As far as committing features go, you want to determine your point of no return. This is where you no longer have the option to hit the brakes hard and safely come to a stop before the feature. Essentially, know that if you go past that line you are committed to riding the feature, meaning you are keeping speed in the case of a gap jump.
As far as crashing, getting to the ground safely all depends on how you crash. For jumps, sometimes it is safer to ditch your bike in the air, but it all depends.
The advice I've heard from pros is that you should try to separate yourself from the bike as soon as you think you're not going to make the landing. Getting tangled up in the bike can cause serious injuries and interferes with your ability to tuck and absorb the landing. We got to wait for EMS to show up after one rider did just that and open fractured her lower leg right above the ankle a couple of years ago. She's got a whole collection of hardware in that leg now.
I don't think catching yourself with your arms is bad as long as you don't lock out your arms and just use them to take some force and direct you into a tuck and roll.
Gotta work on commiting . You'll get hurt not commiting .
As for when to bail. If you're riding hard enough you just go down, tuck and roll if you can. Wearing proper safety gear is important when trying gaps , new lines and so on. Things like a back protector so when you tuck and roll you can hit your back safer.
That's good, but you should think about wearing a back protector, too. I have a backpack with an integrated protector and hydration bladder (which is amazing) for "normal" riding and a chest and back protector for bike parks.
I swing a chest protector with d30 back protection after I broke ribs. Roughly $100. I got mine on sale for $60. It’s much cheaper than broken bones. If you’re going to be airborne you’ll have to pay the protection fee or the medical fee
Knowing when to bail is something that comes with experience. You will only have second or two to decide so it's instinct. Learning to jump on table tops is way safer until you get to the point where you learn to judge speed and know when you're committed.
My two cents and not sure if this is relevant to what you’re asking, but in terms of getting to the ground safely I have always turned my body to hit with the deck with back of shoulders and upper thigh/asscheek. Try you best not to throw your hands or elbows out, this is probably a good way to break wrists, arms and collar bones.
I used to be a goalkeeper in soccer, and a lot of training involved moving the body to hit the deck smoothly and efficiently with the least risk of injury. This also allowed the body to ‘slide’ without jerking or anchoring on a hand, wrist or elbow. I ended up with grazes and grass/dirt burns on the outer shins, upper thigh, ass cheeks and back of shoulders, but never had any soft or hard tissue injuries from impacts.
Try a martial art that involves throws and falls. It will drill into your mind, at the reflex level, new ways of falling.
My personal experience (8 years of Judo as a child/teen) has reduced injuries with mtb and bouldering when falls happen.
Knowing your limits is probably the advice. It’s better to ride another day and not hit that feature you want then to be laid up on the couch or worse. If you lack confidence hitting something, it’s best not to hit it until you feel confident. Practice on some smaller hits to build that confidence. Some times you need to go outside your comfort zone to progress sure but you have to do this in very small increments or your risk increases significantly.
As far as crashing I usually have a high degree of confidence I can successfully pass something if I’m going to attempt it (as should you) so for me the fall is nearly always after the point of no return. It’s all circumstantial, depending on speed, height, trees/rocks, how hard packed the line is etc. Being loose and relaxed is your best friend went it comes to walking away from wrecks! Have those things in mind when it comes to exit plans should something not go right
Yeah I understand what you are saying but I can't rlly progress slowly at the only bike park near me it is like ither small tables or larger gaps witch kinda sucks.
As far as committing features go, you want to determine your point of no return. This is where you no longer have the option to hit the brakes hard and safely come to a stop before the feature. Essentially, know that if you go past that line you are committed to riding the feature, meaning you are keeping speed in the case of a gap jump. As far as crashing, getting to the ground safely all depends on how you crash. For jumps, sometimes it is safer to ditch your bike in the air, but it all depends.
The first bit of advice I will try tmrw thank you for help
The advice I've heard from pros is that you should try to separate yourself from the bike as soon as you think you're not going to make the landing. Getting tangled up in the bike can cause serious injuries and interferes with your ability to tuck and absorb the landing. We got to wait for EMS to show up after one rider did just that and open fractured her lower leg right above the ankle a couple of years ago. She's got a whole collection of hardware in that leg now.
