I skip the rock gardens, I don’t have an mtb, I’m currently riding trails on a bmx with slick tyres. It’s not safe, but definitely a more exciting ride than skate parks!
After 2 years of riding I am finally comfortable plowing through rock gardens....staying loose is the best piece of advice for new riders struggling with these areas.
I like how we finally have advice on going uphill :) I have a rocky climb near home which I use as a fitness indicator : if I can climb it, I'm on top of my game. You give all the good tips for that, but I'll add one for those of us athletically challenged : try to roll uphill as slow as you can get away with, keep power on tap for that section that will require a huge push to get through.
Rich, thanks a lot. It’s a huge treat to watch you in your natural element. I can tell that you just LOVE riding - the gnarlier the better. Your modesty and unassuming, self-deprecating attitude is incredibly rare on RUclips and I appreciate every video you make. This one is a great help to me. Probably the most important (assuming a workable bike) is the suggestion: ATTITUDE. Thanks again. You da MAN!
Helps to have a 800$+ fork. But as far as technique information, spot on. The rock gardens around my trails have no downhill momentum very narrow trail and there are more rocks and taller bigger rocks. The kind that stops your front wheel if you don't move your weight properly. 😣 Great video keep it up👍👌
Why? You have more suspension in your arms & legs than any bicycle. Being smooth on a HT is a skill unto itself. I have a HT, 120mm FS, and 160mm FS. I ride the HT 90% of the time. Partly because of my geographical location, and mostly because it forces me to be a better rider.
@@1madmaxx80 i get all of that. It's just my opinion. I don't like rock gardens. Also, I have no issues with my hardtail. It's the only bike i have and probably the only one i need. I even raced downhill and enduro with it. It can do anything for me from long rides to downhill tracks (atleast here where i live.) So yeah.
Thanks! The nearby trails contain lots of rock gardens, some of them quite steep. Perhaps you can shed light on braking and speed in rock gardens. I am getting better at them but could use more good advice like this video.
Carry more speed, ratchet instead of full pedal strokes, start timing your pedaling before you enter the garden so you don't have to pedal all the way through it, pump off obstacles/go over the middle to get a little bit of lift under the bike...and just accept that you will trash pedals and scratch your cranks.
Maybe this will work with some people, try using a wider pair of shoes, I mean wider contact, like AM or downhill specific shoes, pair with wide contact clipless pedals. It helps a bit with foot fatigue better than smaller XC shoes. CMMIW
As a resident in the Fraser Valley, B.C. (MTB Mecca), I choose Aluminum, has four syllables😊 compared to Aluminium w/six. Who thinks the history of naming Alumina means anything? My periodic table that I grew up with says Al.
Don't ride harder stuff than you (or your bike) can handle. My bars twisted when going over a rock and i landed on a nearby rock. Been off bike since last monday, broke my ribs on a rocky path. Can barely sleep, I'm glad i wore a helmet and gloves tough! Had my LG G6 on the handlebars as well, thank god the lcd for that is dirt cheap, and my bike is OK.
Cool video. I'm new to mtbs and have been mostly on road bikes where I tend to slow down for debris or road imperfections. So far in my first few mtb rides I have a tendency to go really slowly over rocky and rooty sections. Confidence is low for sure, but what's your opinion on speed through tough sections?
Any tips for not getting pushed off your line? Something like the start of ‘deep navigation’ at BPW is hard to picture where the right line would be, so how does a rider just float through it?
So... I've been tackling rock gardens with no experience on an ebike I just recently bought. The Aventon Aventure is not exactly spec'd to handle the unmanaged and remote footpaths and moderate level MTB routes. It can barely go off-road without a crank length reduction. The number of times my pedals CHOMP a bite out of boulders and I nearly die is why I don't bother pedaling through rock gardens and rely on the throttle, which means I'm on the seat to balance against the throttle which means seat suspension post required as well. Either way, without the right setup you should stick to the easy stuff or risk catastrophic failure
You are uploading this just before I'm going to do the megavalanche, or we'll you know the smaller one, the maxi avalanche becouse corona stopped the mega, great timing
Richard Payne crazy thing is we have bikes that are more capable than ever to handle massive gnar at speed and so many new trails being built are are hard packed dirt groomed trails that I could ride a skinny wheel fully rigid road bike on. So frustrating.
But are they fun? Compared to a rockless trail where you can build up more speed and not have so much vibration? I don't understand the lure of the rock garden, explain why you like them?
