Everything to help you ride stronger and better.
We use the classic figure eight drill a lot in the LLB remote coaching program. It can be done anywhere, shows lots of skills and can be scaled to challenge any rider.
As riders’ technical cornering skills become non-conscious, we start to focus (ha ha!) on vision.
Lee,
Been an admirer from the UK for a while now and have a good collection of your books. I’d be interested in seeing a blog post from you on cornering technique.
In Mastering Mountain Bike Skills 2nd Edition, you advocate putting your outside leg down and putting all the weight into the outside leg. This allows the rider to weight the tyre effectively and get your lean on. I’ve also seen other people use a technique where they lean their butt out just as much and lean the bike, but they keep their feet parallel to the ground. I see the benefits to this being that, since both legs are not full extension, the rider can extend into any depressions and most importantly get their pump on as they’re coming out of the corner.
Connected to that, your book advocates a similar technique for traversing a slope where the down slope leg is fully extended and the hips are tilted over the bike. To me, this is another situation where it might make more sense to have feet parallel to the slope so that they can extend into any depressions.
Anyway, as mentioned, I’d be keen to know your opinions on this. I’ve always used the leg down technique but am wondering if I should be using the other technique for more radness!
Gavin
This week I’ve been working with XTERRA world champion Lesley Paterson. She is a gifted, driven, smart and methodical professional athlete.
Her fitness + LLB kung fu skills = world class mountain bike racer. Just watch.
Conventional wisdom tells us stiffer-soled cycling shoes are better than softer ones. Something out Power! and Efficiency! and Being Pro!
Our friend Max asks whether that’s true, especially for mountain bikers.
Lee,
After studying your lessons about not getting weight back in the air and staying centered (Stop the injury cycle!), I’m curious if that contributed to Myriam Nicole’s violent endo at the Fort William World Cup. I know landing on the flat didn’t help, but is this an example of overloading the rear like your info graphic?
PS: Just trying to wrap my head around it all as I start to slowly but surely leave the ground higher and longer the more I ride and better I get. Not a knock on her, I know she’s far more skilled a rider than I. I just watched the second half in slow mo and immediately saw your info graphic in my head.
Randy
Over the past six months I’ve been using a TRX suspension trainer as part of my shoulder physical therapy (See Bone on bone but still rocking).
Lately I’ve been rocking this fun move:
I preach proper rest, and I often tell my overtrained clients to just freaking’ take a break, but I’m not so good at following that advice.
Our first multi-day destination camp is done, and it was beyond awesome. I’m still jazzed … and I’m planning improvements to the next camp.
Check out the epic tale and photos:
Hi Lee,
I am a big fan of yours, you’re one of my role models within the World of Mountain Biking.
I write this email as a 17 year old from the UK trying to decide on a career path, I currently work as a lifeguard and I am in full time education. I love Sport and especially riding bikes with knobbly tyres on dirt.
Becoming a Mountain Biking coach interests me greatly as I would love to turn my passion into a career and help share my passion with other riders. I was hoping for some insight into the industry and advice as to how to break into it and become a coach.
Is it better to start part-time and go to University/ College as well, if so would a degree relating to Psychology and Sports coaching be beneficial? or completely commit and become fully qualified straight away? How does someone come about working for your coaching team? What qualifications or experience do you look for?
Any advice you can offer would be a huge help.
Kind regards
Alex
Lee,
I attended the Level 1 class at Valmont Bike Park with Kevin this weekend, it was awesome. We learned so much!
One of the key things I learned is that I need more flexibility. Kevin mentioned F6 and it looks like a great way to reinforce key movements and strengthen your riding body. I was wondering if you have any specific recommendations for improving flexibility, especially in hamstrings.
Thanks Lee, looking forward to the Level 2 clinic in a couple of weeks!
Chad
NinerBikes posted some beautiful photos on Pinkbike yesterday, and they show Chloe Woodruff shredding!
Our April 23-26 Moab camp is going to be awesome — and there’s only one spot left.
If you want to learn a lot, get some great photos and ride world class trails with some of the best instructors in the world, check out the LLB 4-day camp in Moab, UT >>>
