Why do I keep crashing/wiping out?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by andrew on October 8, 2009 at 11:36am

Hey hank - ah, now I know who you are. We chatted a bit after your race...you talked about your chain and ENO hub? You looked good out there, glad you're feeling more comfortable. You're strong...keep it up.

-A

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Permalink Reply by Pirate Race Productions on October 5, 2009 at 3:56pm

If you are braking mid-turn, that could be the issue, which you correct by braking before you turn.

Are you counter steering - putting downward pressure on your inside arm - as that is usually the first trick to turning fast and maintaining traction.

I'd practice with friends who can give you feedback, or see if you can get video of you turning, you may be able to see for yourself how you look different than more experienced riders.

Otherwise, if you dont crash occassionally, you are not trying hard enough, so dont get discouraged!

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Permalink Reply by Cincicycles on October 6, 2009 at 9:29am

Read Ned Overend's Mountain Bike Like a Champion. It is a fantastic book that describes in great detail how he handles his bike. Not cross specific but a great read for technical skills.

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Permalink Reply by Cincicycles on October 6, 2009 at 9:48am

Your pressure may be too low, allowing the tire to fold a bit bucking you off just a thought. Are you experimenting during the week with pressures, turns etc?

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Permalink Reply by mpapet on October 10, 2009 at 2:32pm

1. cyclocross tests bike handling under extreme physical conditions. Your heart rate through the roof and attempting to stay very coordinated are mutually exclusive. Crashing is a part of learning your limits.

2. If you aren't counter-steering, then the chances you will crash while cornering are a great deal higher.

3. If you aren't steering with your hips and relaxing your shoulders, the chances you will crash are much higher.

If you are coming off a road bike that is fit for competition, you probably have too much weight 'forward.' I would consider a slightly shorter stem and more rise to get your weight back more. Other than that, practice 1-3.

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Permalink Reply by IdahoBob on October 19, 2009 at 9:11pm

I had this problem last year, I would get a gap and overcook a corner, wipe-out and end up back in the group. I'm sure a little bit of the problem was that I was going hard trying to gap the guys behind me, but I flipped my stem from -5 to +5 this year and haven't yet crashed in a corner. The second change I made was going from tubeless hutchinson bulldogs to tubular fangos.

Not sure which was the key, but I feel better in the corners this year.

Good Luck

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Permalink Reply by Zach on October 22, 2009 at 12:19pm

A fork that is more vertical is going to turn way more sharp and might make the problem worse. The best way to fix the problem is to
1. Ride your cross bike as your primary to be used to the feel durring cross season.
2. ride lots of trails
3. circles on the grass going as tight as you can.
4. counter weight and steering

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Permalink Reply by andrew on October 22, 2009 at 3:50pm

Zach,
Your statement about forks actually isn't true. Now if the head angle is steeper on one frame, the steering will feel "quicker" because you've reduced the trail, but if you take a "more vertical" fork (I assume Hank means less rake) and compare it to one that has a longer rake (and thus less trail) for a given frame, that more vertical fork will actually steer slower. Think shopping carts - they are so twitchy with the wheels pointing forward, but super steady when backwards.

Not knowing the geometry of both of hank's bikes and forks, it's hard to say the real effect, but (Hank) it's also important to note that a fork that is straight-legged doesn't necessarily have more trail (less rake) since it often has some offset. But the tricross compared to an easton (just a guess) is 51 vs. 45 I think, so in that case, it is more vertical, so if you were to swap forks on your old tricross frame, the easton would feel slower.

hope that all makes sense.

Here's a good explanation: http://www.phred.org/~josh/bike/trail.html

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Permalink Reply by Hank on October 22, 2009 at 4:07pm

Wow thanks for all the info. I had no idea.

To clarify I went from the stock fork on an 07(?) Tricross Singlecross to a Rock Lobster with an Alpha Q cx20.

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Permalink Reply by Hank on October 22, 2009 at 2:59pm

Alright so finally got the new bike all together and boy oh boy does it handle like a dream! I have a cable hanger and two spacers under the stem now and that made a world of a difference!I could be wrong but I feel like the new fork helps too. Hell new everything always help.

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Permalink Reply by FallDownGoBoom on October 23, 2009 at 1:26pm

Bringing that new ride to Coyote this Sun? If so, I'll be cheering/heckling you on, as usual.

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