I would like a handle bar mounted speedometer

Lowlander wrote:

How to clear a jump. 1. Roll the face of the jump a few times to get a FEEL for the angle, kicks/lips. 2. Under jump...

How to clear a jump.

1. Roll the face of the jump a few times to get a FEEL for the angle, kicks/lips.

2. Under jump the landing to a safe spot getting a feel for the distance and more importantly speed in the run up to the jump. For example on a double you should be landing comfortably and consistently before the back side of the landing, table tops 3/4's of the way along. These landings will be harder than typically coming up short (safe though) but no worse than over jumping to the base of the landing as you will be carrying a lot more forward momentum if you over jump.

3. Grow a pair and carry you speed into the jump and all the way off the face. Make sure you get out of the corner or off of the previous jump and accelerate up to a speed that you FEEL will take you that extra 20-30ft to the sweet spot or even base of the landing.

4. If its not enough speed on say a double and you are going to case it, land with the power on and drive down through the landing under acceleration. Same goes for coming short on a tabletop. If you have done steps 1 & 2 and you can't gauge the additional speed or pre loading suspension for example you are not ready to even attempt the jump.


Speed in mph/kmh is useless to you. You would need to calculate difference in rider weights, how the rider soaks up or doesn't soak up the face of the jump with his/her legs, hit the exact same line (different lines can throw you long or short depending on kickers/worn out the lip is).

If you need to gauge the speed then ride beside a fast rider on the approach to the jump. Because typically most fast riders will have the speed to clear the jump way before the take off and are only maintaining speed on the last 30-40ft. If they are seat bouncing or ringing the neck out of the bike then it is a difficult jump to clear or needs a wider longer run up to approach safely. Now back to the speed. Because rider A is carrying X speed into the face doesn't mean to say you will require the same speed as per differences above.

What you also have to learn is the sound of the good riders leaving the face. Are they maintaining a steady throttle, accelerating moderately or hard. Thats where the old Braaaaaap discussions come in the pits for most experienced riders. A quick description of noise to most EXPERIENCED riders is enough to let them know how to attack or not attack a jump face.

kkawboy14 wrote:

No I didn't miss his point at all. I guess you missed my point. Speed is relative weather you are seat bouncing or using any other...

No I didn't miss his point at all. I guess you missed my point.

Speed is relative weather you are seat bouncing or using any other technic he was implying