Everything to help you ride stronger and better.

The Triangle of Trust

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By LLB Coach Andy Somerville

In Lee’s training materials for the NICA high school MTB leagues, there’s a diagram called the Triangle of Teaching. The three vertices are: Skills, Fitness, Confidence. Each complements and reinforces the other. All three can be learned/acquired/bolstered through deliberate practice and hard work. High School league coaches learn to apply this teaching philosophy to their students.

I’m visualizing another IKF (Infograph of Kung Fu) these days, one that applies to riders of all ages and abilities:

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Bike setup madness

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Most bike fitters are doing great work, but some of the fits I see in my clinics are insane!

This is why I’m now offering “cockpit optimization” services in my clinics.

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How should I pump a 180 berm?

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Hi Lee,

I’ve been working hard on your different pumping techniques in Pro BMX Skills (really like the detail of the different techniques). I finally have a pump track near me and there’s been a massive improvement since I started riding it. The bit I’m struggling with is my entry to the 180 degree berm, at the end of the track. I’m always losing speed on it, when others are gaining speed. Should I be unweighting over the entry roller, then one slow pump down the backside of the roller and round the berm? Or should I pump the backside, unweight again, then pump the berm?

I gotta say, riding a pump track is proving very beneficial for my overall riding. I’m off to Fort William in the morning for the World Cup, so I imagine I’ll see some good pumping technique there. 🙂

Thanks,
Andy

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“I was ripping down the slalom track, and it was fantastic”

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From a recent kung fu skills student:

I took the Lee Likes Bikes four-hour enduro/advanced trail riding class at Valmont Bike Park in Boulder over the weekend, and within the first hour felt that my money was well spent.

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BMX birthday party!

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This might be even sweeter than Chuck E Cheese.

Yesterday we rocked a private BMX session at a local track.

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How did Matt hunter do it?

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Hi Lee,
I don’t know if you saw this photo yet:

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/10883974/

Can you explain how this is even possible? It might make for a good lesson on cornering for all of us who can’t come close to this. The only thing I can think of is he must be going like Mach 10.

Jim

UPDATED with Matt Hunter’s side of the story!

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Balance on the BMX track

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Hi Lee,

I’m new to BMX racing and have been finding your book Pro BMX Skills very useful, however my coach keeps telling me to keep my elbows up and out. I’m riding a cruiser and am 170cm tall. I find this really difficult to do when I am hanging back behind the seat (weight still centered). My front wheel becomes very loose. Do you have any tips which will let me learn to keep my elbows up even whilst pumping but keep the front wheel planted. I seem more in control with my elbows in. Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Jess

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Riding/skating with Crashed Ice’s Reed Whiting

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I’m super proud of Reed Whiting, an athlete and gentleman who’s made himself into one of the top Red Bull Crashed Ice racers.

Check out this video/photos/story from our training together:

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Busy, busy

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Apologies for the stale blog. Spring has been super busy with:

• HIgh school coach training in Wisconsin.

• High school coach training in Georgia.

• Lots of private and public clinics in Colorado and elsewhere.

Lots of stuff to post when I get a chance. Stay tuned!

Lee

>>>Fresh goodies on the Lee Likes Bikes Facebook page>>>

Will Pump Up the Base help my burning thighs?

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Hi Lee,

DH season has started here in Japan. I know it is already early summer but I want to increase physical strength. If I want to do it, do I read and follow Pump up the base?

I go to like1500m DH course but I need to take a break once or twice in between because I feel so tired in my thighs and I can’t continue riding. By increasing my strength I want to ride through to the bottom of the course without any break. Does Pump up the base provide how to increase strength for my situation? Any advise will be appreciated!!

Thanks/regards,
Hiro Komori

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Finding my inner unit with Enduro MTB Training

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Since I started working with Coach Dee Tidwell at Enduro MTB Training, my back has not blown out.

That is a really big deal.

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2014 public clinic #1 was awesome!

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Last night was the first public clinic of the year at Valmont Bike Park. I’m nervous for every class I teach, but we tried a new format so I was extra wound up.

And … it went great!

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