Choice CuzBro they’re fun if they are built right to allow you go through them with speed. Of course that requires building up the skills, which takes time. Rock gardens require good vision and line choice, knowing how to push into the bike so you don’t get bucked yet riding light, and being able to bunny hop, manual and jump on a trail, because sometimes the best line is in the air. All the essential skills of mountain biking- so what’s not to like? In my experience most people don’t like rock gardens because they aren’t good at them and therefore tip toe through them. Yeah, doing that they’re not fun. But hitting them at speed, having to be an active rider to get through them- that’s fun. Check out the trail on this vid for what I mean. The rock gardens are interspersed with smoother sections that allow you to get speed going into them, and then are designed in such a way that, while they are really gnarly, you can go through them at speed. This is mountain biking- you need to bring all the skills together on trails like these. If you have a weakness in a part of your riding, they’ll bring it out. That is is why they are fun. Groomed trails are fun, but they are one dimensional in comparison. ruclips.net/video/jVZ8WTIferw/видео.html
HI, great viedo, but whats with the suspension setup? Doesnt this also make a big diffrence or schould it normaly already work in all conditions when its set up correctly?
Hey, I did the blacks at Cannock Chase yesterday. There were 2 drops on the rock gardens that I'd like to hit cleaner next time. My weight was already back as they were steep runs so I couldn't do the usual drop off routine. I just had to bonk down them a bit sketchy. Anyone have some tips or advice?
Man rock gardens are so scary. What scares me the most is how bad I'm going to hurt myself in case of a crash, it's full of pointy rocks right there! And this hinders my confidence of course.
yep! i started enjoying riding a lot more when i had to slow way down on a super-muddy day and really pick better lines instead of trying to go fast...and i realized, it's slow, but it's smooth and fun. took my kid riding and told her to try it, and she said it was the most fun she's ever had. on something gnarly like a rock garden, i will slow down or even stop completely and pick my lines and thing about body positioning, etc...maybe even stop halfway and do it again (and let any younger riders pass!)
So I live in Colorado just by the rocky mountains. There's a biking spot called the devil's backbone that puts this to shame. There's miles of just rock with dirt at all.
Hey Dave, it's situation dependant to be honest! In theory yes, but if you have to brake to slow down, then to be honest we wouldn't want the rear end skidding around through a rock garden. Best to use both but modulate to keep traction.
Give me a 140mm+ travel full-sus bike with DH tires and a 65* head angle and I can do that too. Now do it uphill on a 100mm hardtail and I'll have content I can learn from. But don't mind me, I clearly don't know anything about what the average newer mtb rider is actually riding, I'm sure everyone has a $10k Pole to learn rock gardens on.
Look at the ibis ripmo/ripely aluminum. I forget which one they make that is under $3000 but pink bike did a video on it. the ibis frame has great geo and would be a great full suspension!
Norco 420 just look at it looks sick af. But a more serious answer to your question the bike you should get is based off your budget if you only have 300 to $500 to spend your getting an XC bike whether you like it or not and if you have a lot of money to spend I recommend getting a cheap BMX plus a mountain bike because on a BMX you don't have to be as heavy-handed to learn the tricks like bunny hops which helped me improve my technique.
How do you like to tackle scary rock gardens? Let us know 👇
hi gmbn
Love gmbn❤️
I skip the rock gardens, I don’t have an mtb, I’m currently riding trails on a bmx with slick tyres. It’s not safe, but definitely a more exciting ride than skate parks!
My hardtail 29er with no tyre cushioning inserts would suffer in that. I can do it only half ideal speed.
I think it is super fun. I ride them on cheap a hard tail so it is scary but I like to risk it.
After 2 years of riding I am finally comfortable plowing through rock gardens....staying loose is the best piece of advice for new riders struggling with these areas.
1:35 the water bottle falling off
Thanks, I didn't need to know this, but I also appreciated it.
I like how we finally have advice on going uphill :) I have a rocky climb near home which I use as a fitness indicator : if I can climb it, I'm on top of my game.
You give all the good tips for that, but I'll add one for those of us athletically challenged : try to roll uphill as slow as you can get away with, keep power on tap for that section that will require a huge push to get through.
Rich, thanks a lot. It’s a huge treat to watch you in your natural element. I can tell that you just LOVE riding - the gnarlier the better. Your modesty and unassuming, self-deprecating attitude is incredibly rare on RUclips and I appreciate every video you make. This one is a great help to me. Probably the most important (assuming a workable bike) is the suggestion: ATTITUDE. Thanks again. You da MAN!
