CBus - Skills - Some Thoughts and Re-posts

Cross Peeps: here are a few reposts from last year and some other observations, but relevant.

I wrote this up last year, regarding dismount techniques. I thought I would repost a link since there were some questions last week about the proper ways to dismount.
http://crossbus.blogspot.com/2010/09/cross-practice-follow-up-dismount.html

Remember, like Spencer said, practice isn't always about going 100mph. Spend some time re-riding or going back over and over certain sections of the course each week at practice, finding a faster or better line through the areas you are finding difficult. It's important to know, there is always a better way and faster line through those flags and around corners. If someone is putting distance on you during practice, it might not be that they are more fit, it might just be they are picking better lines through the turns and around corners. Just because you are pedaling, doesn't mean you stop thinking. Remember what I said last week, just because the person in front of you is riding that line, doesn't mean it's the best or fastest line. Think, pedal, think, pedal and oh yea, breathe. Again, remember, your goal should be riding each lap faster and faster as you choose better lines and find the fastest way to get through the course and figure out where to pass, where to 'rest', where to enter and exit challenging sections. Think and pedal. Trust those tires.

Try taking a lap in a harder gear, I see quite a bit of spinning, which is fine, but there is also nothing wrong with trying for a lap or two, to push a harder gear. Push your butt back on that saddle and push a harder gear, you might surprise yourself with your power output. Again, this is what practice is about.

Last thought - Thursday at skills practice we worked on getting everyone around some tight turns (trees). I would suggest trying bending those elbows and lowering your chest some into the tight turns. Load up the front of the bike with your weight and then find the balance point of your body weight by shifting your weight back on the saddle. You'll have to experiment, but Professor Sholl and I saw noticeable improvement in the folks that were lowering their chest and bending their elbows around some trees. 

October 2 is the first CapCity Cross Race at John Bryan state park, are you ready? You can also pre-register if you wish.

A quick video of some folks going through the barriers and the sand pit last year during the Thursday Skills practice.:.:

Cross Practice Follow-up - Dismount Technique

Cyclocross Pedal Dismount Technique

3 Variations

1. Right Leg Step around -

Clip out of right pedal, stay clipped in with left foot, coast near dismount point, then click out of left pedal as you swing your right leg around, over your seat, to basically hit your ankle on the back of your left shoe, at same time putting right foot down on ground behind your left leg. This is possibly the best choice when having to pedal all the way up to a barrier or if the approach to barrier is more straight.

2. The Step through -

 Stepping through with the right while clipped in still on the left, then putting inside (right) foot down at the same time you unclip with your left. This is a tough move and requires quite a bit of trust and practice in your pedals, confidence in your heel twist and can possibly put you face/chest first into a barrier in some conditions (mud). If you are getting tired or tired in a race, this might not be the best technique to use. In some cases this is faster, but it requires enough speed and coasting time to provide you with the extra time needed to make this dismount a success.

3. The Left Foot Pre-Unclip -

Clip out of the left pedal first, rest your left foot on top of the left pedal, then click out of your right pedal, swing right leg over and step off left pedal It's much easier to step off the bike if you are not attached to either pedal.This would depend on the approach to the barrier and how long you need to pedal up to the dismount point. This might be the safest or the most dangerous dismount of the three. Your foot can slip off of the pedal prior to getting your other leg swung around. This might not be a good recommendation without flat (bmx) pedals and just depend on the pedal used (& could be really ugly with egg beaters).

NOTE: Don't forget the bit about moving your right-hand from your hood to your top tube prior-to unclipping. (when dismounting to the left of your bike) Keep your elbow between you and the bike and pick it up in the same place every time - which is the balance point of the bike.
 
There are three options here, each one has it's pro's and con's. I would suggest trying them during your weekly skills practice - (you are spending a day a week fine tuning your skills right?) - then apply them in a cross practice situation and see what works.

comments anyone?  Questions?