I think the first step to enlightenment is admitting ignorance. The second step is curiosity or willingness to learn.
For example, I learned zero about cornering in the last 12 years because I thought I knew everything I needed about cornering.
Another example is I often hear. "I DON'T do drops.". That will usually shut down any possibility of learning. To this I now ask "Why not? Can you do a 6 inch drop? Can you do one foot! Do you know how? Want to learn?"
So I say challenge yourself to learn something new and improve.
Airing with style (flatties, etc). Hitting the pump track at least a few times a month. Ride more BMX. Try my hand at DH racing.
I like what somebody said earlier about airing/hopping over bumpy sections. I just started doing that in the last couple of months and it's amazing how much you can keep flow.
Oh, and produce an independent MTB documentary (passion project).
I had a lot of great rides in 2012 despite some chronic injury problems, but it was a really uneven year, so the goal for 2012 is more goodness.
Skilz: jumps and long manuals. I'd like to get some 1:1 instruction, maybe at Whistler.
Fitness: getting back to my power-to-weight ratio from 2011.
Ride at least 2 new destinations, probably Ashland and one other.
"You are by far the most interesting single-serving friend I have ever met."
PACS- Calabazas looks like the ticket. And it's only 4 miles from our new place. Thanks!
I've been to Demo once. It was lots of fun, but most of the jumps/drops were a little over my comfort zone (XC old guy)!
you may also want to check out pleasanton bike park---i know it's a bit of a drive, but imho, it was far easier for a noob like me (comparing beginner section there to the one at calabazas). calabazas was a lot more convenient location wise (i would ride there from work), but i felt i progressed more at pleasanton.
also, santa clara pal bmx park is a lot of fun, although you have to pay to ride. i've been going there for about 2 months, and have met a lot of mtn bikers there as well.
Another example is I often hear. "I DON'T do drops.". That will usually shut down any possibility of learning. To this I now ask "Why not? Can you do a 6 inch drop? Can you do one foot! Do you know how? Want to learn?"
So I say challenge yourself to learn something new and improve.
Fc
I learned to do backflips in 2012 at 48 years old. Started out on an air bag, moved to a foam pit and then to a resi-mat. The goal for 2013 is to take it to dirt.
Francois has it right challenge yourself to learn something new. I used to watch others do drops or gaps and say I was too old to do that or not skilled enough. But I was always working on skills to move up to the next feature. With the right training, you be suprised what you can learn.
And that is a 43lbs Santa Cruz VPfree downhill bike that I am flipping, not a BMX or dirt jump bike.
Since I'm only riding ss these days, I have to be in shape enough over the winter that I can do the higher elevation rides come summer. Hogan will be out of the picture then, so you guys will be spared year-round Hogan ride reports.
Got a few trick goals to accomplish on the DJ: 180/360 in/out of a halfpipe or bowl, bunnyhop onto a bench, be able to manual
Definitely do some trail maintenance. I end up focusing so much time on bike advocacy and outreach in the city but never have time to go out and put hours into the local trails.
I am going to try and not be so awesome. In 2012, I was super awesome all the time especially on my bike and I think it made less awesome people feel stupid. Maybe this year I will still be pretty awesome but just not awesome all the time.
Got a few trick goals to accomplish on the DJ: 180/360 in/out of a halfpipe or bowl, bunnyhop onto a bench, be able to manual
Can you 360 tail tap or 360 bunnyhop? Found once I got those down, airing out is MUCH easier because you know how to spin. Also, start your spin early at the lip. I think 180's are harder than 360's because with 180's you have to roll back. Or, get a freecoaster hub and you're home free .
When you say bench, are you talking about the table part or the seat part? What I found made life much easier is to find something cement the same height at a school yard and do that first. When we were kids, the Santa Cruz High school quad stage was the rite of passage (it was higher then). Once we could do that, we were getting onto benches, and then picnic tables.
Good luck!
*I need to desperately get a DJ again!* Throw that one in for a 2013 goal!
Bunny Hops, Drops and high speed cornering. I'd like to be more active riding down technical. I get down most things, but I want to glide down most things instead. Be one with the trail so to speak.
"Chancho. When you are a man sometimes you wear stretchy pants... Its for fun..."
Being a good example to my peers here in Marin County by:
attending important meetings where the future of our kids access is at stake,
waiting for trails to drain after rain and not causing more erosion,
attending trail work in January on Tamarancho existing trails, flow trail, and 680 trail
-- Get the (literal) cobwebs off my trail bike and actually ride some trails. Even some quick loops at Arastradero, then Waterdog and then Demo and Skeggs once I have some fitness again.
-- Finally learn to manual.
-- Finally get some actual air on the bigger jumps at Calabazas. I was nearly there this fall before the rain started.
-- Ride the beginner xc ride at Sea Otter this year. I've signed up but not rode for the past two years.
Do the following on the Rigid SS:
-Improve Endurance to compete/finish not one, but two Solo 24 hr events & some other yet-to-be-determined endurance event.
-Improve Handling Skills w/new carbon fork
-Avoid any and all drops over 12" (when possible).
-Shrink my bike-to weight ratio by 20 more lbs.
-climb, climb, climb!
- encourage wife/friends to get out and fat tire
- join them and plan rides that cater to their learning (ie, lack of endurance) level and help them build up (including one planning for a tri)
- just enjoy being outside witnessing others have fun
I'd like to learn how to jump, get backside on a double consistently. I'm not shooing for backflips. I've been looking for a DJ frame, and I work pretty close to Calabazzas, hoping I can make it over there at lunch.
I want get my daughter going on her push bike. It's still a liitle big for her, she is only 18 months old...not sure if this counts as a new skill, for me.
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Originally Posted by cmdrpiffle
