MountainBike.com

Q. What’s the best technique for getting over roots?

A. How To Ride Roots
1. Roots perpendicular to the trail are no problem–even if they’re wet you can just ride right over. Except roots are never perpendicular. It’s a joke trees like to tell.
2. Never brake amid roots. You’ll go down.
3. Enter root sections with enough momentum to clear them without pedaling hard. Torquing will also take you down.
4. Uphill: Accelerate as you approach, then lift the front wheel just enough to clear the root. Lunge your shoulders forward and unweight the rear wheel. You can soft-pedal to help the rear wheel over if necessary–no force, though. Now do it all again.
5. Downhill: Balance your weight between your hands and feet. Float just above the saddle. Raise the front wheel over the first root–not high, not hard. Let it skim. Let it kiss. Unweight the rear wheel as you feel it contact roots. Stay light and centered so your wheels can flutter across. Don’t pedal.
6. When a wheel slips, stay with it instead of bailing. Sometimes a half-second of forward motion is all the cure you need.
7. For miles and miles of roots, run 40 psi for a good combo of traction and cushion.

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