Trail riding on a CX bike

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Hey Lee,

Been following your site for long time. Finally have a question for you. I recently moved from Boulder to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Not much here to ride my trail bike on, but I love to rail my Marin Cortina CX bike on the local singletrack. I was living in Boulder this past summer and cracked the Cortina at the headtube. I think riding Betasso and Marshal Mesa often was a bit too much.

Marin replaced it, but I am thinking about getting something else more appropriate for my style. I mostly ride trail (typical ride currently is 5-10 miles road with 15+ miles tight, fast singletrack). I also go on the occasional road ride, and I use the bike to commute a few miles every day. I entered my first CX race this past weekend and had a blast.

I remember seeing a few of your posts awhile back about riding trail on CX. It is fun! Naturally, one factor I’m considering is frame material. Been thinking about steel (see http://www.cotic.co.uk/product/x#). However, I have never owned a steel bike. My understanding is that steel would be heavier, but more damp, stiff, and durable. Better for trail riding on a CX, no?

Any other suggestions? Do CX bikes with better trail geometry exist? What would that be? Fork material? I’m thinking 1×9 set-up; bigger tires (currently running 32s), wider bars, maybe disc brakes, but I like the simplicity of cantis and we don’t have much for hills here anyway.

I appreciate any advice. Thanks!

Joe

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Pushing the limits of pump track design (in my back yard!)

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Yes, my backyard pump track is finally underway. The property is steep, the contour promising and the trees intriguing. I’ve been too busy to tackle this on my own, so I’ve engaged The Man Himself — James Hall, the best shaper in the northern hemisphere, soon returning to the southern hemisphere — to help make this dream real.

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Comments are working again

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Some crazy bug likes to switch this site’s comment settings. Comments are re-enabled. Rock.

Attack position success story

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Hi Lee,

Russ [my husband] and I were messing around at Arastradero, a local openspace area in Palo Alto. He was taking pictures of me, and I noticed how bad my body position was. After that, I started working on it, and we ended up with this picture.

Please let me know what you think. It took me a while to be able to do that again after a back injury (inflamed L5/S1 disc) with lots of PT. A few people told me that’s how I injured my back, but that body position does not put much pressure on the spine as long as your core muscles are strong enough to support yourself like that.

You’ll also see that I’m heavy feet/light hands too 🙂

Thanks for teaching me. I’m constantly learning, and I love that 🙂

-Anne

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Strider Running Bikes

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Strider™ PREBikes

Designed for children, ages 1 – 5, the Strider™ PREbike is lightweight, easy to control and features an adjustable seat and handlebars to accommodate a growing child. Most importantly, the Strider teaches your child balance, coordination and develops glittering confidence.

And the Strider is steady, stable and safe. At the first feeling of instability, your child will instinctively place his feet securely on the ground. So there are no “tricycle tip-overs” or “training-wheel wobbles” that stir-up a fear, hesitancy, or dislike of bike riding.

Parents will be happy to learn that the Strider’s assembly is a breeze.

So buy a Strider and give your child a safe, confident bike riding experience.

Please note: In addition to your Strider™ PREbike, we recommend purchasing the Extra Long Seatpost with Saddle for children 4 years and older.

Shipping Information: Ships out via UPS

KTM
Blue
Green
Orange
Red
Pink
Yellow

Strider: The no-pedal PREbike

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Striders are, in my opinion, the best run-bikes on the market. They are light and durable. Best of all, they have integrated foot rests, which allow true feet-up riding.

As a Strider believer, I’d love to set you up with a sweet new Strider — and of course safety gear. Start shopping:

Strider Running Bikes
All the colors, including the rad new KTM moto version

Safety Gear
Helmets, gloves and pads. Don’t let your kids ride without ’em.

Parts and Accessories
Brake kits, bells, bottle cages, extra-long seatposts and more

The key to long solo drives: imagination

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While driving from Boulder to SLC today:

– Planned this weekend’s training sessions.
– Rode some sweet Santa Cruz trails.
– Won Survivor.

Colorado high school MTB skills clinic No. 1

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On Saturday I taught a bunch of Colorado high school kids and their coaches how to ride safer/better/faster. This was the first official event of the Colorado High School Cycling League.

Yes: We are teaching high school athletes how to rip on bikes. The revolution is on, baby, ON!

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Book: Pro BMX Skills

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PRO BMX SKILLS
Equipment,
techniques,
tactics and
training

The groundbreaking how-to book featuring:

• Greg Romero – coach of champions
• Toby Henderson – BMX legend
• Danny Caluag – top pro racer
• Jason Richardson – veteran pro racer
• Chris Powell – pro racer/mechanic
• and more BMX greats

Dimensions: 8″ x 10″ softcover

Pages: 250, full color

Photos and diagrams: Hundreds

Ebook price: $20

Print book price: $28.95 for one copy; $15 each for a case of 20 (original price was $28.95)

“This is truly a BMX bible!”
— Coach Greg Romero

Order Pro BMX Skills here >>>

BACK COVER COPY

Pro BMX Skills will make your BMX riding and racing safer, faster and even more fun.

Rider/journalist/instructor Lee McCormack has partnered with some of the best BMX racers and coaches to bring you this exciting, informative book.

Pro BMX Skills is most detailed treatment of BMX equipment, techniques, tactics and training ever published. Easy-to-read text and detailed images explain every aspect of BMX:

• Bike choice and setup
• Riding position
• Cornering
• Manuals and hops
• Pumping terrain
• Jumping
• Starts and sprints
• Flowing around the track
• How the races work
• Race tactics
• BMX training

Pro BMX Skills is for everyone in BMX:

• Beginning riders will learn quickly and form great habits.
• Expert racers will become even smoother, more consistent and faster.
• Parents will help their kids have fun and stay safe.
• Coaches will learn how to make their athletes even better.

By Lee McCormack • Race Line Publishing

SAMPLE PAGES


Front cover

Back cover

Table of contents spread 1 of 2. Click for big

Table of contents spread 2 of 2. Click for big

From the Dial in Your Bike chapter

Learning about cornering lines

Coach Greg Romero and pro racer David Herman show us some options. Click for big

Two ways to handle a step-up

Pro tactics demonstrated by pros

Learn a smart approach to BMX training

Try a sample training plan from Coach G

Order Pro BMX Skills here >>>

Mastering Mountain Bike Skills ebook!

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Save money and start ripping today. Order the electronic version of Mastering Mountain Bike Skills 2nd Edition for just $21.95.

Click here to order from Human Kinetics.

Public clinic this Saturday, June 19

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Hey all, don’t forget my public at the CU Research Park in Boulder this Saturday. It’s a great chance to learn titanium skills at an aluminum price.

The class runs noon to 3 p.m. and costs $50 with a copy of Mastering Mountain Bike Skills. We’ll cover all the basic skills — position, braking, turning, bumps — then do whatever the group wants.

Click here for more info and to sign up

The Carbon Enduro Chronicles: Hall Ranch

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It’s my job to wring out my new 2010/11 Enduro Pro Carbon, and I take this job seriously.

Today I rocked another local benchmark ride: Hall Ranch in Lyons, CO.

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