Skinnies/Log Rides

[MR. evil]

WOW! I justed checked out a few videos of Millers Pond, that place looks sick. How far is it from Nam?

It's about 15 minutes south of Hartford, So maybe 50 minutes from exit 8 or 9 (I 84) on the MA pike. Check out BikeRag.com for good info on the place. The guy to runs BR also built all the trails & stunts at Millers.

 

[MR. evil]

Awesome riding. I can do bunny hopping pretty well, but how do you do that back wheel hop? i never could get that down. Argh.

That's not me. I'm the hack on the red bike. I'm still trying to learn how to pedal kick (back wheel hop) myself.

 

[eatskisleep]

Me and Austin did this one yesterday... there are a few more good ones here:

 

[bvibert]

That looks pretty crazy! Not much room for error... How long is it?

 

[eatskisleep]

You can see the first half from the picture; certainly a mind game...

 

[bvibert]

Wow, I don't think that would end well for me. Mostly because I'd probably over think it...

 

[Riverskier]

Looks wide with a lot of room for error. That said, I wouldn't be caught dead on that thing. Not worth the risk in the off chance that something went wrong.

 

[mattm59]

too bad we couldn't get Maribeth "the bimbo millionaire" Blonski to ride that:flame:
Maybe if we put a 2 lane wide yellow gate at the end she'll "go for it":wink:

http://www.ihatebikes.net/site/news/mtb-rider-crashes-into-locked-gate-is-awarded-2-9-million/

Personally, I'd barely be able to walk that bridge:roll:

 

[bvibert]

There's a been a few new skinnies popping up at my local haunt. Now I just need to get the nerve up to try some. I gotta get over being worried about how I'm going to bail if something goes wrong, and just go for it.

 

[MR. evil]

There's a been a few new skinnies popping up at my local haunt. Now I just need to get the nerve up to try some. I gotta get over being worried about how I'm going to bail if something goes wrong, and just go for it.

How's your wheelie drop?
If you can nail down a wheelie drop to the side, log rides become much less intimidating.

 

[bvibert]

How's your wheelie drop?
If you can nail down a wheelie drop to the side, log rides become much less intimidating.

Not very consistent, which is a big part of my problem.

 

[o3jeff]

Not very consistent, which is a big part of my problem.

I was impressed with it a few years ago!

 

[MR. evil]

Not very consistent, which is a big part of my problem.

Just setup something in the backyard to practice them on. Only needs to be 12" off the ground.

 

[bvibert]

Practiced my wheelie drop a little last night during my ride, including on the infamous rock that Jeff witnessed a few years back. I think I'm getting the hang of it...

 

[o3jeff]

Practiced my wheelie drop a little last night during my ride, including on the infamous rock that Jeff witnessed a few years back. I think I'm getting the hang of it...

lol, were you able to complete the back flip on the bike, you were close a few years ago!

 

[bvibert]

lol, were you able to complete the back flip on the bike, you were close a few years ago!

No, I managed to tame the pedal kick this time around... :lol:

 

[MR. evil]

When I first started getting consistent at wheelie drops and then venturing into elevated Skinnies I ran into a small problem. The 2 or 3 gear combos that I hade down for wheelie drops were not the gear combos I like for riding skinnies. This resulted and a badley failed bail attempt from an elevated log ride at Vietnam that saw me landing on my face. I was lucky enough to be wearing a full face helmet that day, but it still hurt pretty good. From that day on I worked on both my wheelie drops and skinnies to make sure my proffered gear ratios for each matched up so that when ever I am on an elevated log ride I KNOW that I will have no issues pulling an emergency wheelie drop.

 

[awf170]

What are you preferred gear ratios for each? Seems weird to be that different. I run a 32 up front and prefer to wheelie drop from anywhere between the 2nd biggest and 4th out back. And those are also the rings I use for log skinnies. Actually I pretty much never use another other rings beyond those three useless I'm riding somewhere that is really fast or has really long and not very technical uphills.

 

[MR. evil]

What are you preferred gear ratios for each? Seems weird to be that different. I run a 32 up front and prefer to wheelie drop from anywhere between the 2nd biggest and 4th out back. And those are also the rings I use for log skinnies. Actually I pretty much never use another other rings beyond those three useless I'm riding somewhere that is really fast or has really long and not very technical uphills.

Now I use the same gear ratios for both, 32T up front, middle of the cluster out back. I used to like to ride skinnies in a much lower gear that didn't give me enough umph for wheelie drops; resulting in said fall on face at Nam....which I belive you were present for

 

[bvibert]

I imagine that the speed at which you're traveling would have an impact on which gear works better for the pedal kick, wouldn't it? I guess that most skinnies are done relatively slowly though..