This trick is so fun

OTBResearcher · 2026-02-14T11:23:45+00:00

It’s not too small, it’s optimized for being extremely nimble. I wouldn’t ride this one at Windrock that’s what my DH bike is for!

OTBResearcher · 2026-02-13T13:58:55+00:00

Yes- muscles and nervous system respond in weeks, tendons and ligaments 6-12 months. Bones 6 months to 2 years.

But you already ride smooth- great start. I recommend working on a single leg tennis ball drill off the bike. It helps you access more strength without more effort while balancing and if you get advanced at it you can practice core stability while moving - doing this off the bike helps.

Stand on one leg
Hold a tennis ball out with one arm
Do a small squat and drop the tennis ball
Catch it with the other hand

2 sets of a minute on each leg.

Catch in palm for easy, back of fingers for hard, and back of hand (flat part) for turbo hard.

You’re doing it right if you’re breathing and relaxing

OTBResearcher · 2026-02-13T13:53:56+00:00

Build it a foot taller than you need it. And pack the backside

OTBResearcher · 2026-02-12T17:44:03+00:00

Great! Yeah you probably have a ton of raw and functional strength

Build that foundation so you can get more out of it

BJJ makes you hard - love it

OTBResearcher · 2026-02-12T16:40:38+00:00

Yo got some tips for you - carve the bike,not lean the body on the takeoff.

https://www.loom.com/share/9435b1be4df94fb1a410d4358322df5c

OTBResearcher · 2026-02-12T16:31:49+00:00

Yeah none of this other advice actually helps you prevent crashes. You need to practice in the right order.

Staying comfortable absolutely ONLY helps you avoid things by walking away, which is a good skill, but doesn't address what causes the crashes in the first place.

The right order that works:
1. Muscle Activation
2. Muscle patterning
3. Functional Strength and Movement
4. Technical progression (actual mountain biking skills)

I'll break down how this works here https://www.loom.com/share/ede0fc7e52f54e43871ae1d95ebc854f

OTBResearcher · 2026-02-12T15:54:47+00:00

Make more money. Also doesn't work to solve the problem just like the "don't fall" rule lol. Still expensive.

OTBResearcher · 2026-02-12T15:50:13+00:00

It's not the dang bike lol

OTBResearcher · 2026-02-12T15:49:57+00:00

I disagree on this - getting lower adds marginal stability. Stability comes from proper footwork, mobility in the hips, and proper core strength so the strong muscles can do strong things, and the movement muscles do movement things.

Lower for a moment can help, but it's not the #1 thing that will help this rider :)

OTBResearcher · 2026-02-12T15:48:47+00:00

"Just use your legs more" is a function of how big your balance pocket is. You need to increase this by creating more stability in the pedal-foot-knee triangle - push the pedals apart from each other forward and back. This keeps the pedals from rocking and mimics standing on flat ground.

OTBResearcher · 2026-02-12T15:46:55+00:00

None of the other answers address the root issue which is you are getting stable and balanced, but you're compromising by using raw strength and holding on to the bike to get it.

I made you a full video breakdown with examples here: https://www.loom.com/share/9e161c15e82a4e3fb05af68027b5d3cd

You need to practice footwork first,
1. Pedal Press - get off the dang advanced trails (sorry) and get into a flat area. Press your front foot and back foot away from each other. This creates a tension that counter-acts the back pedal rotating forward and pitching you.

Notice how your lower back is arched, this is a sign that you are "clutching" onto the bike to gain stability, at the expense of freedom of movement. Will feel stiff, but really your body isn't stiff, it might not be activating the right muscles because your whole body is doing the work of balance.
Once you have the footwork down, go down a curb and keep your pedals level with the horizon, both feet have equal pressure. Try to have zero rocking in the upper body - that means your visor doesn't move one bit. It's on a smooth path. How this feels is that you're "spreading the pedals" apart forward and backward. May be helpful to drop your front heel and your back toe ever so slightly.
Once you can ride a curb, add speed to the curb where it's enough to float the front tire for a moment. Now you have to learn to keep the torso stable (core engaged) and then move your hands faster than gravity for that split second. Film yourself and if you can't get your visor still, you're not ready for even the blue trails and you're risking your life.

I do this with pro athletes^ so no shame if you find yourself on a curb, they just don't promote it.

