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Riding through soft sand
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
Hi all, I have recently come off my MTB riding through soft sand, front wheel went sideways and so did I... Can any one give me some tips for riding through this stuff?
[Mod. moved to MTB gear as more relevant]
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If it's a short patch stand up and put your weight back a bit and stay loose on your bike. Try and keep your body balanced and centered while letting the bike squirm around under you.
For long patches similar thing but you'll probably need to be sitting down and pedaling. The front will fish tail a bit stay loose. It's a matter of directing the bike with out fighting it all the way
Don't panic and tense up. Stay relaxed and let the bike squirm a bit. Tubeless tyres and low pressures help a lot also. A fast cadence helps you pedal through the longer sections.
Trust me, I've spent six weeks in Alice Springs as well as racing the Red Center Enduro. What I noticed at the Enduro was that 29ers kick ass on the sand. Must be the bigger footprint they have!
I lived in Broken Hill for a couple of years. It is similar to Alice Springs with long stretches of soft sand and numerous dried up creek beds. I was taught the best method was to use a big gear and try to power through the sandy parts. The other way is to use a high cadence and spin. Don't try and steer unless you have to. If you need to steer try and rock your bike through the sand and imagine you are flaoting over sand. It's all in the technique. Most riders in the desert run tubeless with sealant for several reasons, they leave a bigger footprint and the burs would destroy your tubes in few minutes of riding.
Sorry to hear about your off, Juliea.
Like Flynny said the way to go through if you're just going to coast through the patch is get some braking done BEFORE you hit the sand, get your bum back off the seat, relax and let the front wheel track where it wants. Small steering inputs are OK. Go find a patch and practice.
If you must brake, squeeze on the rear only. If you need to stop fast, squeeze both ends gradually then firm and you'll stop on a dime! (Just remember to keep the weight back).
Excellent tips, thanks heaps all. I think one of the main points is to relax, which I am not doing. As soon as I see soft sand I tense up (probably due to the recent stack I had) and letting the bike move under me.
The weight back is also a great help. I will be out there putting these tips to much practise!
Thanks again all!
If you're riding on fire trail, you'll usually find that the sand is a bit firmer along the edges - next to vegetation or leaf litter. You run the risk of getting whacked by the shrubbery, but its usually the best line. The other option is taking the "main" line if there's been a bit of traffic, it's often a bit firmer if lots of wheels have gone over the same line.
The other tips are all good. If you can avoid turning the front wheel too much on sand then there's less likelihood that the wheels will cut into the sand - that's usually when you have a sudden involuntary change of direction or off.
like riding a horse steer it in the general direction let go if a little stray but be the boss..aim for a spot on the other side of the sandy section & head straight for that drop in to a a gear that will get you out of trouble and be the boss..
put on some 2.5 inch tyres and run 10-15psi in them. you can then ride on the beach no probs
Thanks Lach, yes most of the sand I come across is on the trails, so these are good tips. I think as also suggested I just need to go for it and stop being a chicken!
I'm relatively new to MTB riding and really found sand a problem, however, through trial and error I seem to have it sorted now and the way I got use to it was as you mentioned in your last post, I just went for it. That said I think the best advice is don't fight it and if you are in a long stretch of the stuff keep peddling at a steady pace and let the front wheel find its own line (which is what everyone else has said but I felt like throwing my two bobs worth in anyway).
I was informed that if you keep the front light, the cadence high and remember to breath! Sounds stupid but when you go tense you hold your breath, if you breath you should stay loose!