Negoiating Switchbacks

[Loraura]

Switchbacks (in the uphill direction) - as taught to me at a BetterRide clinic:

1)Put your seat at climbing height (optimal power)
2)Get low low low (chest/chin to the handle bars) - this keeps your front end from wandering. You think you're low, you're not. LOWER!
3)Scoot up on the saddle (toward the nose) -- this keeps traction on the back wheel while your low upperbody keeps the front wheel tracking where you want it to go. It's not the most comfortable place in the world to be on a saddle, but it doesn't last long and makes a difference.
4)Start wide on the outside, aim to finish wide on the outside. Make the corner as straight as you can.
5)Look ahead. No, further ahead than that! Look at your exit from the switchback as you enter it, as soon as you can see it, and look down the trail beyond the exit as soon as you can see that.

To practice, find a slope with a tree on it. Place some cones or rocks to mark the outside of the trail, with the tree being the inside of the switchback. Start with the cones/rocks allowing for a nice easy wide apex. Keep moving them in and trying again until you have a nice, tight, steep switchback.

[Irulan]

Switchbacks (in the uphill direction) - as taught to me at a BetterRide clinic:

1)Put your seat at climbing height (optimal power)
2)Get low low low (chest/chin to the handle bars) - this keeps your front end from wandering. You think you're low, you're not. LOWER!
3)Scoot up on the saddle (toward the nose) -- this keeps traction on the back wheel while your low upperbody keeps the front wheel tracking where you want it to go. It's not the most comfortable place in the world to be on a saddle, but it doesn't last long and makes a difference.
4)Start wide on the outside, aim to finish wide on the outside. Make the corner as straight as you can.
5)Look ahead. No, further ahead than that! Look at your exit from the switchback as you enter it, as soon as you can see it, and look down the trail beyond the exit as soon as you can see that.

To practice, find a slope with a tree on it. Place some cones or rocks to mark the outside of the trail, with the tree being the inside of the switchback. Start with the cones/rocks allowing for a nice easy wide apex. Keep moving them in and trying again until you have a nice, tight, steep switchback.

I've heard good things about Gene's clinics however I do have to ask...
What if you've lowered your saddle for a descent... THEN what do you do? I think there is more than one way to skin this cat.

[Loraura]

what if you've lowered your saddle for a descent... THEN what do you do?

I have a Rock Shox hydrolic seat post. I hit the button =).

Without a dropper seat post, you'll have to make compromises. I can confirm that it IS easier with the seat at the optimal height for climbing. I also find that I don't really have to drop my seat for decents unless there are ledges of 2 feet or more. I can get my weight far enough back on the bike for smaller ledges and sustained grades without having to drop my seat from climbing height.

When I began riding, many people told me to get all the way behind my seat for every little thing going downhill. Gene taught me otherwise. It's really about weight balance/management. If you watch downhill racers and even XC racers, they only get behind the saddle, with the saddle level with their torso for the steepest of gnarly rocky decents. Being WAY behind the seat puts most people, in a position where their arms have no bend left. Bad idea to be at the "end of your rope" like that.

[Loraura]

Watch these ladies decend. They really only get behind the saddle for the large ledge.

http://youtu.be/lgpNJsA7E2k

Their saddles are at a climbing height.