Posts
6184
Joined
8/27/2006
Location
Acworth, GA
US
Edited Date/Time
10/26/2014 9:55am
I don't really ride or race much anymore but did quite a bit about 10 years ago and then when I was younger as well.
The tracks I always grew up riding and racing on were hard packed especially when I was younger before there was really any equipment to dig up the dirt or water to water the tracks. This was 25 years ago.
10 years ago and today local tracks would groom and there would be line choices but for the most part the tracks were smooth and flat and just the way I liked it. In fact for a while there I thought when a track was all rutted up with 10+ lines on a straight away going into a corner something was wrong with the track. Once I learned that this is quite normal and actually intentional was when I was like man I really haven't been challenging myself or learned to ride these types of tracks.
It always intimidated me because it is so easy to cross rut. Then you see go pro videos of the pros and then just are full fucking throttle and could care less. Even off the jumps that have 10 ruts going up them they just pin it and hope for the best it seems where I would carefully have to go up the jump in the right line because at one point most of us have cross rutted going up a jump to see our back tire kick around and throw us on the dirt.
I have always preferred really smooth tracks. Even in corners I like smooth. Could never really master the ruts very well. Not saying I can't ride them but just so used to riding smooth tracks.
So how do you guys handle such rutted tracks and jumps? Are you tip toeing though the lines standing up hoping not to go out of the rut or are you just pinning it and could care less if you come out of the line of the rut? When approaching a jump with multiple ruts how do you handle it?
The tracks I always grew up riding and racing on were hard packed especially when I was younger before there was really any equipment to dig up the dirt or water to water the tracks. This was 25 years ago.
10 years ago and today local tracks would groom and there would be line choices but for the most part the tracks were smooth and flat and just the way I liked it. In fact for a while there I thought when a track was all rutted up with 10+ lines on a straight away going into a corner something was wrong with the track. Once I learned that this is quite normal and actually intentional was when I was like man I really haven't been challenging myself or learned to ride these types of tracks.
It always intimidated me because it is so easy to cross rut. Then you see go pro videos of the pros and then just are full fucking throttle and could care less. Even off the jumps that have 10 ruts going up them they just pin it and hope for the best it seems where I would carefully have to go up the jump in the right line because at one point most of us have cross rutted going up a jump to see our back tire kick around and throw us on the dirt.
I have always preferred really smooth tracks. Even in corners I like smooth. Could never really master the ruts very well. Not saying I can't ride them but just so used to riding smooth tracks.
So how do you guys handle such rutted tracks and jumps? Are you tip toeing though the lines standing up hoping not to go out of the rut or are you just pinning it and could care less if you come out of the line of the rut? When approaching a jump with multiple ruts how do you handle it?
But, I'm a goon, so idk..
1. Look ahead. You have much better balance when looking at the end of the rut and aiming, versus staring at your front tire. Same holds true with cornering - look ahead.
2. Make sure you're on the balls of your feet for balance.
3. For cornering, make sure you're tucking your leg between your shrouds and bars so that you can actually lay the bike over. Use your throttle and brake to stand you up or lean you further over - not dabbing your leg.
I can't stand riding flat tracks, you can't really take corners as hard.
The Shop
Use a higher a gear aswell, if your on a four stroke the less engine braking the better. It's a lot easier to nail a corner rut when your going faster and have a lot more momentum. When exciting the corner be smooth on the gas, use the torque of the power.
I look for peg and boot drag marks on rutted jumps that tell the rut is pretty deep and not hit that line.
I also slow the steering by lowering the forks in the clamps as far as possible and can take a round or 2 of preload off the rear spring.
The first gen USD forks had the springs in the bottom and one could flip the bike in the pits and add a preload spacer,not today.
So i run a rear spring that is stiffet that the optimal 1 inch free sag 4 inch race sag setup. My setup is less race sag,like 3.25 or 3.5 inches with huge fork springs to offset that . Just the way i do it,with less oil damping so it works on choppy ,high frequency bumps.
This way I have that adjustability in the rear to lower it and slow the steering,especially in mud races.
Try to turn your fear to fun. And dress for the crash, gives confidence and is smart.
Ruts freak me out too. Not only important to learn how to ride them, but to ride them without using all your energy.
A death grip is never good. Practice and you will loosen up, getting more comfortable with the bike moving around under you.
I'm in love with my steering damper too, it helps.
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