If you are lucky enough to either live, or be in California right now, we don’t need to tell you the weather is great. But, you might not know that there are Bikeskills clinics scheduled in both NorCal and SoCal this coming weekend. With temps forecasted to be in the 60s and 70s, the trails in perfect shape, what could be better than taking a Bikeskills clinic from two of the best instructors on the planet, former World Cup veterans Joe Lawwill or Jiro Nakamura?
The Art of the Switchback Video
Anyone that has been frustrated with one of mountain biking’s perennial challenges, steep and or complex switchback turns, knows that they are not easy. However, if you’ve taken a Bikeskills clinic, then you know that every switchback turn not only has common elements, but that there are skills you can develop and tools to apply to successfully tackle even the most difficult switchback. Check out the video…
Switchbacks Done Right
Over the past year we have watched our Bikeskills Switchback video become one of our most popular instructional videos. We’re not surprised. Again, not only are switchbacks a fact of trail-riding-life, our Bikeskills Switchback video really does help people first understand what a switchback turn is all about, then provides a basic overview of how to tackle them. And while we still think there’s nothing like a Bikeskills clinic, a lot of what we’ve learned in clinics has gone in to our videos. So if you’re headed out to the trails this weekend yourself, or know someone that can benefit from some Switchback 101, have them take a look:
Some Switchback Review Points:
- Get a good look at that Switchback ahead: the earlier you start preparing, the more likely you’ll pull it off
- Being in the right gear is critical: too low and you can lose traction, too high and you won’t be able to pedal hard enough on uphill switchbacks
- Taking the right entry line is crucial
- Apply pressure to that outside hand. Doing so will keep the head-tube perpendicular as well as ensure the front wheel retains traction and control
- On downhill Switchbacks, do your braking before you actually enter the turn
- Keep your turning arc as smooth as possible
- Practice, practice, practice
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