Cheers man much appreciated and glad your loving the videos......i bloomin love riding bikes lol
Rock Garden video was exceptionally good!! Thanks guys! Makes me wanna buy inserts. Never had them.
Rock Gardens!........or as we call them in Snowdonia, trails.
yeah jaja same here in chile, the "rockgarden" in the video are baby steps for the real boulders in some trails haha
That one yellow spoke on the Mavic wheels is an interesting design choice. I kinda like it
The vid was so helpful for me because here trails are full of rock gardens. Great vid
Big fan from India 🇮🇳I will surely meet you in some years as I want to became an pro mountain biker, giving all efforts
Good luck on becoming pro
Same here! Good luck!
Best of luck, ride safe, ride hard!
Well bro, me too.
Which bike do you have?
What y’all are showing for rock gardens is what I have here for 5 miles worth of trail. Stay safe and watch your knees!
I feel that... 😕
The best!! 🤘
Here too. A smooth section is an oddity on some trails.
Same here and my bike of choice is a hardtail :D
Only 5? That sucks..
I really love your Channel really much. The way you handle things is just professional and my 12 year old son agrees.
Helps to have a 800$+ fork. But as far as technique information, spot on. The rock gardens around my trails have no downhill momentum very narrow trail and there are more rocks and taller bigger rocks. The kind that stops your front wheel if you don't move your weight properly. 😣 Great video keep it up👍👌
The cost of the fork is less important than how much travel it has
Awesome and thank you from Bend, Oregon......where rock gardens & nasty, sharp, puncture gremlins are what we live with every day ;-)
1 year later, but another Oregonian! I'm on the other side of the Cascades though.
As a hardtail user, rock gardens will always be my worst enemy.
Why? You have more suspension in your arms & legs than any bicycle.
Being smooth on a HT is a skill unto itself.
I have a HT, 120mm FS, and 160mm FS. I ride the HT 90% of the time. Partly because of my geographical location, and mostly because it forces me to be a better rider.
I have no idea why anyone likes them?
@@1madmaxx80 i get all of that. It's just my opinion. I don't like rock gardens. Also, I have no issues with my hardtail. It's the only bike i have and probably the only one i need. I even raced downhill and enduro with it. It can do anything for me from long rides to downhill tracks (atleast here where i live.) So yeah.
@@petecusack1638 yeahh me too. Some of my friends are always excited with rock gardens. Not me. Imma be cussing my way through that section.
Maybe you should just buy a road bike.
Can you do "How To Ride Rock Gardens Safe And Fast In A Road Bike" next. Thank you!
I bet blake samson will demo it.
Or a penny farthing.that would be brutal.
Road bike party 4??
Don't...
1:30 Nearly lost ur water bottle!! Must be rough AF!...oh, 1:35 you did!
What bottle cage is that? (So we can avoid it!)
Best mtb channel
Thanks! The nearby trails contain lots of rock gardens, some of them quite steep. Perhaps you can shed light on braking and speed in rock gardens. I am getting better at them but could use more good advice like this video.
Most importantly, what was the team cake? 'Vittoria' sponge?😂😂
Thanks Rich!
I really needed this video
Would have liked to hear some strategies to avoid pedal strikes.
Carry more speed, ratchet instead of full pedal strokes, start timing your pedaling before you enter the garden so you don't have to pedal all the way through it, pump off obstacles/go over the middle to get a little bit of lift under the bike...and just accept that you will trash pedals and scratch your cranks.
Thanks
I love gmbn!
Love how he says aluminum like a seriously disappointed father.
This is too real
Man i love this channel... i am beginner with a hardtail from India 🤘
Give it up mate, time to cut that comb over. 🤣
"if you are american: aluminum" i love the way he said it :D
Maybe this will work with some people, try using a wider pair of shoes, I mean wider contact, like AM or downhill specific shoes, pair with wide contact clipless pedals. It helps a bit with foot fatigue better than smaller XC shoes. CMMIW
Rock garden is the best!
Faster rebound by 1-2clicks.over ur usual setting, if u know ur ridding rough and not jumps
Would not the bike become more "nervous"? I lowered my rebound by 2 clicks and I feel the bike more mellow in rocky sections.
Beautiful bikes!
4:13 I really appreciated that American aluminum pronunciation lol
Class vid!
As a resident in the Fraser Valley, B.C. (MTB Mecca), I choose Aluminum, has four syllables😊 compared to Aluminium w/six. Who thinks the history of naming Alumina means anything? My periodic table that I grew up with says Al.
