would be and what to practice first in the parking lot to get up ledges like that…wheelies, manuals, bunny hops?
Peace, love and unity and take care of the wife & twins
Dan
Our man Kevin just completed his second series of Lee Likes Clinics, and he wants a BMX bike for pump track purposes. Good call, I say.
I have a 2005 cannondale chase size small frame that i have converted to a single speed but it has vertical dropouts. I have tried tensioners and have not had any luck with them so I decided to try a half link chain since it looks cleaner.
I took the bike to a local bike shop and they tried swapping the rear cog to different sizes and now have a 36t front and a 17t rear. They tried a 18 rear but it was so tight the cranks would hardly turn. The 17t works but has alot of play until you put pedal pressure on it, but has never fallen off.
Can you help before I start buying hundreds of dollars of chainrings and rear cogs trying to find a good combo.
thanks, Kevin
Lee,
I’m a 40 year old father of a two-week-old girl. I haven’t been on a dirt jump / pump track since I was 14. Now that you’ve built the new Lyons funhouse, I’m thinking about a steel P.1 for sale in Boulder. It’s $500 and in good shape. I think you know the bloak selling it.
1) Should I drop the $500 (in light of my recent fatherhood/life changes)?
2) Why?
Thanks (for your advice and for your work in Lyons!)
Dave
Hi Lee,
First, I’d like to thank you for writing the book MMBS, learned a looot of tips and techniques and as a result, have made my riding faster, smoother and more enjoyable (even my friend, who was a national team member for downhill, was impressed. I told him I learned how to pump from your book). When does the 2nd edition come out? 🙂
I just have this small question about finding the balance point, do you have any tips on how to find the balance point? I’m trying to learn to manual/wheelie so I am practicing how to loft my front wheel by pushing down on the fork and then pulling up and back. My bike I think is not the best bike to practise this on as its a big squishy FR bike with 8″ of travel in the rear (body english is absorbed by the suspension). Do I need to get a DJ bike (with a short chainstay) so that I can learn faster?
Thank you very much in advance!
Braaaap!
Niño Roldan
Ps. Perhaps you can visit the Philippines soon and conduct your clinic here? I’ll definitely sign up 🙂 Your friend BL #55 has been here twice I think and has competed in the Terry Larazabal Festival.
Lee
Just wanted to say thanks. Your teachings helped me to finished my first hundie, the Cohutta 100, and all I have to say is braaaping saved me untolds amount of time and energy.
During the endless suffering I quoted “the book” chapter and verse. I pumped every feature for free speed. I carved turns like Thanksgiving turkey.
And while there is no substitute for training hard, I believe that riding smart is part of a balanced training diet.
Thanks again. Erik
Thanks Lee!
I’ve been absorbing MMBS and the site, but not diligently practicing. That will change tomorrow. I’ll be concentrating on my attack position and running figure 8 drills in the street from here on out.
I got out for my first big group ride of the season. Everything clicked, and I was riding at the front of the group all evening, pumping the trail, smoothly cleaning the technical sections, and braking because the riders in front were slow.
The book works! I have lots to improve on, but I have a framework to learn from.
Spencer
—
Right on! Thanks for your note.
— Lee
Lee,
I’m trying to build riding skills in general. Skill-wise now I’m, well, way below average; decent at XC for someone with not-great skills. I’m thinking about either 1) buying a BMX bike to work most efficiently on basics, or 2) doing some motocross also to build basics.
I realize those are two pretty different things, but both are with the goal of developing better all-round skills on a bike. I’d appreciate any input you have in terms of which route makes more sense to you (or any other route that you thinks makes sense).
John
Hey Lee. Great site .. love it. I just bought your ebook “Pump Track Nation” and had a question about bike selection/course design.
I’m primarily an XC racer (some super D and road racing mixed in) and I’m looking to beef up the handling skills. I’ve got no problem on technical trails but keeping my speed through the corners and bumps is what I need to work on so a pump track would be great for me. Problem is I fell in love with 29″ wheels and the few pump tracks I’ve tried seemed to be designed for smaller wheels. I’m sure a large part of it is just learning the skills but do you have any recommendations for the big wheel crowd? How to adjust your riding style? Or how to adjust your track plans if you’re planning on building?
Thanks! Matthew
We all have these visions of how things are going to be. In downhill, they don’t always go that way.
But all is not lost.
Hey Lee,
Is better climbing efficiency the only benefit of having a high seat? I’m asking because I ride in a place with climbs that typically require riders to stand on their bikes, defeating the purpose of a high seat.
Alex
Hey Lee,
I’ve been working on my manuals and covering the back brake with an index finger to avoid disaster.
As a result this habit of covering the brakes has carried over to my technique on drops (and even jumping).
Is this a good idea or should I be grasping the whole grip for better control?
Cheers
Andrew