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Chainless Downhill Training?

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TomBigmac

Chimp
May 31, 2009
58
0
After another snapped chain and drive chain components needing replacement, I'm thinking of going chainless for the last couple weeks of my riding season. Having done a couple chainless races I feel it certainly seems to benefit my riding, teaching me not to necessarily brake so hard for corners. It's also interesting to know the guys that beat me, did so through braking less, not pedalling more. My race results are better on the more pedally tracks so I was wondering if going chainless for a bit might help me carry speed better.
Does everyone think it's a waste of time, or is it worthwhile?
 
gonefirefightin

gonefirefightin

free wieners
Feb 5, 2007
11,267
4,955
Surrounded by Police in a hail of gunfire
I did a bunch of chainless races a few years ago in cali and it made a huge different in my brake management. I think you can benefit from running a course or training circuit several times just coasting and seeing how far you can push it without braking. it gives you alot better Idea when to lay on the power and pedal in the areas that will benefit the most.

no need to remove the chain....just coast.
 
Kanye West

Kanye West

220# bag of hacktastic
Aug 31, 2006
3,741
473
I rode chainless for two months on my local trails last year and it really didn't slow me down too much.

My next DH rig is going to be SS for simplicity of drivetrain components.
 
gemini2k

gemini2k

Turbo Monkey
Jul 31, 2005
3,526
117
San Francisco
AR_ said:
It's a brilliant idea, untill (And you will) you go to put in a hard pedal stroke coming out of a corner and send your nuts into the stem, followed by a nice faceplant.
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You'd be suprised how this never happens. I've done a weekend at diablo and at northstar chainless. Didn't really affect you too much, except of course coming out of berms, or some of the flatter rock gardens.

It is SUPER fun just focusing on pumping and such. You relax a lot more when you're not thinking about pedaling at all. which is why my DH bike is SS.
 
norbar

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,369
1,605
Warsaw :/
I thought the same after I tried it when I smashed my der cage. I think it's time to try it finally. Go and check it yourself. Some people may gain from it and some may not.
 
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TomBigmac

Chimp
May 31, 2009
58
0
I've no problem with trying to pedal and wrecking myself, as I said, I've done a couple of chainless races this summer. Was just wondering on peoples thoughts on it as a training aid.
I'll try it for the next few days...
 
Kanye West

Kanye West

220# bag of hacktastic
Aug 31, 2006
3,741
473
Handicapped training is great.

No front brake, no rear brake (this one especially), snapped derailleur cable, so only a super tall gear, no seat, completely bald tires, etc etc. Doing any and all of those make you capitalize on every bit that your bike has to offer when you get them back.
 
A

AR_

Monkey
Aug 3, 2004
421
0
Global Gravity Mecca, aka: Manchester UK
gemini2k said:
You'd be suprised how this never happens. I've done a weekend at diablo and at northstar chainless. Didn't really affect you too much, except of course coming out of berms, or some of the flatter rock gardens.

It is SUPER fun just focusing on pumping and such. You relax a lot more when you're not thinking about pedaling at all. which is why my DH bike is SS.
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I wouldn't be surprised, because it does happen. I had to ride the Mega Avalanche course without the left hand chain on my Racelink and there were plenty of times i've slowed down and gone for the big pedal, only to realise upon moving my weight there is no resistence, cue quickly trying to shift it back again before imminent crash. Do those who never find it a problem not crank it out of corners? Maybe it's a UK thing, we have to pedal if we want to maintain some sort of decent speed through the tight&twisties.

To answer the OP: I'm sure it's a great training aid, if you have courses you can maintain good speed on without having to pedal anywhere.
 
gemini2k

gemini2k

Turbo Monkey
Jul 31, 2005
3,526
117
San Francisco
AR_ said:
I wouldn't be surprised, because it does happen. t crash. Do those who never find it a problem not crank it out of corners? Maybe it's a UK thing, we have to pedal if we want to maintain some sort of decent speed through the tight&twisties.
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Ya, here in Socal we don't have any flat, blown out turns littered with rockgardens....
I actually just rode 5-6 mile trail that descended 2.2k feet last night that is basically all flat rockgardens and turns....with no chain, trust me.

Yes riding without a chain will slow you down, I'm not saying it won't. Ya, you won't be able to pedal out of corners, yes that will make riding some other parts of the trail more challenging, that was kinda the whole point of what I was saying though. If you're GOOD, you can learn NOT to crank on your pedals when you have no chain there.
 
JDA

JDA

Chimp
Feb 6, 2008
60
0
Sydney, Australia
I love chainless runs, nothing but the sound of tyres pounding on the rocks, wind in your ears and oil rushing through your damping circuits! also trying to carry as much speed as possible in and out of corners.
 
tatankainlondon

tatankainlondon

Monkey
May 6, 2004
253
0
AR_ said:
Maybe it's a UK thing, we have to pedal if we want to maintain some sort of decent speed through the tight&twisties.
Click to expand...
This is certainly the UK thing. You would not be able to coast all the way down without chain - UK tracks are way tighter and twistier than, say, track in the French alps. I see the point in keeping momentum by using less brakes, though. I must try it some day.
 
Gary

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,656
5,572
UK
mibbie if you live in London and think the midlands is actually anywhere near the middle of the UK
 
stiksandstones

stiksandstones

Turbo Monkey
May 21, 2002
5,078
25
Orange, Ca
Scott Sharples and Michael Ronning (the 2 men responsible for leading the growth of Aussie MTB riders) used to chainless training and would also do a few runs on world cup tracks as well, more to see if they could salvage a run and get points if they had a mechanical and to also improve on cornering speeds. But pump tracks are all the rage now, so no need to ;)
 
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