Tight downhill single track switchbacks

[Wahine]

1) I am trying to figure out what a good "line" to pick is. I aim away from ridges/ditches. But those tight turns near cliff edges...so hard to NOT look at the edge and to focus my eyes ahead on the trail.

I had an instructor the used the phrasing, "Where would the water flow?" and that actually helped me a lot with technical bits, including switchies and as Irulan mentioned, look past your exit and down the trail.

3) I have difficulty with this body/bike separation skill as I am scared to death. So, I don't know how to relax and let the bike move independently of my body. When my outer leg is down, I can lean my bike more inward compared to when I ride in the attack position with my pedals level.

There is a really great drill to work on this, drop your saddle down low then pedal around on a grassy surface, when you have enough momentum to roll a bit, coast in the attack position and very purposefully lean your bike side to side under you while maintaining your body position in space. This will help you learn to move your bike under you without disturbing you body stability.

This video is helpful, especially with regards to how to use your arms through the turn and where your head should be.

[TigerMom]

I had an instructor the used the phrasing, "Where would the water flow?" and that actually helped me a lot with technical bits, including switchies and as Irulan mentioned, look past your exit and down the trail.




There is a really great drill to work on this, drop your saddle down low then pedal around on a grassy surface, when you have enough momentum to roll a bit, coast in the attack position and very purposefully lean your bike side to side under you while maintaining your body position in space. This will help you learn to move your bike under you without disturbing you body stability.

This video is helpful, especially with regards to how to use your arms through the turn and where your head should be.

@Wahine: That video was "spot on" for me in every way. The steepness and the tightness of those switchbacks are exactly the types that I am riding. In addition, I guess I have NOT been "picking the right lines" because I was not going on the inner part of the curve on the way down and then going to the outer part of the curve and then aiming inward. I have been doing what the guy said was "picking the wrong line" at the end (I was just sticking to the outer part of the curve from beginning to end of the turn) and then stumbling with one leg down EXACTLY like he did. I'm going to have to re-watch this video several times. Interestingly, I have no problem going uphill on the switchbacks and don't even need to try to "pick the right line".

@Irulan: Wow! I think I can only do up to the forward-backward on the saddle part of the exercises for body/bike separation. I have a LOT of homework for myself, especially that tight high speed turn looks super scary and difficult for me. But, hey, one step at a time.

THANKS A LOT FOR ALL THE TIPS AND VIDEOS!!!!

[TigerMom]

Oops, another question. When you turn, I thought that you were supposed to lean you bike inward into the turn and your body to stay centered. But in Wahine's video, the guy says to lean your body inward during the downhill turn instead of leaning the bike inward.

Are both methods correct or have I been getting it wrong all this time?