Western Park Jumps, Old dog learns new trick Options

[Gareth]

OK, this isn't so much a ride report as a 'rhythm section' progress report. For ages now (well since the Spring) I've been trying to learn how to clear the set of four tables at Western Park in Leicester. They're fairly big and most of the BMX'ers leave them alone as coming up short is something of a hazard with a rigid fork. Anyways the guys who ride them really well are mostly on jump bikes with a stiff sprung fork and a rigid rear. This gave me the excuse that it was my suspension soaking up the jumps meaning I lost speed instead of gaining it by jump number three (the big one) and could only manage to get my front wheel on to the downslope, clipping the top with my rear so many times it was like Ground Hog day.

Unfortunately for me it wasn't too long before someone turned up on a fairly softly sprung Bullit and cleared them all easily. A week or so later another jumpimg god arrived and also nailed them all on a big freeride bike so my suspension excuse was looking dead in the water. So I kept hitting them time and again taking tips from anyone kind enough to offer them (and there were a few, thanks guys you know who you are). One of the best tips was probably 'learn how to jump the first one properly'. Now it's dead easy to clear the first one so what was all that about? Trouble is if you hit that first small table with enough speed to clear the second or monster third jump you can clear it all the way to a nasty flat landing six feet over the end.

So I tried 'casing' the jump (sometimes called 'soaking it up') which is where you ride at it standing high and then let the bike come up towards you on the ramp so you get little height. This does let you hit it with more speed but also makes it hard to land on the downslope properly. Anyways, even though learning how to do this got me over jump number two succesfuly I still didn't have the spring to clear the big one. So I concentrated on take offs, surely if I had the speed I must be jumping wrong and just needed more height, or pump, or to lift the rear end more... Actually I did learn a lot during this phase including how to push with your legs on the ramp to gain height (pumping).

Still no cigar though.

One thing I'd discovered was that on the big roll off from number three tabletop (following a too-short landing) I could gain a lot of speed by extending my legs and leaning back a bit up the final ramp. It was often enough to clear the last table even though clipping the end was killing a lot of speed. Roll on to tonight and I've got so used to this feeling that I start to do it on landing number-two tabletop on the downslope. Eureaka! Lots of speed and a massive take-off clearing number three and four for a perfect run! It was repeatable too, not every single time yet but what a rush!

Looking back at this I had read that this was one of the tricks to riding 'six packs' but it goes against the grain of all the jumping I've done previouisly. Mountain biking jumps are often to flat where you need to land softly, or there is a continuing downslope where developing speed is just not called for. So I had to re-learn how to land on these downslopes, trusting the slope itself to soften the impact and driving the bike down in to the slope with my legs, for that essential pump to gain the speed with which to hit the next jump in the section.

Next week tricks!

The big tables are the ones behind the bike in the pictures.

Attached File(s)

 low_table_1.jpg ( 204.8k ) Number of downloads: 46
 low_table_2.jpg ( 207.64k ) Number of downloads: 48
 low_table_3.jpg ( 167.95k ) Number of downloads: 48
 low_table_4.jpg ( 216.54k ) Number of downloads: 53

 

[_tom_]

Sounds like you're getting the hang of it ok! Those big jumps look much scarier in person.

Tempted to go back there some time this week, I want to try the ones that used to be doubles if I'm feeling up for it.

[littlegirlbunny]

awesome!

you can teach me how to do it now!

[goog]

well done old man

[Gareth]

Tempted to go back there some time this week, I want to try the ones that used to be doubles if I'm feeling up for it.

I'll be there most evenings around 7:30 - 9:00 unless it's actually raining at the time. The jumps dry almost immediately after rain. It's the big tables which used to be doubles. Whilst I've been away they have also taken the second hump off the last in the line of lower jumps so it's a lot safer to fail.

you can teach me how to do it now!

I'll certainly try if you make it back over here.

[_tom_]

Oh I thought the ones to the right used to be them as it looks like they've been filled in, the tops arent very level. Those dont look too bad though I suppose if you catch your wheel on the bump/lip it might be a problem.

I might be in Leicester in the week again so will probably take my bike though I'll probably be in the day rather than evening again!

[Gareth]

Those dont look too bad though I suppose if you catch your wheel on the bump/lip it might be a problem.

They seem easy to me now, since they lowered the far end of the last one.

[Leics Ned]

Gareth,

I'm looking at going to Western Park either this Thursday or next (weather allowing), it's been a while since i've been there, so i might as well have a look and see how shady my jumping skills have got! Let me know if You're about and we can meet up if you want.

[Gareth]

I'm up for that. No-one seems to take more than a couple of evenings to get their jump skills back, it's gaining them in the first place that takes a while! The local diggers have been making some improvements with a new jump taking shape on the right hand line that will go over the top of the big berm, should give some more point to that run which otherwise stops dead at the end as it is. They've also done some re-surfacing of the lips on the tabletops and they're looking in much better shape now and riding well. One great point is that the whole surface drains amazingly well and riding is possible even on wet days.

What time are you thinking of? I usually go about 7:30 but could manage a bit earlier if you like. I'm looking to shoot some video there too so I might bring a camcorder, don't worry there's no need to be a video star until your skills are sharpened!

[Leics Ned]

Yep i'll be there tomorrow just before 7.30pm, i'll even try and get Bill to come along too!

[Gareth]

Excellent, absolutely no flying over my head whilst I'm mid-jump allowed though!

(You know who you are!)

[c55]

Yep You'll be up for a laugh at my 2inch jump technique Am biking over,so will be there 730 ish.see y'all then

[littlegirlbunny]

I'll be joining you if that's ok?

[Gareth]

I'll be joining you if that's ok?

It's all rock hard and riding sweet after the rains and it's recent re-shaping thanks to Dom apparently.

[littlegirlbunny]

It's all rock hard and riding sweet after the rains and it's recent re-shaping thanks to Dom apparently.

Woot

It'll be me on Eric as I don't have a HT here. I'd rather be on a HT but with a bit more squish I might just get the courage to do that step down. Possibly.

goog has told me to take the 222 but i think it'll kill me trying to get that thing airbourne over a tabletop

[goog]

take the 222 you'll enjoy it more !

*looks for eye pins*

[Gareth]

goog has told me to take the 222 but i think it'll kill me trying to get that thing airbourne over a tabletop

I'm not getting involved.

I'd rather be on a HT but with a bit more squish I might just get the courage to do that step down. Possibly.

A hardtail is the right bike for getting height and distance but a full susser will let you get away with suicide (almost). I look at it this way, I wanted to learn to jump to do the jumps on downhill courses, which I'll definitely be attacking on my FS, see?

[littlegirlbunny]

Well that was fun!

[_tom_]

I'll probably come next time, just waiting on some stronger bars so I can put my rigid forks back on safely. Cheap sus forks have started clicking all the time now so I dont trust em..

[Gareth]

Here's all the clips from the evenings jumping, the rider without the helmet is Jack (I think, correct me if I'm wrong!) a local dirt jumper with very smooth skills.

Western Park Rhythm and tables