Before and after, jumping edition

Can you spot the difference between these photos?

In the top photo, I am “cheating” by pulling up with my feet. In the bottom photo, my feet are level with the ground. I am firmly connected the the bike in a way I never have been before and that has really boosted my riding confidence. “Heavy feet, light hands” has taken on a whole new level of understanding for me this year.

The first photo was taken in the spring of 2018, the second one was taken a week ago, which is 2.5 years later. The biggest difference? My feet! During 2018 and 2019, I thought the photo on the top was rad! Then when I was looking for a photo to advertise one of our jumping clinics this summer, I noticed my feet and didn’t use it! I switched to flat pedals just a few months ago. In addition to increasing my riding confidence, I have been forced to practice my dynamic skills (such as jumps and drops) with the proper technique. “Heavy feet, light hands” has taken on a whole new level of understanding for me this year. For more information about flat pedals, take a look at this video I made and see if you are ready to make the switch!

Body Positioning

Last week we looked at the photos below in the context of how I was braking. This week, we are looking at my body positioning. A lot of how I am positioned over the bike in the two photos on the right, is about the geometry of the bike. Older bikes don’t allow you to be in an ideal descending position. On the right, the biggest difference is that my center of gravity is lower, that is because I have a seat dropper! A lower center of gravity makes you a more stable rider, you are harder to tip over. The other big difference is the width of my bars. On the right, they are much wider, giving me more leverage on my bike. The combination of wider bars and lowered center of gravity also means I have more range of motion. I can move my bike side to side, and front to back, to go over and around all the obstacles in the trail. In other words, I can have ALL the fun on my bike! For more information about what to look for when buying your new mountain bike, take a look at this video and see what specifications I recommend. I ride the Jamis Portal and think it’s one of the most ideal bikes for my clients, coaches and friends. It’s the best all around bike for 2020!

Photos are from 2010, 2011 and 2020

Braking Progression

Can you see the differences in my braking in these photos? My body position is really different in the last photo, I will address that next week.  So let's first take a look at the fingers on my brakes. In the first one, I am using my 2 middle fingers on the brakes. At that time, I felt like wrapping my index finger around my bike helped me grip better. After lots of "suggestions" from fellow riders, I started to put my index finger on the brakes, but kept the middle one on there. It took another year or so for me to finally convert to one-finger to braking. I am showing you this so you know that I had to learn too and it was a process. It was not overnight magic! I was stubborn and didn't like the way the one-finger braking felt. Over time, I learned to use one finger and I became a much more efficient rider. You can watch the video from a few weeks ago to understand why we use one finger.

"Success is not a goal to reach or finish line to cross. It is a system to improve, an endless process to refine...If you’re having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn’t you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don’t want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change." Atomic Habits, by James Clear. 

For fun and easy tech videos, look through our clinic journal.

Best,

Erica Tingey
Park City, Utah

Photos are from 2010, 2011 and 2020

Before and After, Skills Edition

Can you spot the differences below?

On the left, I am leaning my body, not my bike. On the right, I am leaning my bike, not my body! ⁣⁣⁣
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On the left, I am "turning" in a place where I should leaning the bike. ⁣⁣⁣
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On the left, my arms are both slightly bent. On the right, I am doing the "bend and extend". ⁣⁣⁣
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On the left, my seat high, so my center of gravity is higher (scarier!). On the right, I have a dropper, so my center of gravity is low. Low feels stable. Stability equals speed!⁣ ⁣⁣⁣
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On the left, my hands are not at the end of the bars, that is a brake set up issue, I have solved that and continue to solve it for all of my clients! More about brake set up next week.⁣ ⁣⁣
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These photos are from 2011 and 2019, that was 8 years of working on my skills and am still not done! ⁣

Sign up for a clinic and we can transform your skills too!

Jamis Bikes

The Women in the Mountains coaches are thrilled to be riding the Jamis Bikes Hardline and Portal this year. We’ve had them for a few weeks and the lightweight frames paired with cutting edge design have us stoked on every single ride! Next time you see one of us, ask to take our bike for a spin and we’ll gladly let you!

Our custom, summer-weight buffs are now available for shipping!

2020 Women in the Mountains Jerseys

Last clinic Of 2019

Jamie and Anastasia really enjoyed coaching for the last session of 2019

They covered the fundamental skills of position and balance.  Over the course of the day, the women went from looking a bit unstable the first time they got off the saddle and over the middle of the bike, to absolutely rocking that stable and dynamic riding position when rolling down through the rocky and rooty upper forest trails!  It was rad!