'Cross Dismount: Hop barriers cyclocross-style
(from mountainbike.com) :: The Expert Tim Johnson's reappearance on the cyclocross scene marks the return of a barrier-jumping superstar: The 28-year-old is a four-time National Cyclocross Champion, and the first American to ever medal at the World Cyclocross Championships. After two years focused solely on road racing, he's back doing what he loves, and he's taking it seriously; he's been running--and honing his scary-fast dismount skills with his speed-freak friends--since August. We caught up with Johnson as he was preparing for a motorpace session, and got the scoop on the best way to get off your bike, over a barrier, and back on--in a hurry.--Brian FiskeCheck your speed A perfect dismount means you're traveling the same speed before and after the barrier. "You don't want to slow way down and then have to accelerate hard on the other side," Johnson says. Slow down to a speed you can maintain to the other side of the barrier, and get ready for the fun.
Go Belgian When it comes to the actual dismount, Johnson has one piece of advice: Get off the bike any way you can. "There's the smooth, graceful way to dismount, where you swing your right leg over and step between your left leg and the top tube, but that's tricky," he explains. "I just swing my right leg over the back of the bike, pop off the left pedal, and boof, I've got both feet on the ground and I'm running. It's the real Belgian way to do it."
Cash 'n' carry On short runs, leave your left hand on the bar, put your right hand on the top tube, near your seat tube, and lift the bike over the barrier. (Johnson's trick: Throw the bike with a little curve so the wheels swing out a bit-then you don't have to lift it as far.) On longer runs, grab the bike by the down tube and lift it to your shoulder. Slide your right arm through the triangle of tubes, and reach your hand around the front to hold the left side of the handlebar. Clamp the down tube in the crook of your elbow to steady the bike.
Let it down easy Drop your bike too hard on the other side of the barrier, and your chain's going to come off. "Gently place the bike back onto the ground," emphasizes Johnson.
Push, Slide and Go With both hands on top of the handlebar, push the bike forward and swing your right leg up so your right inner thigh is on the saddle. Then slide yourself into position. "The better you are, the less of a jump there is," Johnson says. "That saves energy, which means you'll have more power for the last lap when you're going for the win."
Go Belgian When it comes to the actual dismount, Johnson has one piece of advice: Get off the bike any way you can. "There's the smooth, graceful way to dismount, where you swing your right leg over and step between your left leg and the top tube, but that's tricky," he explains. "I just swing my right leg over the back of the bike, pop off the left pedal, and boof, I've got both feet on the ground and I'm running. It's the real Belgian way to do it."
Cash 'n' carry On short runs, leave your left hand on the bar, put your right hand on the top tube, near your seat tube, and lift the bike over the barrier. (Johnson's trick: Throw the bike with a little curve so the wheels swing out a bit-then you don't have to lift it as far.) On longer runs, grab the bike by the down tube and lift it to your shoulder. Slide your right arm through the triangle of tubes, and reach your hand around the front to hold the left side of the handlebar. Clamp the down tube in the crook of your elbow to steady the bike.
Let it down easy Drop your bike too hard on the other side of the barrier, and your chain's going to come off. "Gently place the bike back onto the ground," emphasizes Johnson.
Push, Slide and Go With both hands on top of the handlebar, push the bike forward and swing your right leg up so your right inner thigh is on the saddle. Then slide yourself into position. "The better you are, the less of a jump there is," Johnson says. "That saves energy, which means you'll have more power for the last lap when you're going for the win."
posted by Ryan Amirault at Friday, November 25, 2005