Big van from south africa you guys made me buy my bike and started riding
Haven't had too much of a problem with rock gardens. I always feel bad for bike rattling to pieces during them though.
Don't ride harder stuff than you (or your bike) can handle. My bars twisted when going over a rock and i landed on a nearby rock.
Been off bike since last monday, broke my ribs on a rocky path. Can barely sleep, I'm glad i wore a helmet and gloves tough!
Had my LG G6 on the handlebars as well, thank god the lcd for that is dirt cheap, and my bike is OK.
:)... for me it is all about level aceptance... a rock garden it is all right. :) zero big obstacles. Thanks.
Yes I finally did it!!!!!
What line would I take on a hardtail?
Cool video. I'm new to mtbs and have been mostly on road bikes where I tend to slow down for debris or road imperfections. So far in my first few mtb rides I have a tendency to go really slowly over rocky and rooty sections. Confidence is low for sure, but what's your opinion on speed through tough sections?
Any tips for not getting pushed off your line? Something like the start of ‘deep navigation’ at BPW is hard to picture where the right line would be, so how does a rider just float through it?
So... I've been tackling rock gardens with no experience on an ebike I just recently bought. The Aventon Aventure is not exactly spec'd to handle the unmanaged and remote footpaths and moderate level MTB routes. It can barely go off-road without a crank length reduction. The number of times my pedals CHOMP a bite out of boulders and I nearly die is why I don't bother pedaling through rock gardens and rely on the throttle, which means I'm on the seat to balance against the throttle which means seat suspension post required as well. Either way, without the right setup you should stick to the easy stuff or risk catastrophic failure
You are uploading this just before I'm going to do the megavalanche, or we'll you know the smaller one, the maxi avalanche becouse corona stopped the mega, great timing
do u guyz change ur tyres almost everyday while making these videos?
Or you could just use sam pilgrim's advice and just SEND IT!!!!
Thanks🤙🇨🇷
Finally some proper mountain biking. So tired of overly groomed trails.
Me too
Richard Payne crazy thing is we have bikes that are more capable than ever to handle massive gnar at speed and so many new trails being built are are hard packed dirt groomed trails that I could ride a skinny wheel fully rigid road bike on. So frustrating.
But are they fun? Compared to a rockless trail where you can build up more speed and not have so much vibration? I don't understand the lure of the rock garden, explain why you like them?
Choice CuzBro they’re fun if they are built right to allow you go through them with speed. Of course that requires building up the skills, which takes time. Rock gardens require good vision and line choice, knowing how to push into the bike so you don’t get bucked yet riding light, and being able to bunny hop, manual and jump on a trail, because sometimes the best line is in the air. All the essential skills of mountain biking- so what’s not to like? In my experience most people don’t like rock gardens because they aren’t good at them and therefore tip toe through them. Yeah, doing that they’re not fun. But hitting them at speed, having to be an active rider to get through them- that’s fun.
Check out the trail on this vid for what I mean. The rock gardens are interspersed with smoother sections that allow you to get speed going into them, and then are designed in such a way that, while they are really gnarly, you can go through them at speed. This is mountain biking- you need to bring all the skills together on trails like these. If you have a weakness in a part of your riding, they’ll bring it out. That is is why they are fun. Groomed trails are fun, but they are one dimensional in comparison.
ruclips.net/video/jVZ8WTIferw/видео.html
HI, great viedo, but whats with the suspension setup? Doesnt this also make a big diffrence or schould it normaly already work in all conditions when its set up correctly?
In theory the setup change in every condiction..but if you are skilled a bike with two wheel Is ok..
I love them
Hey, I did the blacks at Cannock Chase yesterday. There were 2 drops on the rock gardens that I'd like to hit cleaner next time. My weight was already back as they were steep runs so I couldn't do the usual drop off routine. I just had to bonk down them a bit sketchy. Anyone have some tips or advice?
Pro tip: adjust the compression damper to a more faster.
You so wise. Of course that’s what it was!
Rather first, ur rebound faster 1-2 clicks, so it doesn't pack down.
Screw those who plant rock seeds on trails
Agree, I just don't get it, why spoil a perfectly good trail but dumping a whole lot of rocks all over it?
Get troble with flet pedal in rockgarden.
I’m early for once. Finally!! Love these type of videos :)
When i riding... should i ON or OFF Clutch Rear derailleur. I use Shimano XT for derailleur. Thanks.
On, it keeps the chain still.
