![]() If your dirt jump park has a mulch pit, take advantage of it as a lower-consequence way to progress when you want to start going bigger. Taking time to really hone skills and give your muscles the repetition they need to get to know movements before stepping up will greatly reduce the risk factor. The amount of risk you encounter will have a lot to do with your patience, and what happens to be available at your local dirt jumps. There’s a risk to reward ratio hidden somewhere in dirt jumping. Let your legs and arms absorb some of the impact when you touch down, and roll on into the next jump when you’re ready. Once you’re in the air, bring your bike up into your body, and keep your eyes focused on where you want to touch down. Keep your eyes up, focusing on the takeoff.Īs you roll into the transition, pump your body with the lip and follow its trajectory, keeping equal pressure on the front and rear end of your bike so you don’t get bucked backward. ![]() When you’re rolling into a jump keep your body in a neutral position with elbows and knees bent and your center of gravity in the middle of your bike. These tips will help you keep your form dialed once you’re ready for lift-off. Before stepping up to bigger jumps and gaps, take on tabletops that offer low consequences if you case it, and are easy to roll for getting used to the transition. Starting off with your body in the right form will set you up for smooth sending, even if you come up a little short to start. Muscle memory isn’t instantaneous, and repetition is the best way to master the skill. If you’re new to dirt jumping altogether, take your sweet time. Roll the jumps on your first lap without trying to get air, and then start picking them off one by one when you’re comfortable, airing and mastering each jump in a line before stepping up to bigger jumps. If there isn’t a pump track, hammer out a few mellow laps on the smallest line.Įven if you’re seasoned in the air, start with the smallest line when you head to a new spot. Get used to the feel of your bike, pumping rollers, and hitting the berms to maintain speed without pedaling. If the area you’re riding has a pump track where you can warm up your muscles, take a few laps around before heading to the bigger lines. They might have insight on what the speed is like, and if there are any weird jumps that take a specific run-in to clear. But your friend doesn’t just have to be the person you showed up with- talk to other riders to make new friends and get to know the beta. Whether they’ve been there before and can show you the ropes, or are just as new to the area as you, having someone to check out the lines with always makes the learning curve more enjoyable. Don’t be afraid to talk to other riders, and bring a friend along for camaraderie.īringing along a friend is a great way to keep your confidence and stoke high at the dirt jumps. Heading to your local dirt jumps for the first time can be intimidating, but remember that everyone else there was new to it once, too. Keep your digits on lockdown with gloves to protect your hands against run-ins with rough dirt, concrete, and mulch pits, and set yourself up for slip-free control with grips to keep your mitts from sliding around. A solid pair of flat shoes with stiff soles and tacky grip is key to keeping enough power in your pedal strokes, and decent control of your bike when you leave the dirt. ![]() Flat pedals make for easier exits off of the bike and also allow for more play in handling, so you can try different body positions, or throw down tricks once you’re getting the hang of things. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: you’re probably going to have to bail at some point. Not only will they reduce impact when you crash, but tossing on body armor is a great way to up confidence for rolling into bigger jump lines, too. Toss on a pair of knee pads to protect you from the inevitable bailouts we talked about before. While full-face helmets have a higher buy-in price, they may save your wallet at the dentist later. On hot days an open-face helmet will do the trick, but it’s never a bad idea to go all-out on protection and don a full-face when you’re dirt jumping. Dirt jumping comes with inevitable bails, and while most scuffs and scrapes heal up quickly, you only get one brain. Work with what you have, upgrade what you can, and improvise the rest.īelow are a few non-negotiables that we make sure to have on us before we head to any jump line. And while rolling in with a dirt jumper will have you fitting right in at the park, you don’t have to splurge right out of the gates. Dirt jump bikes have a shorter wheelbase and smaller wheels than modern mountain bikes, making them nimble and easy to handle on short transitions and through quick turns in the pump track. Building better bike handling starts with practice, but before you dive in it’s good to make sure you’ve got the right gear.
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