D Mobile
09-13-2004, 04:19 AM
Allright, so I'm still thinking about switchbacks, after watching that most excellent video in the switchbacks thread.
Watching the crashes in that video got me thinking about the tradeoffs involved in learning some of these moves. And as a 43 year old woman, I have to admit my tolerance for repeated crashing is not real high. I don't expect to avoid all crashing, but, when I'm hurting afterward, I tend to give up on trying more scary stuff and the learning just doesn't happen.
The first (and last) time I tried practicing the the tail whip, I fell hard and got multiple bruises. I had tried to minimize risk by doing this on a flat spot on the grass, but what really tends to beat me up is the bike itself. (Also, just like in snow sports, it's been my experience that those falls on the flats that hurt the worst!) Once the fall reaches that point of no return, I tend to end up in a painful, bloody embrace with the bike. (Love hurts.)
So here's what I'm thinking: What about getting a bmx bike with which to practice some of this stuff? Isn't that how a lot of the dudes got so good anyway, cause that's how they spent their young dudehood? That's why I'm calling this thread "back to the future". Maybe if I can live now the young dudehood I never had (bmx!?), I'll be able to learn so basic balance and skill stuff I can get back on my big kid bike with.
In addition to being lower to the ground and easily escapable, the bmx bike seems to have the advantage of just being lighter and smaller - guess what, like most women are - and therefore even more appropriate for us than for the dudes in terms of a bike to body strength ratio thing?
One last thought on rear wheel hefting stuff, and that is the pedal thing. The "painful embrace" referred to above would probably not happen as readily if I was riding "regular" (not attached to yer shoes!) flat pedals. However, I totally rely on that link to the pedal to do any kind of rear wheel lifting. Now I know the bmx dudes don't need no stinkin' fancy pedals to get their bikes into the air. Is it crazy to think I (at my advanced age and womanly physique) could ever learn to lift the back wheel without being clipped in? Can any of you do it?
So, whaddya think? Should I mug one of my 10 year old neighbor kids today? Nah, but a trip to the newest LBS might very well be in order. :)
Watching the crashes in that video got me thinking about the tradeoffs involved in learning some of these moves. And as a 43 year old woman, I have to admit my tolerance for repeated crashing is not real high. I don't expect to avoid all crashing, but, when I'm hurting afterward, I tend to give up on trying more scary stuff and the learning just doesn't happen.
The first (and last) time I tried practicing the the tail whip, I fell hard and got multiple bruises. I had tried to minimize risk by doing this on a flat spot on the grass, but what really tends to beat me up is the bike itself. (Also, just like in snow sports, it's been my experience that those falls on the flats that hurt the worst!) Once the fall reaches that point of no return, I tend to end up in a painful, bloody embrace with the bike. (Love hurts.)
So here's what I'm thinking: What about getting a bmx bike with which to practice some of this stuff? Isn't that how a lot of the dudes got so good anyway, cause that's how they spent their young dudehood? That's why I'm calling this thread "back to the future". Maybe if I can live now the young dudehood I never had (bmx!?), I'll be able to learn so basic balance and skill stuff I can get back on my big kid bike with.
In addition to being lower to the ground and easily escapable, the bmx bike seems to have the advantage of just being lighter and smaller - guess what, like most women are - and therefore even more appropriate for us than for the dudes in terms of a bike to body strength ratio thing?
One last thought on rear wheel hefting stuff, and that is the pedal thing. The "painful embrace" referred to above would probably not happen as readily if I was riding "regular" (not attached to yer shoes!) flat pedals. However, I totally rely on that link to the pedal to do any kind of rear wheel lifting. Now I know the bmx dudes don't need no stinkin' fancy pedals to get their bikes into the air. Is it crazy to think I (at my advanced age and womanly physique) could ever learn to lift the back wheel without being clipped in? Can any of you do it?
So, whaddya think? Should I mug one of my 10 year old neighbor kids today? Nah, but a trip to the newest LBS might very well be in order. :)