Full Version: HELP..I can't jump anymore
ok...I'm 42 and raced until I was 23..do the math. Anyway my kids are wanting to start racing so we started building some trails. Now it seems I have lost my ability to jump and I can't figure out what I am doing wrong. I can still bunnyhop and stuff like that. Almost every time I come off the jump I start to fall to the left so I take my foot off to correct. I have video taped myself and I do not seem to be doing anything wrong...maybe it's mental. Has anyone else had a relearning to jump issue? Just so you know I could jump very well before..so this is really getting me down.
QUOTE (dnichols @ Sep 20 2009, 10:01 PM) 
I can still bunnyhop and stuff like that. Almost every time I come off the jump I start to fall to the left so I take my foot off to correct. I have video taped myself and I do not seem to be doing anything wrong...maybe it's mental. Has anyone else had a relearning to jump issue? Just so you know I could jump very well before..so this is really getting me down.
I hear you. I just got back into racing after nearly 30 years off (gulp), and jumping remains a mental challenge for me, particularly over those nasty little buggers known as doubles and triples. But table tops...those are the bomb for me right now. I feel very confident/comfortable jumping them, which I understand is the right progression (table first, dubs later).
Anyway, in thinking about what you're going through, I'd say first try jumping something without a gap (trails seems always to be over like 10' high/wide gaps), like a table top. Second, about pulling to one side, why don't you take note of which pedal you keep forward when you hit the lip and then switch it up. If you're approaching the jump with your right pedal out front, try it with your left for a bit. That might help break whatever your brain/body is locked into.
b.
If you're leaning to one side when you come off the lip you're too stiff. Loosen up your arms and legs and I guarantee things will straighten out. This was my problem when I got back into riding too. As soon as I came off the ground I would tense up which caused me to lean one way and almost crash every time.
Im going through this right now to. Im sucking up the lip and just rolling over. But last night I watched the young guys (im the same age as you) and how they were positioned on take off. I followed one to get the speed and pop over I went. Easy.
But its taken me a year to get there.
Back into it now, doubles for the weekend......
But its taken me a year to get there.
Back into it now, doubles for the weekend......
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.