Silly question about riding uphill

[indysteel]

This is an interesting thread. On a related topic I TRIED to start going up a little hill on a mtb trail the other day...and lifted the front wheel off the ground in the attempt I walked it to the top and then started....

We did a drill for that at the clinic if you recall. Get your weight forward--either a little or a lot depending on how steep the hill--in order to give your front wheel some traction. Think b**bs to the tube. Where it gets trickier--and the North Gate Connector is a good example of this--is when you're going uphill and need to get your weight off your front wheel a bit to deal with roots or rocks. I'm still trying to work on that; it's hard!!!!

[Catrin]

We did a drill for that at the clinic if you recall. Get your weight forward--either a little or a lot depending on how steep the hill--in order to give your front wheel some traction. Think b**bs to the tube. Where it gets trickier--and the North Gate Connector is a good example of this--is when you're going uphill and need to get your weight off your front wheel a bit to deal with roots or rocks. I'm still trying to work on that; it's hard!!!!

That was a fun drill, I was just trying to start the bike So far I've simply been able to ride over the uphill roots on Limekiln - though am walking the steepest little bits there since they also tend to be rocky...

Catrin the Slow

[Hi Ho Silver]

This is an interesting thread. On a related topic I TRIED to start going up a little hill on a mtb trail the other day...and lifted the front wheel off the ground in the attempt I walked it to the top and then started....

Back in the stone age when I mountain biked, I learned a really effective technique for going up hills. Basically, your upper body should look like a jockey racing a galloping horse - your butt should hover over the back part of the saddle (so you get traction on the rear tire), and the back should be kinda horizontal with your shoulders down and forward (to weight the front wheel and keep it from lifting up). In that crouched position, you can easily move your torso forward or backward to attain a good compromise between rear traction and front stability.

[indysteel]

That was a fun drill, I was just trying to start the bike So far I've simply been able to ride over the uphill roots on Limekiln - though am walking the steepest little bits there since they also tend to be rocky...

Catrin the Slow

The uphill bits on Limekiln aren't nearly as steep or as rooty as the section on the Connector I'm referring to. It's a pretty steep climb, so your speed is already slow enough to trip you up over the roots. Add in having to unweight your front wheel as you climb, and it's tough. I can't think of any section on Limekiln that bothers me as much.

[Catrin]

The uphill bits on Limekiln aren't nearly as steep or as rooty as the section on the Connector I'm referring to. It's a pretty steep climb, so your speed is already slow enough to trip you up over the roots. Add in having to unweight your front wheel as you climb, and it's tough. I can't think of any section on Limekiln that bothers me as much.

I agree entirely, I've hiked all of the Connector so I know what part you are talking about. I also apologize for any confusion, I wasn't so much talking bout riding over obstacles while going uphill, but actually starting the bike from a standing stop going uphill. I did this on a very minor rise on the beginners loop at Ft. Ben and lifted the front wheel off the ground - keep in mind I still start in an "unorthodox" fashion - and probably always will at this point.

BTW, I hear Ayers is a bear to climb out of all of the trails at the park, but I figure I have until NEXT October to manage that (I want to do the Breakdown next year).

I do apologize for an inadvertent thread highjack - though I do appreciate the tips on riding over obstacles going uphill!