Everything to help you ride stronger and better.

Wheelies and manuals: Finding the balance

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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.

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All hail the short ride

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Twelve hours of work chased by thirty-six minutes of ride. Three loops around the ‘hood: up, down, left, right, swoop, swoop, swoop. Hard enough to matter, fast enough to feel.

Ahh, better.

Walk and Bike Month clinic

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If you’re planning to attend tomorrow’s clinic for Walk and Bike Month, simply show up at The Fix Bike Shop with your bike and riding gear, drink and snack, and an open mind. Clinic starts at 1 p.m.; show up a bit early to sign your waiver in the shop.

Sweet! See you tomorrow.

Braaaping for endurance

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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

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BMX vs. moto for bike skills?

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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

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Colorado Rocky Mountain School teaching the leelikesbikes curriculum

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Last weekend was sweet. I did two full days of clinics with the kids and instructors at the Colorado Rocky Mountain School in Carbondale, CO, and I gave the instructors the keys to teaching my curriculum.

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Weekend clinics in Carbondale

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I’m heading out to the Colorado Rocky Mountain School in Carbondale, CO, to rock a full weekend of clinics with the kids, their teachers and local riders. Stoked! Full report next week.

Last summer’s coach training

Deciding to jump

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My kid Ian has been riding for almost exactly one year, and we’ve spent most of that year perfecting his pump on an Intense BMX 20 and cruiser. Just recently, Ian decided it was time to jump. He commandeered my P.3, and now it’s on, baby, ON!

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Fun little DJ session

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Today I got to ride the Gunbarrel jumps with my kid Ian and some of his buddies. Ian has been riding for one year, and today he was buttering a mellow 8-foot double. Super cool — and about 10 years ahead of my own learning curve.

With Ian rocking the P.3, I dusted off the race-day SX, which felt perfectly braaapable after recently riding the 20, the 24, the P and the Stumpjumper. Stepped up to a bigger set today. Braaap!

Ian will be rocking the same set in like a month. …

Ian’s first ride: A fresh lump of clay

Compromises in the face of reality

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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.

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Year 3: Clinics with the CHOICE Program

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Each year, students in the CHOICE program at Platt Middle School in Boulder take a class riding trip. This year they’re going to Cortez, CO, and I just helped them get ready. This was my third time with this group, and some of these kids are ripping!

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Fisting the grips or covering the brake levers?

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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

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