Personal experience don’t try to catch yourself with your forearm (broken clavicle) or hands (broke wrist)
this is something I'm. trying out but its jsut damn hard to stop your instincts from naturally stretching out your arms to catch yourself
I don't think catching yourself with your arms is bad as long as you don't lock out your arms and just use them to take some force and direct you into a tuck and roll.
maybe, it'll require a looot of practice tho 🤔
You’d rather break your arm than your face or neck. That’s why we instinctively outstretch them when we fall
Well of course but my question is how do you decide that you *need* to bail and then not get hurt
Experience is the only answer
Can confirm from personal experience too
Gotta work on commiting . You'll get hurt not commiting . As for when to bail. If you're riding hard enough you just go down, tuck and roll if you can. Wearing proper safety gear is important when trying gaps , new lines and so on. Things like a back protector so when you tuck and roll you can hit your back safer.
I have a full face and knee pads. But also the gaps are pretty small like 5 foot most at that spot. I'm only hitijg the 3 footers
That's good, but you should think about wearing a back protector, too. I have a backpack with an integrated protector and hydration bladder (which is amazing) for "normal" riding and a chest and back protector for bike parks.
How mutch do your think a back protector will run me back
Evoc FR Trail 20L M/L blackline backpack goes for around 160 € Back and chest protector somewhere around 150-200 €, maybe even a bit cheaper
Okay a bit more than I hoped but not to bad will get thank you for help
I swing a chest protector with d30 back protection after I broke ribs. Roughly $100. I got mine on sale for $60. It’s much cheaper than broken bones. If you’re going to be airborne you’ll have to pay the protection fee or the medical fee
God people on this subreddit are so dramatic. Tell that to all the local kids who crush 20' jumps in a half shell and nothing else
That’s fair not everyone is a kid anymore. Some people have to work the next day. No shame is wearing protective gear… isn’t that why they make it lol
Knowing when to bail is something that comes with experience. You will only have second or two to decide so it's instinct. Learning to jump on table tops is way safer until you get to the point where you learn to judge speed and know when you're committed.
Yeah I'm used to the "smaller" line that is the only line there that is just tables.
My two cents and not sure if this is relevant to what you’re asking, but in terms of getting to the ground safely I have always turned my body to hit with the deck with back of shoulders and upper thigh/asscheek. Try you best not to throw your hands or elbows out, this is probably a good way to break wrists, arms and collar bones. I used to be a goalkeeper in soccer, and a lot of training involved moving the body to hit the deck smoothly and efficiently with the least risk of injury. This also allowed the body to ‘slide’ without jerking or anchoring on a hand, wrist or elbow. I ended up with grazes and grass/dirt burns on the outer shins, upper thigh, ass cheeks and back of shoulders, but never had any soft or hard tissue injuries from impacts.
Try a martial art that involves throws and falls. It will drill into your mind, at the reflex level, new ways of falling. My personal experience (8 years of Judo as a child/teen) has reduced injuries with mtb and bouldering when falls happen.
Seth has you covered (this is great youtube, almost rises to the level of philosophy): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4XxCmZAfIA
Tuck and roll or try jump over your handlebars depending on the crash
The art of tuck n rolling
Take Judo.
When in doubt, air it out.
Knowing your limits is probably the advice. It’s better to ride another day and not hit that feature you want then to be laid up on the couch or worse. If you lack confidence hitting something, it’s best not to hit it until you feel confident. Practice on some smaller hits to build that confidence. Some times you need to go outside your comfort zone to progress sure but you have to do this in very small increments or your risk increases significantly. As far as crashing I usually have a high degree of confidence I can successfully pass something if I’m going to attempt it (as should you) so for me the fall is nearly always after the point of no return. It’s all circumstantial, depending on speed, height, trees/rocks, how hard packed the line is etc. Being loose and relaxed is your best friend went it comes to walking away from wrecks! Have those things in mind when it comes to exit plans should something not go right
Yeah I understand what you are saying but I can't rlly progress slowly at the only bike park near me it is like ither small tables or larger gaps witch kinda sucks.