Posts
7
Joined
7/25/2017
Location
CA
Edited Date/Time
7/26/2017 12:33pm
Hey guys, new to the forum, been racing mx for two years now and just have a quick question.
I've done various research through forums but hoping you guys can help.
So I've been told my form in the air is like a vintage motocross racer, basically butt back and arms with a bend, sometimes I'm closer to the bars, sometimes I'm not lol. I don't even realize I'm doing it in the air, it's just how I'm comfortable on the bike. I'm squeezing properly and everywhere else on the track my form is consistent with how it "should" be, but in the air I sometimes go all old-school lol... Maybe I was a vintage racer in a past life haha.
(Photo source: google)
(this is me)
Obviously I realize that as bikes developed and changed, that the proper form while riding changed as well but I'm essentially just wondering if my form in the air isn't good? Should I maybe move my bars and angle my levers to get me more forward on the bike? or does it even matter?
For reference I'm almost 5'9.
Thanks!
I've done various research through forums but hoping you guys can help.
So I've been told my form in the air is like a vintage motocross racer, basically butt back and arms with a bend, sometimes I'm closer to the bars, sometimes I'm not lol. I don't even realize I'm doing it in the air, it's just how I'm comfortable on the bike. I'm squeezing properly and everywhere else on the track my form is consistent with how it "should" be, but in the air I sometimes go all old-school lol... Maybe I was a vintage racer in a past life haha.
(Photo source: google)
(this is me)
Obviously I realize that as bikes developed and changed, that the proper form while riding changed as well but I'm essentially just wondering if my form in the air isn't good? Should I maybe move my bars and angle my levers to get me more forward on the bike? or does it even matter?
For reference I'm almost 5'9.
Thanks!
Your form looks OK but it is usually optimal to keep your body centered and balanced on the bike but that Is always going to depend on the jump face, speed up to it, the distance and a whole variety of other factors.
One thing I would definitely recommend to anybody is watching pros and how they do certain techniques on video. Watch it in slow motion over and over again and try to imagine doing that in your mind. It's a trick I learned playing college sports and it's very very valuable
Pay close attention to how they lead up to a jump and especially their body position on the bike going up the face of the jump (watch in slow motion). You'll often find that the body is positioned up and over the handlebars (unless seat bouncing) and then as the bike transitions so does the body to maintain a centered and balanced position.
It's classic novice style to be too far back on jumps. (I know from experience). My thought is you have more control if your head is forward and you can almost read your own front numberplate. But that is a bit scarier because nobody likes an endo.
Sitting with your bike on the stand and playing with balance point is a good thing to try.
The Shop
Try getting on the balls of your feet. It allows you to use your legs to keep your upper body forward on the bike instead of your arms or core. Helps a ton in corners as well. Once you get on the gas, your weight gets thrown back and it's harder to counter that force with your upper body.
Start bending your knees and thrusting your chest forward on takeoff. Ease into it, but the more you can do both the lower you'll stay without having to "scrub". It's the scrub of the 90's, but it works for me!!
Can you imagine putting on a suit and dress shoes and saying "Fuck it, let's air this bitch out" with no helmet?
Pit Row
I wonder which habbit is harder to break
2015
Earlier this season 2017
And the last one is from a month ago or something
All depends how comfortable you are hitting certain jumps, the more comfortable the looser you get i guess.. comes naturally!
Thanks for showing those images!
Post a reply to: Jumping form.