Hi folks, just back from Afan, love it more each time I go and I'm definitely getting faster and faster but there's one obstacle that I keep messing up on... rocks!!!

What's the best way to approach a longish section of big rocky steps? There's a few sections like this at Afan and generally I freeze up and ride them slowly (brain gets in the way), sometimes chuck myself down them and get dangerously out of shape, sometimes stupidly take a foot out half way down which really messes it up. Should I be keeping the speed up and jump over as much as possible? If there's one big rock in the trail I can deal with it easily now (you should have seen me on Jetlag yesterday, I was jumping of everything )

If you've got any suggestions they would be very welcome, I want to make my riding as fast and as smooth as I can.

If anyone could suggest a skills day that you think I would like that would be good as well.

Thanks!

Are we talking a few rocks or a full on rock garden?


Either way my personal approach would start with having a look if I've never ridden it before to either find a rock I can luanch off to clear everything or a root through the rocks.

Get over the back of the bike and stay loose on the bike.

Also visualise yourself going through the rocks and think positively, I know that sounds stupid but being confident about doing something works wonders.

I know it's not Afan but watch some DH racing on the net and see how the pro's go through the rocks.


Just found this

Thanks Michael, that video is good, makes sense. I guess I'm talking about rock gardens if that's what a big collection of nasty looking rocks is!

the reason I'm freaking out about rocks - ffwd to about 2 mins in - I'm going to be riding this in 2 weeks time...

That loks like it should be ridden a lot faster than in that video.

Put you DH tyes on.

You rode Jacobs Ladder you can ride that, it's easy in comparison.

I kinda wouldn't count that as a rock garden.

DH tyres, good plan.

The video doesn't really show how steep it is, there are places that are very steep with big rock steps. I walked down it a couple of years ago and that was hard enough! It's going to be flipping amazing

That looks pretty rocky to me and i reckon it will be tougher than jacobs ladder.
Things always look a lot easier on camera than they really are.

Thanks John It's going to be a proper adventure that's for sure!

In the same week I'm also going to do some (or all!) of these:
High Street
Walna Scar pass
Whinlatter
Grizedale

Helvellyn is the most exciting one though, just got to get through 11 days of normal life first then I'm there...