Man rock gardens are so scary. What scares me the most is how bad I'm going to hurt myself in case of a crash, it's full of pointy rocks right there! And this hinders my confidence of course.
yep! i started enjoying riding a lot more when i had to slow way down on a super-muddy day and really pick better lines instead of trying to go fast...and i realized, it's slow, but it's smooth and fun. took my kid riding and told her to try it, and she said it was the most fun she's ever had. on something gnarly like a rock garden, i will slow down or even stop completely and pick my lines and thing about body positioning, etc...maybe even stop halfway and do it again (and let any younger riders pass!)
Can you run tyre inserts with tubes ? ..
Rock gardens, that's what we call "New England"
1:33, bottle down!
I ride rock gardens by going OTB and rolling down them
So I live in Colorado just by the rocky mountains. There's a biking spot called the devil's backbone that puts this to shame. There's miles of just rock with dirt at all.
All of these tips seemed a bit null towards THAT lol place
A video about rock gardens without a single rock garden to be seen
shoot a video how to pump up a tubeless without a compressor)
Is it ok to let go front brake, only using rear brake?
Hey Dave, it's situation dependant to be honest! In theory yes, but if you have to brake to slow down, then to be honest we wouldn't want the rear end skidding around through a rock garden. Best to use both but modulate to keep traction.
@@gmbn cheers...
When I ride rock gardens like this I feel like I lose momentum. I try to stay active and light, pick a good line etc but the bike just slows down.
Give me a 140mm+ travel full-sus bike with DH tires and a 65* head angle and I can do that too. Now do it uphill on a 100mm hardtail and I'll have content I can learn from. But don't mind me, I clearly don't know anything about what the average newer mtb rider is actually riding, I'm sure everyone has a $10k Pole to learn rock gardens on.
I’m looking for a new bike under 3000 could you do a budget bikes challenge or something?
a good used bike is the best option here! Check out the components first
Look at the ibis ripmo/ripely aluminum. I forget which one they make that is under $3000 but pink bike did a video on it. the ibis frame has great geo and would be a great full suspension!
www.jensonusa.com/Ibis-Ripmo-AF-Deore-Bike-2021
lol go to bromont do the 5 and then tell us how to do rock gardens
RIP Bottle 1:33
It's Worzel Gummage on a mountain bike 🤪😂😂
Where's the rock garden 😂
1:33 You lost some water my friend
He lost some hair too!!!
4:13
@@frankburdodrums8984 lmao
My feet came out and I end up sitting with my feet out riding rly slow. I'll keep trying hahaha
Confidence. I was right up until I slammed into the tree. Then...a little less.
I have a hard tail and I crashed 4 times. All on rocks last ride ;(
Aluminiunuminum
The faster you go, the better off you are.
My dentist will be pleased
Shit im l8 AF! vID GOT POSTED LIKE 1 MIN AGO...
Feels nice to be first
yeah it does
Hi
Oh man... poor water bottle at 1:34
#1 don’t wear clip ins.
Do wear clips...like nearly every pro DH and enduro rider....hit that at speed, ur feet are not staying on flats, regardless of ur stealth rubber!
Cause you’re definitely gonna be pedaling down a rock garden lmao. Maybe I’d take advice from you if you didn’t start jumping a month ago lol
Look up is no1 tip from me!
rock garden? buy expensive long travel fork, set it up correctly. boom..
Yelling Wait OH SHIT!!!! before you crash is not riding with confidence.
I’m to heavy and I like my bike lol
Fat bikes are great on rock gardens
Yeah, but what about rocky trails? If your pedals aren’t hitting it’s not rocky.
Just close your eyes n pedal as fast as you can. Simple, next question
Some days I just see rocks, other days they are sharp teeth waiting to take a bite out of me.
1:33 water bottle escape
Just send it down, no need for fancy tires..... I go down all trails on a dirt jumper. Just be confident and dont be an idiot
Hey bro, I am a begginer for MTB's. What kind of mtb should i buy. Pls reply...
Lots of love from NEPAL bro.
Norco 420 just look at it looks sick af. But a more serious answer to your question the bike you should get is based off your budget if you only have 300 to $500 to spend your getting an XC bike whether you like it or not and if you have a lot of money to spend I recommend getting a cheap BMX plus a mountain bike because on a BMX you don't have to be as heavy-handed to learn the tricks like bunny hops which helped me improve my technique.
It's not that difficult to plough/blast through rock gardens at speed. MUCH harder to go a s slow as you can. That calls for good Trials skills.
Rock cards
In lofoten thats a flow trail😂
There are some material property claims here not backed by science in the carbon vs alum section...