What mountain bike skills are you working on?

[rec head]

For me it is cornering. I know what I'm supposed to do but putting it all together to really nail it usually doesn't happen. Don't get me wrong I need to get all my skills upgraded but I really want to be able to rail turns.

[jscottyk]

For me it is cornering. I know what I'm supposed to do but putting it all together to really nail it usually doesn't happen. Don't get me wrong I need to get all my skills upgraded but I really want to be able to rail turns.

Bigger jumps (including steep lip take off and gaps), bigger drops (basically big step downs), longer manuals, higher bunny hops, and more technical climbs. Always more to learn, and progression is the name of the game.

[Matthew Strongin]

Track stands on a road bike. I stop at so many lights it would be nice to stay clipped in for longer than 5 minutes at a time. And cornering on dirt. I've become such a roadie that I've forgotten what it feels like to not be on solid pavement when cornering.

[Will Neide]

Wheelies.

[suspectdevice]

riding backwards

[ineff]

Jumping. I have been totally focused on speed for so many years, jumping is not something I have every worked on improving, it's been a blast!

[cash]

Manuals. Harder than they look, and they look hard.

[ides1056]

having fun

[rec head]

riding backwards

There was a unicycler out there today that could.

[funcrusher]

cant teach an old dog new tricks...i ride vicariously through my fearless 17yo son who likes to send it

i can still crush him on the tech climbs though (old man endurance)

i was working on some bigger jumps then i hit the deck hard...i just don't need that in my life

and i was obsessed with manuals, but i just can't get there...and in reality, not sure how much it would help my riding...looks f'in cool in the parking lot though

[suspectdevice]

Jumping. I have been totally focused on speed for so many years, jumping is not something I have every worked on improving, it's been a blast!

Build your own. 100 percent the best way to learn.

[Guillaume]

Riding with flat pedals

[Ronsonic]

Staying upright.

Non-inverting wheelie.

Voluntary dismount. Pretty well rehearsed in the other type.

[KonaSS]

Oh man - I have had 3 friends crash on their mountain bike in the last week, all of them trying jumps. 1 messed up ankle, 1 with broken ribs and vertebrae, 1 with a broken hip. All guys who have been riding for years, and generally know what they are doing, but easily can get over their heads when airborne. All guys in their 40s. I guess I will continue to work on my turns and skip the jumps.

[jscottyk]

Oh man - I have had 3 friends crash on their mountain bike in the last week, all of them trying jumps. 1 messed up ankle, 1 with broken ribs and vertebrae, 1 with a broken hip. All guys who have been riding for years, and generally know what they are doing, but easily can get over their heads when airborne. All guys in their 40s. I guess I will continue to work on my turns and skip the jumps.

I hear ya. It's all about calculated risks, skills progression, and riding on trails with well designed features. Honestly, I know of as many injuries from riding road bikes as I do MTB. For me, it's all about the progression and not riding too far over my head. At 55, my progression is slower than when I was younger, but's thats ok with me. I'm also riding BMX to work on developing the proper jumping/bike handling skills. Having these tools just opens up so many more trails and riding experiences. What feels like a big step forward for me is a gnats ass for a pro rider. But, all the experts and pros I know get as excited about my small improvements as their own riding.

Progression. Keep the stoke high!

[rec head]

Progression. Keep the stoke high!

Definitely. It was a bummer that my morning trip to the bike park got rained out but I'm still excited to get out when I can.

[suspectdevice]

jumps are something i avoid “trying”.
top self preservation tip:
avoid trying, focus on doing, gradually

[jscottyk]

jumps are something i avoid “trying”.
top self preservation tip:
avoid trying, focus on doing, gradually

giphy.jpg

[72gmc]

I'm working on remembering that it's been a long time since I was a kid, riding a motocross bike every day.

Easy does it.

[mjbabcock]

Oh man - I have had 3 friends crash on their mountain bike in the last week, all of them trying jumps. 1 messed up ankle, 1 with broken ribs and vertebrae, 1 with a broken hip. All guys who have been riding for years, and generally know what they are doing, but easily can get over their heads when airborne. All guys in their 40s. I guess I will continue to work on my turns and skip the jumps.

Two words...

Friday Fails