Skills for mastering narrow things on the track

[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.

[Irulan]

this isn't it exactly, but the concept is the same.

-You pick a line ( ie, look through the trees at the SPACE down the trail)
- use body english and your slow riding skills to maneuver your bike through the slot. If you are out of the saddle, this forces you to use your body to counter balance the bike if you are making a slight slow turn.


In this image Cindy is out of the saddle, looking down the trail PAST where she is riding, using body english and balance skills to counter balance wherever the bike is going. Slightly different trail issue, same skills.

[crazycanuck]

Irulan, that's the body position I think i try & do but don't do very well

The bit of trail you've shown us looks quite easy going down. Now imagine that same bit of trail without the ramp bit going over the log & that's mainly what we have down here...

I've been working on balancing on (on my knees) the swiss ball holding onto a pole (horizontally) in the hopes i'll get the exact core strength i need.

I'm off to play on a trail today