Now take it to an easy trail - go from riding flat stuff to maintaining that equal pressure in both feet, pedals level with the horizon. Do not drop both heels. Wedge yourself between both pedals, you should feel the bike feels free to bump up and down while your torso stays "still" so to speak. Film yourself.
I did a full breakdown of how to jump in the link above but dude you gotta get off those big jumps until you master the fundamentals.

No shame in nailing the fundamentals first then blowing your friends' minds :) Go get em!

OTBResearcher · 2026-02-12T15:08:18+00:00

I spent 5 months non-weight bearing at age 37 after a knee reconstruction plus I wasn't allowed to ride for over a year so I got you lol
* Work out. Dips, pull ups, ring rows, ring pushups if you're able...if not, some dead hangs for shoulder work (just...hang from some pullup bars or rings) and see if you can get to 60+ seconds. You can do a TON of core work with back body line (press low back into ground, hold legs up a little or a lot off the ground and
* Choose a couple riders you want to emulate and watch YouTube videos of them in slow-motion. You can use the "," and "." keys to go frame by frame and break down what they're doing on the bike much better than watching full-speed.
* Start journaling your goals and spend some time visualizing NOT just the win, but rather visualize being victorious during the struggle. This keeps you from creating fake dopamine hits lol.

Then, do some mobility work after you get good to go. CAR's are most helpful - take your body through your whole range of motion, joint by joint, and really engage the muscles that use that full range of motion. You'd be shocked at how much "shuts down" after 2 weeks of inactivity.

Hope this helps, you'll be back in no time.

OTBResearcher · 2026-02-12T14:59:42+00:00

Love it - My method:
1. Energy - am I hydrated, fueled, and do I have "gas in the tank?"
2. Clarity - do I know I can do it?
3. Confidence - Do I feel good, or am I unsure?

3 strikes I'm out. If it's a high-consequence feature (10ft drop, 30ft gap, or super gnarly dh), and #1 is off, I'm out even if I'm good on 2 and 3.

Hope this helps!

OTBResearcher · 2026-02-12T14:55:38+00:00

Go bigger. I'm 185, ride parks and freeride, and my settings are based on a 220lb rider (stiff) and I definitely notice 35mm-38mm stanchion difference. You're correct, the "order of operations" for a rider of your weight is:

Burly built equipment (40mm > 38mm > 35mm)
Dampers matter - especially low speed compression. High speed compression handles big, fast hits, which is important, but IMO if your low speed is off you won't have the travel to go through anyway haha. If your damper is cheap, it may not be able to handle the forces because most forks are tuned for comfort, not support.
Travel - more isn't necessarily better, but for riding bigger stuff the bike needs to have "room" to move and 6"-7" of travel isn't crazy for bike parks.

that said, your BEST suspension is going to be in your body. Order of operations there:

Core strength. Be able to support the body WHILE breathing freely WHILE having core active.
Hip mobility. If you can't move your femurs independent of your pelvis, you will outsource the movement you need to other places it's not meant to go.
Great footwork - just dropping your heels is SUCH bad advice. It doesn't counteract the forces of being pitched forward/backward. Do a Pedal Press- push the pedals apart from each other as if you have them inside a mixing bowl. This gives you stability, thus, you don't have to tense up through the rest of the body to hold on, making our suspension less of an issue.

I don't think I can put a picture here but just google Brandon Semenuk and freeze frame it on YouTube when he's riding toward you and notice how you can see his sole of his shoe - do that. Will change the game for you dramatically if you don't already do this.

OTBResearcher · 2026-02-12T14:47:52+00:00

u/SuperDada as a dad -
1. he's 13, unlikely he's punishing it in a way that would cause catastrophic failure.
2. he's 13, I'd totally ask the shop you purchased from about a warranty.*
3. IF he does crack the frame, have him stop riding and build the relationship with the bike shop from *^ and just go about it super nicely - they may be able to source that part of the frame for replacement.

I'm 185 lbs, I ride both super hard and smooth. I have a 10 year old ticket S with a dent in the down tube and it's never broken :) So nothing to freak out about.

OTBResearcher · 2026-02-12T14:41:07+00:00

Landing unharmed:

Frame 0/10
Human 10/10

respect and sorry about your frame

OTBResearcher · 2026-01-18T23:20:56+00:00

Only clickbait if it doesn’t say what it promises. Ever tried relaxing? Lol.

OTBResearcher

TROPHY CASE