Skills for mastering narrow things on the track

[crazycanuck]

Howdy,

I need some techincal help and in this instance pics would help but i'm sure you'll understand.

On a few of the trails down dis a way, we have some interesting narrow spaces through trees etc. to navigate through and often feel in a panic and unsure of how to approach them. Good thing there's a b line .
One tree in particular that i'm dying to get through is very narrow at the bottom-almost shaped like a V-and has very little room for error. (it's on flat ground)
Another one is round a fairly narrow windy corner..

Any ideas, youtube links, etc would be great.

[SheFly]

Hey CC! If it's really narrow, train yourself to focus on the trail where you WANT to go. Don't look at the tree, obstacle, etc, because that will focus your attention there instead of where you want to go.

I do this for narrow bridges - look not AT the bridge, rather at the exit where I want to end up.

That said, there are times where you do need to focus on the obstacle. For instance, if the tree encroaches, and you may need to move just slightly to avoid hitting bars, still look at your exit as your focus, but know that you may need a little wiggle room. I would also be off my saddle in this instance - just in case .

Not sure if this makes sense, but it works for me!

SheFly

[Becky]

We have a few of those really narrow tree things here too. I do what SheFly said- look through the obstacle, and butt slightly off the saddle. I tend to take these things fairly slowly, but with enough momentum to keep good balance.

Having bars that are the proper width for my shoulders really helps too. When I was riding too-wide bars, I hooked every tree on the trail.

[crazycanuck]

Thanks ladies

I have a trail in mind to do some work on "narrow" stuff & will see how i go.

New bike=regaining confidence!

[Irulan]

There is also a the knack of not going straight through the opening, but approaching at a slight angle so that you can turn your handlebars a little bit so that you don't hook them.

The butt off the saddle thing forces you to use your body to counterbalance any angled moves you might might by weaseling your way through, preferable at slow speed, perhaps having to turn the handlebars as above.

[katherine]

There is also a the knack of not going straight through the opening, but approaching at a slight angle so that you can turn your handlebars a little bit so that you don't hook them.

The butt off the saddle thing forces you to use your body to counterbalance any angled moves you might might by weaseling your way through, preferable at slow speed, perhaps having to turn the handlebars as above.

I think I need a video, or Irulan to show me how it's done.

[SheFly]

I tell everyone just starting out to have a practice session in their yard (or on any grassy area) where they practice trackstanding. See how long you can hold your balance without pedaling.

This will help with the balance skills at slow speed - I can come to a stop without unclipping to get around/over obstacles if I need to. And I don't have to unclip when I'm road riding now either .

SheFly

[buffybike]

Thanks for posting the video. There's a lot of good singletrack in my town however much of it winds through heavily wooded areas where sometimes I'm not sure my handlebars are even going to fit through (I've clipped them more than a few times)! A guy at my LBS is cutting my handlebars down for me today--they're just too wide for my shoulders and I think it's affecting my ability to manuever switchbacks and tight spaces.

[Irulan]

from what to what? Wider handlebars are more stable than narrow.