Belgarath Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 Morning I want to hear an opinion (or two or three) about what causes me to lie in the dust, wondering what the hell just happened... I very recently moved from 26" to 29". The old bike was fitted first with a Maxxis Sphinx, then with a Kenda Blue Groove, as well as a Suntour XCR coil shock. I was very confident on this bike. I could snake around obstacles easily when turning the bike sharply, and the front never gave. I was also confident in leaning the bike very far, without too much of a bother about my novice weight shifting. The new bike is fitted with Schwalbe Rocket Ron Snakeskins, wider than the tyres I had on the 26", and a Suntour XCR-Air. The shock is pumped to the correct guage for my weight. I've only had the bike a few months now, but I've crashed quite a few times. All of these crashes happened when the front gave, and almost all of them I was not expecting anything. The last one the I was just exiting the veld slowly, looking for cars on the road, then the handlebar slapped me on my knee, and I was eating dust. I'm too afraid of attacking corners now, for fear of crashing. So my questions are:Should I just compensate and learn how to ride? Is the tyre itself to blame (wrong application of wrong type) Could it simply be a tyre pressure issue? Could it be a rebound/shock issue (bearing in mind none of the crashes I remember were due to an obstacle, rather loose surface).Anyhow, would love to have some advice.
V12man Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 1 - make sure the bike is setup properly2 - check tire pressures - you can run pretty low on the RoRo snakeskins - like 1.2...3 - Go on a skills course - ping hubber Peach4 - you probably need more weight on the front - see 1 and 3...
Odinson Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 Tyre pressure and technique. Your front tyre might be over-inflated and you may not have sufficient weight on the front-end. Your grip on a bike is determined (largely) by the front tyre. If you don't weight it down during cornering, there is a risk of wash-out. This risk is increased by the surface - loose over hardpack is always tricky to corner hard on. Also make sure that the tyres you have are suited to the terrain you are riding.
Bernard Horn Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 The change of road surface got me last weekend as well.Going from dry tar onto wet stone driveway to let cars through. Took a lie down on the pavement.Will consentrate more on the roadsurface instead of watching the traffic behind me.None of the cars I was letting through thought to stop!
Martin PJ Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 I use Rocket Ron's on the front, very happy with them. I had the Racing Ralph's, they did get a bit washy towards the end of their life. Their tread pattern is not too far from Rocket Ron. Maybe your tires are old. My Racing Ralph lasted about 2 years on the front. I agree with the other guys about tire pressure and weight on the front wheel.This is probably the cause of your issues.
tombeej Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 1. Don't touch the front brake when cornering2. Don't touch the front brake when cornering3. Don't touch the front brake when cornering And then everything else comes after
Oneman Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 I had this same issue - hard falls after my front wheel lost contact. Since then I've tried to have a bit more weight on my front wheel. The nice thing now is that I can feel the front giving way, but I still have a millisecond to adjust and save myself. (Either that or I've been super lucky).
dirtrider Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 Ok nobody wants to say it but a 29er is just not as fast as a 26er on tight single track . Unfortunately you will have to slow down a bit .
droenn Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 This sounds familiar... Washed out a few times and have done the following: - dropped stem a little so my weight is further forward over front wheel- fitted conti mountain kings (2.4s) over RR 2.2s and run at low pressure- better brakes so can modulate speed better into corners (not directly related, but helped me)
Belgarath Posted May 28, 2015 Author Posted May 28, 2015 1. Don't touch the front brake when cornering2. Don't touch the front brake when cornering3. Don't touch the front brake when cornering And then everything else comes after Agreed, although I wasn't even thinking of braking. The tyre just bites, or loses grip. If I was riding a motorcycle, I would call it a "tank slapper". The more I think about it now, the more I think it's a pressure thing. Could an under-inflated tyre do this?
tombeej Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 Do you (1) lean into corners, or (2) do you 'drop' the bike underneath you so that your upper body remains vertical?
Belgarath Posted May 28, 2015 Author Posted May 28, 2015 Ok nobody wants to say it but a 29er is just not as fast as a 26er on tight single track . Unfortunately you will have to slow down a bit . That is agreed... My friend was riding with me once when I disappeared into the bushes, and his comment was I was going too fast, although I did not think I was going hard... This sounds familiar... Washed out a few times and have done the following: - dropped stem a little so my weight is further forward over front wheel- fitted conti mountain kings (2.4s) over RR 2.2s and run at low pressure- better brakes so can modulate speed better into corners (not directly related, but helped me) I did RAISE the stem for a more comfortable riding position, that might be part of it. I need to take the bike for a set-up anyway, cash shortage and all that...
Headshot Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 https://books.google.co.za/books/about/Mastering_Mountain_Bike_Skills_2nd_Editi.html?id=_2wkch1SE3QC&redir_esc=y
Belgarath Posted May 28, 2015 Author Posted May 28, 2015 Do you (1) lean into corners, or (2) do you 'drop' the bike underneath you so that your upper body remains vertical? I try to drop the bike. Although most crashes was only very light cornering, once even going straight. Change in surface makes the tyre skid onto its side, bucking the handlebar, and off I go.
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