Finally cleared it!

[Paul_E_D]

Woot! went out riding today, and I finally managed to clear this 20 foot table I've been battling. It doesn't sound like much, but the approach is a corner with a short straight and a step-up just before the ramp, and the landing is narrow and doesn't have much runoff. To compound things, there's a nasty rise if you don't make the landing ramp that just bounces you in the air with little directional control with trees on both sides...

I had to rail the berm on the pipe, up shift at the stepup so as not to catch too much air, then nail it as soon as I had traction. I hit the bump a few times and nearly got into the flying W. Finally nailed it a few times... Aaaaah! now I'll be able to get through that section like 1/3 faster!!!

Carry on with your workday

[gmdboston]

Golf Clap........

[Paul_E_D]

What's that?

[Tricky Mike]

Tough crowd
Congrats! I've had luck with sitting through the take-off to get that extra bit of traction and then popping out of the seat, standing straight up (bars at my waist) and stomping on the rear brake to even things out. It's a delicate balance, though, but when you get it right not much else feels better.

[Paul_E_D]

Oh, yeah, I'm doing a massive seat bounce to get over this one. I haven't ever done a brake tap, but that could help get the rear tire over the bump on the landing ramp.

I just can't remember to actually tap the brake once I'm up in the air...

[Tricky Mike]

I had to force myself to do it initially, so I started doing it on whatever jump I was most comfortable with (even if it didn't make sense to do it there) and then slowly started adding it to the "techy" stuff where it was appropriate. Like everything else, eventually it becomes second nature. It is amazing how much the front end will dive, though, so beware


I used to watch a lot of guys turn the bike at the last moment before take off and flatten the bike out. I always thought that was so cool and it definitely looked faster than the brake tap I was doing in the same section. I never had the balls, to be honest.

[Paul_E_D]

Yeah, I've tried that one on occasion. I just get way sideways, not flat, and can't straighten it out.

[Tricky Mike]

I just get way sideways, not flat, and can't straighten it out.

I distinctly remember that being my problem the one time I tried it.... OK, the "couple-a two-three" times I tried it. Sometimes I'm my own worst enemy. OK... thanks a lot, Paul. I've got the MX itch.

[gmdboston]

There is a great picture of Bubba flattening out the bike over a jump. The right foot peg just clears the top of the jump, he has the bike turned, and is dong what is called the "Bubba Scrub". Turning the bike in the air to slow it down using the aero drag to slow the bike in mid air. If you've never seen him ride in person, you should. He does things with a motorcycle you can't describe with physics.......

[SVRACER01]

like this? not bubba but i know what your saying. i think theres a Fox poster with that jump.

[Paul_E_D]

Sweeeet!

[Tricky Mike]

If you've never seen him ride in person, you should. He does things with a motorcycle you can't describe with physics.......

Couldn't agree more. I was at the '03 Supercross race in Vegas when he broke his collarbone (on a 125). He absoluteley dominated his moto and the first few laps of the main. He washed out in a berm a few laps in and ended up in 4th or 5th, I think. It was a 20-lap race. At the pace he was keeping he'd have been back in first in no time, but he got impatient and started tripling this section that the guys on 250's were doubling. I couldn't believe it... It continues to be one of the most amazing things I've seen anyone do.
Eventually the impatience did catch up to him, though:

YouTube

PS- Hey Peter, thanks for the suspension advice last Tuesday. I'm trying to scrape together the funds for a set of triples. Jay and I were talking about it later that day... seems like a wise (albeit expensive) investment.