Riding Tips

[WaterKid]

Lots of conversation regarding equipment...
but wondering if anyone has any riding tips they would like to share?

I'm only a 2nd year rider and still trying to figure out a few things such as

When riding rutted , hard pack roads I find the front ski wants to bounce back and forth between the sides of the rut basically sending me back and forth across the road. Anyone find a method to help combat that? I found riding slow isn't helping any?? Fast it seems it will just send me off the road if it catches a side edge but I haven't had the nerve yet to give it the gas.

 

[RMK935VA]

Different ski might help. I have rode 90 miles of trails on my Yeti. It handles the road fine even if it is rutted up. It hunts a little occasionally but it is very manageable. Ski really works in the deep too. Three rides so far and I am really enjoying the bike. It climbs, turns, sidehills and so much more while staying in the saddle the whole time. Much easier on the body than a mountain sled and more fun too!

 

[up-high]

When riding rutted roads try to sit on one side of the bike. leans the bike and ski and then you have two carbides steering(if it's a timbersled). Also on rutted roads and hardpack faster is better than slower. And loosen your grip. Let the ski wander(like riding in sand). Riding at the back of the seat helps by taking pressure off the ski so it doesn't cut as deep. You could also lower the forks(raise the single tree) in the single tree a bit to take some weight off the front.

 

[WaterKid]

Good info, so just ride it like on sand.
and I will try that leaning to the side, seems like a good plan making it more stable using two instead of balancing on the single carbide. Come to think of it, its probably the balancing on one that is sending me back and forth more so than catching the edge of the rut.

I am riding a TS and love it in the powder and have learned to really trust the front but it sure wants to wander following every groove on frozen ground.

I think I'll keep an eye out for someone with a yeti front ski and see how much a difference it makes.

 

[teal_210]

Good info, so just ride it like on sand.
and I will try that leaning to the side, seems like a good plan making it more stable using two instead of balancing on the single carbide. Come to think of it, its probably the balancing on one that is sending me back and forth more so than catching the edge of the rut.

I am riding a TS and love it in the powder and have learned to really trust the front but it sure wants to wander following every groove on frozen ground.

I think I'll keep an eye out for someone with a yeti front ski and see how much a difference it makes.

Put a standard 6" wide simmons ski on the front for a few rides. After that you'll never have any problem with any of the current ski's.

 

[needpowder]

The gold triple carbide helps on ice (and pavement). It's also a lot less prone to catching on rocks and logs. Way stronger than that runner that comes on the timber sled as well.

 

[AZ800]

It's just how it is i think. First couple rides i was all over the road on hard pack. Learned to not over correct with each twitch of the ski and also, faster is straighter.
Now riding on very hard ice or low snow cutting into the dirt is another story when you can't trust the ski to grab. I'm usually riding with my feet out on these surfaces, like riding from the trailer to the trail head.

 

[Niskibum]

If you don't have ice scratchers it's probably good to ride with your feet down on the hard pack anyway.