Troy Herbst shares his off road racing tips.

1. Off Road
Racing Tips
Troy Herbst
Manage Your Speed
Keeping your throttle hand in check is fairly easy to do, but managing speed
on a steep, muddy downhill trail is tough. The trick is to see the problem well
before you get to it and slow down to a crawl so you aren’t trying to scrub off
speed where gravity and almost zero traction create the equivalent of a slip
and slide.
Keep Your Eyes Up
The problem is that as soon as you look down, you’re unable to deal with the
terrain that is suddenly under your front wheel. This problem compounds
until you are so far behind what’s going on underneath you that you get more
scared, look down more and eventually crash. This pertains to most athletic
activities, including street riding.
Find the Center
Whether sitting or standing, you must find the spot where your body’s mass
is located for optimum maneuverability and fluid control. This means sitting
forward on the seat and standing so your belly is over the steering stem.
Counter-lean
This is something street riders have a hard time with when they first start
dirt-riding. If you lean with the bike (or low and inside) then the bike will slip
out from under you. The bike must lean to turn, but if you stay on top of the
bike, your weight keeps the load pressing vertically to allow the tires to grip
the terrain.
Take Breaks
Off-road riding uses a lot of physical and mental energy. If you get tired, you
will start looking down and your timing will become imprecise. Before you
know it, you’re on the ground.
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