Podcast with The Segment – LLB origin plus lots of riding tips
My origin story plus lots of riding tips!
Joy of Bike video: How to jump a mountain bike
In this episode of Joy of Bike we teach an ex pro roadie/semipro XC racer how to jump smoothly and safely. It’s a tale of trail trauma, rowing and anti-rowing. And of glory!
What do you think?
Lee
Breaking through mental barriers
Our brains are so powerful in so many ways, but Life can get in there and create obstacles to joy. In this video I take on the Whale Tail … and we all have a Whale Tail in our lives.
Dial in your hip hinge
If you’re a mountain biker (or a human), the most important movement you can master is the hip hinge. Here’s my story plus some tips.
Public MTB skills classes at Valmont Bike Park in Boulder, CO
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.
Dangerous jumping advice
Good video. Good teaching style. Great rider. Some dangerous advice.
Read more
Thanks for the cornering skills
Hi Lee,
A quick ty for the class a couple of months back in Santa Cruz and for the access to the www.llbmtb.com content. Applied the cornering skills to a high speed uphill turn with not much of a berm that comes at the bottom of a fast decent and I’m now able to carry a ton of speed through the turn. (:
Plus getting the handlebars near vertical feels cool too. (pic attached)
I know we’re all getting pummeled by the lockdown so wanted to send a ty and wish you well!
Best,
Jere
Cyclocross Skills to Get the Edge
Place: Valmont Bike Park
Day: Aug. 1 and 6
Time: 5 to 8 p.m.
Cost: $125
Find free time on the course where others struggle
Cyclocross season is coming. You’ve worked hard to get fit, but are your skills slowing you down?
‘Cross courses favor riders who can balance speed in long stretches, finesse through obstacles and carry speed out of turns – and they punish those who can’t. Learn with professional cycling coach Lee McCormack how to turn the ‘cross course into your new bestie.
In this 3-hour intensive course, you’ll learn bike handling skills that will put you ahead of the competition.
Cornering safer and faster
What if you could save .5-1 second in every CX course turn? In a typical cross’ race with 20 turns per lap and nine laps per race, you’re looking at dropping 1-3 minutes just with improved cornering alone. How many places is that worth?
Plus, you’ll be using less energy coming out of every turn so you can save that power for your last lap punch. And now that you’re corning faster and safer, let’s not forget how much time you save when you don’t crash. (Win-win!)
Working the terrain
See opportunities where others see obstacles. Learn how to spy the fastest lines, pump the terrain for increased speed and find flow on the course. Work the course instead of getting worked by it. It’s not only faster and requires less energy – it makes racing that much more fun.
These skills will help you carry more, easier speed all around the course. If we have time, we’ll also look at dismount/remounts and hops.
Class will meet at Valmont Bike Park so you can dial in the terrain that you’ll race in local and national Pro CX events.
Bonus: All attendees get 10% off the Boulder Bicycle Works Speed Treatment — the drivetrain treatment that keeps your bike running smoothly despite gnarly conditions — which is key for CX racing!
Vision is kind of important
Yesterday I was working with a new LLB coach, Kristie Van Voorst, on the upper pump track at Valmont Bike Park.
I was riding laps, making common mistakes, and helping her identify and correct them.
At one point I wanted to ride perfectly at normal speed, but only make the mistake of staring right in front of my wheel (instead of scanning to the next corner).
As soon as I locked my eyes on the ground, I slowed way down, and my body simply wouldn’t execute proper pumping technique. The more I committed to looking down, the slower and more awkward it got.
Crazy: No matter how dialed your skills are, if you don’t give yourself good data, you can’t execute.
This is great vision. In one turn but already looking into the next one:
Remote coaching: BMX success story
I just got a cool note from Roger in Finland. I’ve been helping his daughter with her BMX skills for a few years, and she’s now on the Finnish National BMX Team!