Front brake in sand!!!

[HiG4s]

OK, we all know this, but think about it anyway. use limited front brake in sand!!!!!:(
Why I am reminding everyone of this is because I have been practicing on a clay track for the last couple of months and last Sunday they were racing (I don't race, I just practice) so I switched to another track that was all sand. I was doing fine, until I came up to a turn a little hot. Without thinking I used both front and back the same way I would have on the hard track. The front end dug in and yanked the handle bars out of my hands as the front wheel tucked in launched me off the bike. I did one full summersault, not sure how many the bike did. Fortunately I didn't break anything but I'm bruised bad enough I'll be watching my son ride for at least a month. The front of my left hip is bruised from the handle bars, and the back from landing on the berm. The doctor said I traumatized the (I know the name, but couldn't spell in on a bet) nerve in the hip. Which accounts for my whole thigh being numb. On the up side, the shooting pains in the thigh from the nerves recovering should only last a week.
I keep thinking I should get an enduro bike, maybe I wouldn't be quite as wild on one of those. Then again, that probably wouldn't make any difference, :eek:

 

[Jaybird]

I've never ridden on the sand before. I'd be real interested in hearing some of you sand blasters give the low-down on the art.

I know it looks damn good!

 

[yardpro]

growing up in the outer banks gives alot of pure sand experience.
here's the trick,
Stay on the gas
never let off the gas
always kep the front light
thr faster you go the better off you are
in turns, rail them on the gas
the sand will catch you in the turn, so --- yep yoou guessed it, stay on the gas.
oh yea, did i mention to stay on the gas:)

 

[Hogwylde]

Jaybird.....u wanna ride in the sand?? head up to the Badlands in Attica!!! several hundred acres of old abandoned sand/pea gravel pit alongside the Wabash river. a couple of BIG bowls to ride around in....some dunes like areas....some high speed washboarding...and an all around pretty good time if you are tired of woods and cornfields!!!

I found that first gear is pretty much useless....slip the clutch a little and second gear starts are easy.....need to get that rear wheel speed up!! (not all of us have paddle tires or soft track tires to swap around). the front end tends to dig in and dump you on slow turns....keep on the gas or the sand sucks you down. one nice thing about sand......it's softer and doesn't bang ya up as much as the hard clay soils and rocks do!! I though it was a blast........but so do ALOT of ****s.....so you have to play dodge the ****....or just go places they cant/wont!!!

 

[splatt]

Brakes in the sand ,what you nuts! A bike acts kind of like a personal watercraft ,cut the throttle and you stop rather quickly. I found in sand mo throttle mo better.

 

[HiG4s]

Originally posted by splatt
Brakes in the sand ,what you nuts! A bike acts kind of like a personal watercraft ,cut the throttle and you stop rather quickly. I found in sand mo throttle mo better.

I know, I know, I know!!!! But for 8 weekends straight I practiced on a clay track and I just did it without thinking. As far as being softer, I have a bruise from halfway down my thigh going up my left hip to my ribs that disagrees with that statement.
Basically from just above my knee pad to just below my chest protector. I landed on my back, after doing a flip, still with forward momentum, on the uphill slope of the corner. No rolling, no bouncing, no sliding, just a THUD and I stopped.
Thinking back, some guy on a green bike stopped and asked if I was OK. I looked up, still not having moved, and said "I don't know." He got on his bike and road away. I guess any answer was good enough for him. A minute or two later my son showed up on his mini and helped me up.

 

[yardpro]

whoever thinks sand is soft hasn't taken a very bad spill in it yet. It's like water, hit it softly, no problem, hit it hard and that's a whole different story.

 

[BigBore]

Yup...sand does hurt. One good thing about crashing in the sand though--you don't have to worry about road rash!

Ditto everything about staying on the gas. Its kind of tough to force yourself to stay on the gas in turns, but even keeping the throttle open a little will help keep the front end from digging in. The faster you go, the funner it is. Out in the dunes here there are some tight trails that I have to use 2nd in. Once I have to use anything lower than 3rd, its not fun anymore. The front end just knifes and dives, and I end up fighting the bike too much. The more open sand roads are awesome!

Brakes still are very usefull in the sand, just not the front brake. I hardly ever use it. Your bike does slow down a little quicker than on dirt, though.

 

[bwalker]

I ride in sand about 90% of the time. The secret is moving your body a bit father back on the seat than you would for hardpack. This keeps the front wheel from knifeing under. It is also important to stay on the gas as everyone has mentioned. This keeps the front end unloaded.

 

[Tom Dixon]

When riding in the sand you should keep your center of balance low by bending your knees slightly. If your sitting you should be toward the back of the seat keeping the gas on. Just remember to watch out for ruts crossing the trail or swerving across because they can pull your handle bars out of your hands.

 

[yardpro]

Just remember to watch out for ruts crossing the trail or swerving across because they can pull your handle bars out of your hands.

if you keep your weight back and gas it as you hit the rut, etc. you will have no problems.

 

[Fe_princess]

Gas, good
Brake, bad

 

[gibbs_6]

Originally posted by bwalker
I ride in sand about 90% of the time. The secret is moving your body a bit father back on the seat than you would for hardpack. This keeps the front wheel from knifeing under. It is also important to stay on the gas as everyone has mentioned. This keeps the front end unloaded.

Bump on that for sure.Rode in sand last weekend and it took me 2 hours just to figure how to do it decently,but once figured sand can be fun.;) :)