Can't Stop the Hop!

[velogirl]

Okay, this is driving me nuts. Maybe some of you have some helpful advice. Most men say it's a commitment issue (fits me to a T).

I can't get rid of my stutter-step when I remount. This is my 4th season racing so I've got no excuse.

I've watched Adam Hodges-Meyerson's DVD and practiced the walking drills (a lot). I probably practice 3-4 times a week for 20-30 minutes each.

I hired a private coach and he can't seem to help me.

Have any of you lost your hop? How did you do it? I could just kick myself for learning it wrong in the first place.

[SheFly]

Although this is my first season of 'cross, I too, have the dreaded stutter step on the remount. Adam and another of his coaches are local and coach our women's team, and they can't help me either. Everyone has said that it is a commitment issue....

The way I currently look at this is that at least with the stutter step my bike is in forward motion when I remount. When I don't do this, I basically come to a complete stop to get back on my bike.

The funny thing is, that I have practiced and practiced. In slow-mo, I don't have a problem. Come race day, however, all bets are off.

Sorry not to help, but wanted to comiserate...

SheFly

[Veronica]

So it's all in your head? Is it something that just looks sort of dorky, but doesn't really slow you down? Or does the hopping remount take a lot more time?

Could you make up a little rhyme that you say in your head as you race to avoid the hop? 'Cause you know, you have brain cells to say a little rhyme as you race.

This won't kill me,
Is that a tree?
Silly V,
To think a rhyme,
Would save time!

V.

[velogirl]

In my case, it's years of muscle memory. I, too, can lose the hop when I do it slowly, but at this point I'm faster in a race when I stutter.

The problem with the stutter-step is that there's a tiny pulling back action when you lose forward momentum for just a second. This is even more troublesome on uphill re-mounts. The difference is probably only a second or two, but that adds up over a race.

And it looks much cooler not to hop.

It's definitely a timing issue in my mind. I can visualize it correctly. I even dreamed about it the other night. When I learned to ski, I dreamed about how to carve a turn correctly and suddenly I could do it. I thought maybe the same would hold true for this but it didn't happen.

And now it's just a case of me being stubborn! I can do just about anything I want to do on a bike and I can't get rid of the stupid hop!

[SheFly]

I've been told we shouldn't do it because it uses too much energy for that extra step... When my HR is at about 180, I don't really think an extra step will make a difference .

I think that more than anything, it is about confidence - at least that's what my teammates keep telling me. I was hoping that wil experience, the stutter would go away, but if Velogirl still has it after 4 seasons, I'm beginning to lose hope of that....

SheFly

[velogirl]

My skills coach is an elite-level racer. He had it for 3 years and mysteriously lost it after than. Go figure!