How do you ride whoops?

**Crisis management** · 25th August 2009, 19:50

Originally Posted by tommorth

think some of this can be suspension setup...........but think it can also be caused by to much rebound damping in the rear causeing the rear to pack then kick .

Good point, when it does turn to poo IIRC, the rear is staring to kick up and that results in the bike getting unsettled.

OK, I had better find out how suspension works too.

**clmintie** · 25th August 2009, 20:25

Originally Posted by Crisis management

While we are talking about jumping (which I also suck at) where's a good place to practice that at the sandpit, I can't say as I know of anywhere??

At the start of the MX track... Just look for my green plastic.....

**A&R** · 25th August 2009, 22:27

Originally Posted by Crisis management

Good point, when it does turn to poo IIRC, the rear is staring to kick up and that results in the bike getting unsettled.

OK, I had better find out how suspension works too.

I've been trying to sort my suspension lately and have found , for me anyway, that knocking back the compression and rebound on the front end has made me more confident and faster on the whoops. seems to flaot now and if I hit a whoops all wrong the suspension soaks it up so I don't end up loosing control.
Reckless gave me a good tip which I had used before but had forgot about is put a cable tie round one of the front forks then take it for a blast over the whoops. You can then see how much suspension travel you get when riding round. i'e you can find out how close you are getting to bottoming out.

**barty5** · 25th August 2009, 23:01

Originally Posted by A&R

I've been trying to sort my suspension lately and have found , for me anyway, that knocking back the compression and rebound on the front end has made me more confident and faster on the whoops. seems to flaot now and if I hit a whoops all wrong the suspension soaks it up so I don't end up loosing control.
Reckless gave me a good tip which I had used before but had forgot about is put a cable tie round one of the front forks then take it for a blast over the whoops. You can then see how much suspension travel you get when riding round. i'e you can find out how close you are getting to bottoming out.

you can till the same thing without cable tie just look at the forks once you stop the dust/dirt all get push to lowest point the rest is left cleaner.

**chrisktm** · 26th August 2009, 20:24

You need to learn to use your body, you soak up some whoops through your arms and legs trying to keep the wheels on the ground and some whoops you compress the bike into to make it jump. The jumping is especially usefull on the short sharp buggers. Keep your head up and your eyes focused on where you need to end up and use lower gears and higher reve. With the coaching sessions I do in the sand pit whoops are a pretty common problem! Good luck!

**Crisis management** · 27th August 2009, 08:11

Thanks for all the advice, it makes sense and now I better go and try it.

Updates next week, hopefully not from a hospital bed.

**buffstar** · 27th August 2009, 12:25

you got some good advice there.......... Personally I dont intentionally jump the woops - sometimes it just sorta happens and puts the shits up me, otha times its all good

my issue with woops is sometimes when i going fast my ass sorta skips out and does like a little flicky thang........ keeping the fist in it seems to work out....... so far. Any tips/advice? am usually in higher gears when this happens

**chrisktm** · 27th August 2009, 14:20

Originally Posted by buffstar

you got some good advice there.......... Personally I dont intentionally jump the woops - sometimes it just sorta happens and puts the shits up me, otha times its all good

my issue with woops is sometimes when i going fast my ass sorta skips out and does like a little flicky thang........ keeping the fist in it seems to work out....... so far. Any tips/advice? am usually in higher gears when this happens

Back your rebound damping off in the shock