June 12, 2011 in Outdoors

Mountain bikers carve out time to slow down, improve skills

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Rich Landers photoBuy this photo

Mountain bikers need special skills for trails tricked out with gravel, obstacles and switchbacks.
(Full-size photo)

We learn to ride bicycles as kids. But we never quite finish learning to ride mountain bikes.

Fat-tire models are another breed that constantly steer their riders into terrain that leads toward something new to master.

The Spokane Mountaineers, with six helpers and 13 instructors, are concluding their annual two-day mountain biking skills clinic in Riverside State Park today. The quota of 32 students was filled shortly after the clinic was announced three months ago.

“A lot of the students are repeats, because after you take the clinic once, you realize how much more there is to learn and practice,” said instructor Lisa Giegel.

A series of stations designed by Rick Vance take participants on a training progression through the major skills mountain bikers use to enjoy trails formerly dominated by mules.

“Second only to safety, the main emphasis is on technique rather than speed and power,” Giegel said.

“I’ve been instructing a beginner group for a few years. The difference in their confidence levels from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon is incredible.”

Even seasoned riders benefit from focusing on skills, said Marlene Gemar, co-director.

“All of us who’ve been riding for years know that most of our effort goes into getting stronger and riding faster,” she said. “So much so, that we don’t take time to slow down.

“I think it’s really good to practice something slow and technical. Then you can break it down and get it right.”

Beginners might need explanations of cadence, such as how to gain more balance and endurance by spinning faster in a low gear rather than straining on the pedals in a slower high-gear cadence.

Novices need to understand why they spin out on dirt-trail climbs or why they don’t have to stop and walk around switchbacks.

“We teach riders to get off their saddles a lot, but sometimes being on the saddle is best,” Giegel said. “For instance, sitting on the saddle on a steep hill will apply more weight to the rear wheel to give you more traction so you don’t spin out.”

Developing the ability to go slow often means the difference between staying on your bike rather than getting off at an obstacle or switchback.

Within a day, a student can learn the basics of anticipation: “It doesn’t sound like a skill, but it is,” Gemar said.

Anticipation leads to more effective braking, shifting and changing body position to meet trail conditions.

“Instead of learning to shift, you learn to shift when you should,” Gemar said

Before long, beginners can learn how to ride over logs and nail 10-inch drops.

Single-track riding skills involve practicing the transitions of pedaling in and out of little gullies.

“When we tell beginners to get off their saddle, they tend to stand up. But mostly they need to get back off the saddle, especially for braking, hitting variable terrain or to clear an obstacle,” Gemar said.

Cornering drills start with riding in a circle that gets tighter and tighter.

Next, they ride Figure 8s to shift weight for turning both directions.

After that comes a cornering slalom course set up on a downhill.

“We have a maze station with tight right and left turns to begin training for negotiating switchbacks,” Giegel said.

“Where your eyes go, your shoulders go, and ultimately your bike.”

This is useful info to learn before you find yourself heading down to a switchback on a cliff.

“Advanced riders take the same basic skill set, but instead of going over little bumps in the terrain, they’re learning to get a front wheel up and shift weight forward so the back wheel comes over it,” Gemar said.

“They learn how to load the bike’s shocks and the finer points of unweighting and making moves to use terrain to their advantage.

“After the course, it still might take a week for everything to come together.”

“For all of the physical effort that goes into mountain biking,” Giegel said, “the sport is equally taxing as a mental exercise. A whole lot goes on up in your head.

“Sometimes the strong guys come in and want to power through everything. We slow them down at some stations and it’s a real eye-opener to see that some of these slow-speed skills are hard to do. It gives them an appreciation for the benefits of finesse versus power.”

“I learn more every year I teach the class,” Gemar said. “A weekend of practice on fundamentals is a way to take my riding to a new level.”

Even though most of the region’s mountain bikers were not in this weekend’s clinic, the Mountaineers encourage riders to take time to practice basic skills.

“It seems that all ability levels come away from a practice weekend with more confidence – and a more confident rider is certainly having more fun,” Giegel said.

Three comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  jeffleelambert on June 12 at 7:34 p.m.

  Spokane Mountaineers do a good job of teaching outdoor skills and instilling safe and ethical practices. www.spokanemountaineers.org

• 

  Providing_Buttonholes on June 13 at 7:22 a.m.

  Mountain biking is for those whom are too lazy to use their own feet to walk the trails. Usually they are rude, pushy and destroy more trails than hikers. THEY dont own the trails, but act like it. I find that if a Mountain Biker acts obnoxious that my hiking stick accidently falls into their spokes.

  Now where does it say that the Mountainers have a section of their syllabus regarding courtesy and rules of the road?

  @Jeffleelambert teaching skills is one thing, teaching respect for others on the trails is another.

• 

  Eric_Ryan on June 13 at 7:58 p.m.

  Buttonholes,

  I understand your frustrations as a hiker seemingly being run over by mountain bikers. I am a mountain biker, but also a hiker. I have been on many a hike where I observed bikers not properly yielding the trail and communicating with other trail users. I have also had many experiences on my bike when I was riding uphill and my fellow riders coming down did not yield to uphill traffic. I do my best in all these situations to stop and talk with my fellow trail users to educate them on proper trail etiquette. I always try to make it a friendly chat, not an argument.

  The article on the bike clinic focused mainly on some of the unique technical features of the clinic. Unfortunately, it did not mention that trail etiquette is one of the topics presented in the opening of the course. It is discussed before any of the riding and technical instruction. The rules of the trail are also given out in the course booklet. There is a lot more to the clinic and the Spokane Mountaineers than you can get in any one article.

  Finally, I must take exception with your comment, “Mountain biking is for those whom are too lazy to use their own feet to walk the trails.” This type of negative comment may make you feel better, but it really does not benefit anyone else. It only serves to widen the divide between bikers and hikers, two groups who both love experiencing the great outdoors and need to work together to preserve it. I also find it ironic that you demand “respect” but don’t feel obligated to return it when commenting here.

  I suspect you probably have never tried mountain biking. In that case, I would challenge you to sign up for the clinic next year and give it a try. The Mountaineers would be happy to find a bike for you to borrow. You could share your experiences as a hiker, but also gain a better understanding of mountain bikers and mountain biking. I think you would also revise your definition of “Lazy.”