Dave's $0.02: Learning to Levitate
April 15, 2019
We invited one of our most dedicated volunteers, Ride Guides owner/coach, State Parks docent, Wilderness Patrol volunteer, and all around good guy Dave Robinson to share his knowledge with the MBOSC community. Here's the next post in our "Dave's $0.02" series!
Have you ever wondered how some riders seem to effortlessly float over the biggest logs that you have to stop and haul your bike over? How some folks don’t ever seem to lose traction working through the most technical root strewn climbs? And how some people seem to be so comfortable in the air, maybe even more so than on the ground? It all boils down to a set of skills called lifts.
We’re not talking about that rigorous workout down at the gym, we’re talking about the art of getting your bike off the ground and landing safely. Stated simply, lifts are performed by loading your bike to create the potential energy to then easily lift your bike over obstacles in the trail. Modern bike suspension helps us boost our effort, but don’t fret hard tail enthusiasts, this same skill will work for you too! Lifts are our entree into more dynamic riding, pumping, and jumping. When analyzing the various styles of riders out on the trail this is one of the most visible points of differentiation.
Lifts are best learned in a progression, starting with the front wheel lift and moving on to the rear wheel lift. When you combine the front and rear lift in succession on a climb over a tall root or obstruction it’ll help you keep your momentum. The next step in the progression is the level lift which is the basis for controlled jumping (and landing!). The final skill in the progression is the bunny hop, the holy grail of flow in trail riding. The bunny hop can be deployed at any speed, from a walking pace to full blast, and when performed correctly allows you to adjust the attitude of the bike to match your landing.
Are you ready to get after it yet? Pause by that crazy log that has you stumped (!?) this weekend and watch the different approaches that people take. Dial up a youtube video on break at work. Talk with your friends and noodle through the skill. Then get out there and get after it. As you progress through each skill go slowly to ensure that your timing and coordination are spot on before moving to the next. Or sign up for the MBOSC/The Ride Guides Lifts Clinic and we’ll get you hopping in just 4 hours (not 4+ months)! We use on trail video analysis to identify your errors so we can immediately correct them together. Part of your tuition in the class goes to the parks in fees and another significant part goes to the club to build and maintain the trails you are riding on. And you get more flow and style on the trail, isn’t that a big part of why we’re out there? So join us and start floating over all those obstacles that have had you glued to the dirt!
Sign-up for a Lifts Clinic here and learn to levitate!
Hi, I'm Dave Robinson! I am the founder and head coach of The Ride Guides. Santa Cruz and its epic singletrack have been my home for over two decades. I am heavily engaged in the past, present, and future of mountain biking in Santa Cruz as a former MBOSC board member, State Parks docent, and Wilderness Patrol volunteer, and a trail crew leader with MBOSC. I look forward to sharing my two cents with you!
Have you ever wondered how some riders seem to effortlessly float over the biggest logs that you have to stop and haul your bike over? How some folks don’t ever seem to lose traction working through the most technical root strewn climbs? And how some people seem to be so comfortable in the air, maybe even more so than on the ground? It all boils down to a set of skills called lifts.
We’re not talking about that rigorous workout down at the gym, we’re talking about the art of getting your bike off the ground and landing safely. Stated simply, lifts are performed by loading your bike to create the potential energy to then easily lift your bike over obstacles in the trail. Modern bike suspension helps us boost our effort, but don’t fret hard tail enthusiasts, this same skill will work for you too! Lifts are our entree into more dynamic riding, pumping, and jumping. When analyzing the various styles of riders out on the trail this is one of the most visible points of differentiation.
Lifts are best learned in a progression, starting with the front wheel lift and moving on to the rear wheel lift. When you combine the front and rear lift in succession on a climb over a tall root or obstruction it’ll help you keep your momentum. The next step in the progression is the level lift which is the basis for controlled jumping (and landing!). The final skill in the progression is the bunny hop, the holy grail of flow in trail riding. The bunny hop can be deployed at any speed, from a walking pace to full blast, and when performed correctly allows you to adjust the attitude of the bike to match your landing.
Are you ready to get after it yet? Pause by that crazy log that has you stumped (!?) this weekend and watch the different approaches that people take. Dial up a youtube video on break at work. Talk with your friends and noodle through the skill. Then get out there and get after it. As you progress through each skill go slowly to ensure that your timing and coordination are spot on before moving to the next. Or sign up for the MBOSC/The Ride Guides Lifts Clinic and we’ll get you hopping in just 4 hours (not 4+ months)! We use on trail video analysis to identify your errors so we can immediately correct them together. Part of your tuition in the class goes to the parks in fees and another significant part goes to the club to build and maintain the trails you are riding on. And you get more flow and style on the trail, isn’t that a big part of why we’re out there? So join us and start floating over all those obstacles that have had you glued to the dirt!
Sign-up for a Lifts Clinic here and learn to levitate!
Hi, I'm Dave Robinson! I am the founder and head coach of The Ride Guides. Santa Cruz and its epic singletrack have been my home for over two decades. I am heavily engaged in the past, present, and future of mountain biking in Santa Cruz as a former MBOSC board member, State Parks docent, and Wilderness Patrol volunteer, and a trail crew leader with MBOSC. I look forward to sharing my two cents with you!
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