Endurance - specifically distance and climbing.
-- Climbing - Kennedy on the SS is a late Winter/Early Spring goal.
-- Distance - Being able to do some of those epics in places like Coe would be fun. (See Climbing).
Diet - still debating that wholly green smoothie thing
----
Probably will continue late 2012 efforts to cut back on beer.
Endurance - specifically distance and climbing.
-- Climbing - Kennedy on the SS is a late Winter/Early Spring goal.
-- Distance - Being able to do some of those epics in places like Coe would be fun. (See Climbing).
Diet - still debating that wholly green smoothie thing
----
Probably will continue late 2012 efforts to cut back on beer.
How soon can you get to Overgrown today ? You need a good climb after your actions last night no doubt !
^^ Yep, I'm just a junior flyer. Are there any trails near the South Bay that are good for practice (and don't say Demo!)--or anybody that gives lessons?
Friends don't let friends ride e-"bikes" on dirt.
Nature is not a sidewalk (I'm looking at you, MidPen).
Riding more singletrack. Fewer vanilla road rides. Keeping the car running so I can actually get places I want to ride instead of just doing default rides from home all the time. Getting a geared MTB for longer rides (on single speed my limit is about 2.5 hours and also road time to/from trails either sucks if the gear is low, or the choice of trails is limited if the gear is high for road riding).
^^ Yep, I'm just a junior flyer. Are there any trails near the South Bay that are good for practice (and don't say Demo!)--or anybody that gives lessons?
Get a dirt jumper and start sessioning Calabazas in Cupertino/San Jose.
Btw, what's wrong with Demo? Thats got to be the best place to learn jumps and drops in the bay area.
Keeping speed on step ups, scrubbing jumps that are too small for the speed you have on that section of the trail, and hitting hips that air to the right (it's my non-natural side)
Also, being able to ride certain trails from top to bottom, hitting every feature...
"I think it's rad, when Balls beats Natural talent" - Shaun Palmer
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.
"I can almost smell the alcohol oozing from that post."
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.
More riding with my boys, and working on their skills, they are the future.
Me too! Your boy is a stud, he really impressed me on the rock skinny.
I don't really have any goals skill wise for myself. I just want to ride more, more places and keep learning, I'm leaps and bounds ahead of where I was last Feb. I plan to get my family out together even more this year. My wife rides and enjoys it. I just ordered parts to girly up my daughters hot rock for her 6th birthday. Hope that helps to get her more excited about riding some real trails. My son loves his new DJ 26er
Oh, & to be a bit more social. I've been hiding under a rock (A "Big" one-quite literally) for a bit too long...
Socialization is actually a skill that can be worked on. I like to be alone and ride alone. But a few years ago after my accident I made an effort to ride with people and enjoy my time with them. I try and remember a little something about everyone. And I am a happier person now.
Ride more often which will improve climbing and endurance. Small but useful tricks like a front wheel pivot for tight spaces. Track stand hopping to change direction.
adventure on some new rides in 2013. I love china camp, castle rock, and briones bc i know the trails and they are close to where i live but i am up for something new and exciting! Maybe i'll get lucky and someone will intro me to some new trails this year....
Sounds like we need to have some group rides where the focus is on skill building (technical sessions, jump redo's, drops and roll off skills). Too often I've gone on rides where just getting back to the car is the main goal and no one learns anything new.
Another option is to resurrect the Urban rides we would do on Wednesdays nights at Stanford. I learned a lot those nights and the skills REALLY translated to the trail (track stands, step ups, bunny hops, roll offs, side hops and drops to flat).
I guess this year my goal will be to get out and ride more than last year. That won't be too hard since I was swamped with the "joys" of home ownership.
Oh and to finally explore my new hood. Boulder Creek probably has a million gems...I just need to go out and find 'em.
And last but not least, start building my backyard trail. I can eventually make it all the way to Loch Lomond from my back door...literally!!
Sounds like we need to have some group rides where the focus is on skill building (technical sessions, jump redo's, drops and roll off skills). Too often I've gone on rides where just getting back to the car is the main goal and no one learns anything new.
This would be a great sequence to have. There are official events like the Dirt Series, but social learning/refreshers would be great. Jumps may be a bit tricky, but most stuff should be doable. I, personally, would love a jump clinic, but places like post office jumps awes and scares me.
As for boulder creek, just roll down 9 and air over CHUM *this message brought to you by the appease ancient rascal's demand for more CHUM jokes committee*
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.
Awesome post!
Now I just feel stupid.
"I can almost smell the alcohol oozing from that post."
I'm in the; get out and get healthy camp. having my wife and dog along with me as much as possable.
Getting strong enough to keep up, on a few social rides too.
Not as much a fitness goal, but going to work on finishing the freeride trail I started working on last year. Also want to put it a lot of trail work days at demo and SC.
Lopes is...a bit of a schmuck, but he's also one of the most accomplished riders ever, and his book is much more readable than the average skills book. Besides taking a lesson from an ex-pro, this has probably helped my riding more than anything else. Happy trails!
Friends don't let friends ride e-"bikes" on dirt.
Nature is not a sidewalk (I'm looking at you, MidPen).
Climb hills.and climb more. The Shasta Classic Lemurian local whiskeytown lake race for me kicks my butt 26 miles 4300 ft elv. Climb more because its harder to go up then down for me.
A couple more things I want to work on for the year... Descending better. Faster/hitting more features on our local stuff, Getting better at getting the bike UP stuff, ala trials moves up stuff.
I wouldn't mind working a bit more on going really fast over chunk, either.
My 2013 goals have changed a bit...originally I was thinking based on local trails.
But, there are three family trips planned that will hit Eugene, Whistler, and some combo of Utah, CO, and TX...
Endurance and distance are still key, but I am adding in the "skill" or "temperament" to try new obstacles as they are presented. That means use the skills I have as I encounter something new, rather than question and try and session it.
Lopes is...a bit of a schmuck, but he's also one of the most accomplished riders ever, and his book is much more readable than the average skills book. Besides taking a lesson from an ex-pro, this has probably helped my riding more than anything else. Happy trails!
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Originally Posted by grumblingcrustacean
Front Wheel Pivot Hop or Drop
