The Yo Hoots Jay Response Article

The two-wheeled guru answers your questions
on style, substance, and sticking it

Hidee ho everyone and welcome to the first instalment of the Yo Hoots Jay response article! I have had so many great questions that I thought I might share them around a bit.

But first, check this - I ended up riding in the Sea Otter skills park on Friday and Sunday, and they had this crazy quarter to wall ride that intimidated me. I can do wall rides, but quarter to stall to re-entry has always eluded me ... until that fateful Sunday!

I went to the park to just hang out and ride around, leaving my armour in the FreeRide tours van. I even missed lunch and didn't stretch. I started poking around the park and


Vertical surfaces? No big deal for Jay.
Wade Simmons, Thomas Vanderham and Ritchie Schley show up. They rip up the park and stoke me, so I start riding some stuff, next thing I know this BMX guy shows up and in 15 words explained the elusive wall ride to me.

It was either time to walk 30 minutes or so to get armour or learn this thing now! I chose to learn, foregoing all the advice I have given in the past! DOH! I got the wall ride nailed but my last crash was a doozy, one that made me walk away and think about how stunned I was to not have worn my gear, I was also reminded by other park riders and the crew of 180 magazine how I did not practice what I preached! Egg on Hooty's face for sure!

Anyway, check it ...

Hey Hoots Jay,

My name is David and I live in Australia. Could you please tell me how to use the front brake on my bike effectively? I hardly ever use it on steep stuff because I always feel nervous about endoing or doing a front wheel slide. Should I use it? And how?

Thanks,

David

Use the front brake wisely at times like this.

Yo Dave!

Thanks for the great question. Effective braking is a tough one especially when you are in fear of going over the bars! This is what I did years ago: de-tune your front brake so that it only goes on half way, then ride around and get comfy with it.

Next, de-tune your rear brake so that it only comes on when you get the lever to the bar, so that the wheel will not skid just slow. Ride around cautiously at first, start challenging things around the neighbourhood, then take it to the trail. You will see that forcing yourself to use front brake will kick-start your learning curve and at the same time you are not putting yourself at major risk due to the incremental adjustments you have been getting accustomed to.

The other suggestion is to practice doing mini front wheel stalls. Keep it comfortable, but progressively get bigger each time. What this does is train your body and brain to be comfortable over the bars and brake modulation so that when you do go over the edge of something you have already done it thousands of times before.

Hope it helps, my friend Down Under.

Regards, Hoots Jay :)

Yo, Hoots Jay! Wassa?

I have read your article on becoming a bike shop mechanic. But, do you have to take a big bucks course to get a ticket in wrenching bikes? Or, can you take apart your bike, put back together, fix broken parts, learn to tune stuff, then take a few hours and show the guys what you can do? Do you have to take a "pro" course?

Thanks,

"The Jamester"

What's up, The Jamester!

Dude, as with everything in life not everyone gets the job, jump, girl or trick by going to school or having formal training. That being said, your chances are much more favourable if you show training and experience to a potential employer.

You may however (and I know from experience) gain valuable experience and skills by working on your own bikes and friends' bikes. This gained knowledge can for sure get you in the door to at least check it and have them check you.

All Good?

L8R dog!
Hoots Jay :)


Jay doesn't need no steeenking SPDs.

Yo, Jay. I know this question will brand me as a total wanker, but here goes: I've come from the XC racing crowd over to the dark side, and am getting comfortable with drops, skinnies, and actually having fun on a bike again.

What is a good way to learn how to stay on the bike with flats instead of SPDs? I've never ridden BMX, but each time I try to bunnyhop or huck, my feet fly up like I just don't care. Help!

Dave

Yo David...

Dude, welcome to the dark side, mooo ah ha ha. Moooo ahhh haaaa haaaa. Mooooo ahhh hhhaahahhaaaa! When you XC, you really only death grip the bar when you tech climb or tech downhill. With bunny or hucking you need to remember to death grip.

Remember the motorcycle vroom vroom noise makers that you could get for your Sears bike handlebar many years ago? When you give the death grip, turn the grips forward so that you pull the bike up to you. Also, watch some dark side drama and borrow a BMX tape and watch the bunnies over and over until all the XC falls out of you!!!!! LOL

I love a great technical climb, and I also like a pleasant XC ride intermediate styles to keep my soul chilled in the woods and my cardio and stamina up. I think as long as you ride and your true to yourself you can't hit wanker status!

Lemme know if this works!!!!

Hoots Jay :)

Keep sending the questions to Hoots Jay!

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