@Neil Price & everyone that finds this a worthy topic //////////// UPDATE: Got to watch a legendary pro rider ride this rock a few different ways and discuss it. He recommended a version of Rideup and bouncing the rear tire all the way to the top provided you don’t need to hold pressure for the next obstacle. This bounce was exactly what I was attempting to prevent/avoid, but he said that was easiest and most reliable way to ride it. 🤣. For holding pressure he thought the easiest approach was to zap it, but it requires a strong zap and he hit his front tire very low on the rock, just above the undercut. //////////// Looking for suggestions and observations. Especially curious to get thoughts on best technique to use and/or basic improvement suggestions on my riding of this particular rock. It is a slab that is actually quite steep towards the rider and also slanted quite a bit off towards the rider’s right. The slant towards the camera makes the rock appear a lot less steep. It also creates a bit of a traction limitation. The slab is thick and it’s leading edge creates an axle high undercut. I’ve historically ridden it instinctively, mostly relying on speed created at the bottom. I think the steps executed go something along the lines of: 1. rev up during the approach, 2. bounce a low wheelie off the rock 3. unload & clutch release to get the rear to deflect off the undercut so that the bike trajectory will be aligned with going up the rock, and to create enough momentum to reach the top without relying on traction during the climb. 4. Bias the upper body forward as the bike counter rotates the bars into the hips; 5. then bend the knees and push the bike forward under me as it reaches the top. I guess it might be considered some sort of blend of punch and rideup. There is no attempt to load up the front and rear suspension simultaneously (although that might work better) or any attempt to get big lift of the rear tire. Just trying to give the rear suspension a little help to absorb the edge and track up the rock. Despite being a rather odd technique, the bike seems to go up the rock rather nicely. Ride 1 is an example. The front on ride 1 is just an inch or two off the ground when it hits and the rear suspension is unloaded when rear tire hits. I think the undercut is just big enough to create trouble if I attempt to emphasize more peg pressure as the rear hits the bottom. The closer I approach the peg pressure of a rideup the more the rear tire will get driven into the undercut, which bounces the rear tire away from the rock and slows the bike’s upward momentum. I think ride #2 illustrates the bounce off the undercut. Ride 3 shows what happens if not enough momentum is created at the bottom. Why I did not try a normal rideup or splatter or something more midway between punch & splatter??? My panic lizard is totally convinced a traditional tall wheelie heavy peg pressure rideup won’t end well. He wants to see someone else successfully demonstrate this first. I think a splatter should work but not sure if/how one compensates for the slant off to the right. Again, the panic lizard wants proof of life. And a splatter on this seems bit like swatting flies with a Volkswagen. Video: https://youtu.be/0X7xq_9-GQ0
Posted by Ron Hensley at 2023-06-05 18:30:06 UTC