What's the thing that really boosted your skills/fitness?

[RockCoach]

Just touching on this subject of getting back on the bike: when i was riding clipless pedals with my current 60mm stem, i felt i could get far enough back. Now that i have transitioned to flats (still learning to ride with em), i feel i dont get as far back and its probably because my feet are now in the mid position on the pedals rather than on the ball of my feet.

 

My thoughts are that i could go with a shorter stem to get back a bit more but the i think i will be too cramped up or is this thinking wrong as the small mm difference in stem length will not be sp much noticable in terms is positio of my arms?

 

It shouldn't make too much of a difference between flats and clipless. So without changing anything more at this point concentrate on pushing your heels down when descending. Feel all your weight pushing through your feet. Front of both feet pointed up like a speedboat skimming over the water. You should even have the front pedal slightly higher than the rear one which requires you to back pedal as the gradient gets steeper. I watch people in my class approach a steep bank in attack position with cranks level - as the front dips down the bank so the crank position doesn't change forcing their weight forward onto the bars. Takes a bit of practise to get it right.

 

Also get a buddy to video you to check your position.

[AlanD]

It shouldn't make too much of a difference between flats and clipless. So without changing anything more at this point concentrate on pushing your heels down when descending. Feel all your weight pushing through your feet. Front of both feet pointed up like a speedboat skimming over the water. You should even have the front pedal slightly higher than the rear one which requires you to back pedal as the gradient gets steeper. I watch people in my class approach a steep bank in attack position with cranks level - as the front dips down the bank so the crank position doesn't change forcing their weight forward onto the bars. Takes a bit of practise to get it right.

 

Also get a buddy to video you to check your position.

Thanks but how do i know when the weight is pushing through my feet? Probably a dumb question but read this many times in articles also. Is about pushing your feet into the pedals?

[RockCoach]

Thanks but how do i know when the weight is pushing through my feet? Probably a dumb question but read this many times in articles also. Is about pushing your feet into the pedals?

 

Sorry about the delay. I typed up a whole response only to lose it in an ekscum failure. 

 

It's about fore and aft balance over the BB. You should feel very little pressure through your hands and mostly be standing on the pedals. If you are too far forward you will feel pressure on your palms and too far back will feel like your fingers are hanging onto the bars.

 

Practise by rolling along a flat road in the attack position. Grip the bars with your thumb and forefingers - keeping your back as flat as possible. If you can do this you have discovered the natural balance point over the BB. As you descend you should be able to grip the bars very lightly without any finger or palm pressure. You will feel all your weight through your feet if you do this.

 

Good luck!

[intern]

what I have gathered so far, the answer tot he thread question is:

TITS

and Skills courses/mentorship.

That's actually a very good point - ask for help from someone who is a more experienced cyclist. Can make a massive difference.

[Pikey]

Don't think the dropper improved your skills.

maybe not but it improves your confidence,which Helps to concentrate on your skills. And then when you ride without one you know what postion to be.

 

So maybe in a round about way it does improve your skills.

[RocknRolla]

maybe not but it improves your confidence,which Helps to concentrate on your skills. And then when you ride without one you know what postion to be.

 

So maybe in a round about way it does improve your skills.

It makes it easier. A guy with a dropper riding down the same obstacle as a guy without a dropper does not give him superior skills automagically.

[Runbikeswim]

Nice ... Following

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

It makes it easier. A guy with a dropper riding down the same obstacle as a guy without a dropper does not give him superior skills automagically.

no, but at the same skill level, the guy with a dropper will have an easier time of it. 

[Pikey]

It makes it easier. A guy with a dropper riding down the same obstacle as a guy without a dropper does not give him superior skills automagically.

agreed never implied that. The dropper gives you that confidence,and confidence is everything.

[Frosty]

Rest and recovery. Keeping the recovery rides easy and the hard rides hard.

 

That helped with the fitness, but did squat for the skills.

[AlanD]

Sorry about the delay. I typed up a whole response only to lose it in an ekscum failure.

 

It's about fore and aft balance over the BB. You should feel very little pressure through your hands and mostly be standing on the pedals. If you are too far forward you will feel pressure on your palms and too far back will feel like your fingers are hanging onto the bars.

 

Practise by rolling along a flat road in the attack position. Grip the bars with your thumb and forefingers - keeping your back as flat as possible. If you can do this you have discovered the natural balance point over the BB. As you descend you should be able to grip the bars very lightly without any finger or palm pressure. You will feel all your weight through your feet if you do this.

 

Good luck!

Ok cool. Thanks for taking the time to respond. Will practice this :-)