Video: Remy Metailler's Tips to Build Confidence on the Bike

Feb 19, 2023
by Rémy Métailler  

This winter has been difficult in Squamish. Lots of snow, rain and cold weather so I got to ride very little the past 4 months. With less seat time, I naturally lost some speed and confidence on the bike as I'm sure many of you did as well.

In this video I show you my technique to approach any feature and be able to build confidence again with limiting the risks of crashing.

Thank you to SORCA and the volunteers for maintaining the trails

Photos and video by @the_frenchliner

Check out more on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/c/remymetailler and on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/remymetailler

Photo by the frenchliner

Photo by the frenchliner

Photo by the frenchliner


Author Info:
remymetailler avatar

Member since Feb 25, 2009
190 articles
Report
Must Read This Week
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup

41 Comments
  • 52 1
 A really good reminder that top riders like Remy are not out there just hitting stuff. Not only do they have the bike handling skills that set them apart, they carefully consider the risks, consequences, and strategies before going big. At 63 I'm still working on getting better, so I think Remy has many years of progression in front of him.
  • 19 0
 Remy is inspiring, but I really want to be like you!
  • 4 0
 You're not referring to those riders that entertain me every Friday, are you? The people who ARE just hitting stuff, but without any bike handling skills or "carefully consider the risks, consequences, and strategies before going big".
  • 8 0
 I'm 65 now, did my first superman at 59, I'm definitely one of the oldest guys hitting the big dirt jump lines and doing big drops. I want to get my back flip this year.
  • 3 0
 @andrewfrauenglass: This is legit. Great work.
  • 1 0
 @mountainbikeacademy: Thank you. Your sincere recognition inspires me to work harder.
  • 24 1
 Pretty fun hearing a 32-year-old go on about getting old.
  • 10 0
 @Phillyenduro haha yep..That made me feel archaic..In my 40s now.. Definitely have lost some confidence to try riskier features just with time.. Not willing to take as many chances.. Dad life I suppose...
  • 40 3
 @bohns1: I should have also clarified on a few things: not willing to take useless risks not necessarily because I'm older but because, A : so much of my incomes are link to me being healthy, B : my hobbies also require me to be healthy, C : if I were to get hurt and off the bike for a while, it's harder to come back and keep making the same income as before an accident.
  • 5 1
 @remymetailler: I hear ya Remy, wait until you hit your 50's. Love the video's. I don't ride what you do (for the exact reasons you gave), but the videos help.
  • 6 0
 @remymetailler: Well, that's valid for everyone. Stay healthy!
  • 2 0
 As an early 30 something myself, I don't claim to be old but I do notice I don't bounce off the ground quite the same as I did in my earlier riding days. I'm also not as stupid as I was then so it's not all bad I suppose.
  • 8 0
 [Greg Minnaar has entered the chat]
  • 1 0
 I was wondering about his age haha. I definitely had no real issue at 32, though you do start to feel "it". After 40's recovery is noticeably impacted and you do get hurt more easily (where you'd have bounced off and stuff before). I can't imagine after 50's, but I guess that where it really hits you. I find regular physical training really, really helps there. It's a lot harder to get back in shape quickly but its not that hard to keep it up.

So, Remy, you still have 10-20 years of progress and while that's slower than when you're 16, it's not that bad, don't worry too much, if anything, it makes us older people jealous haha.
  • 1 0
 @p1nkbike: age definitely impacts recovery - at 48 I am riding as well as I have ever done, but a bicep injury is taking a long time to heal even with PT... thankfully not impacting riding though.... and that's one of the reasons I retired from the DH park... fun as it is, "I'm too old for that shit" LOL
  • 1 0
 @rossp: I hope to still ride parks at 48, but perhaps not the same stuff the kids run!
It's fun but not really worth the risk, and kids always wanna push it with always bigger gaps, etc. (we've all been there after all)
  • 11 0
 Yeah Remy! At 52 it cracks me up to here you talking about getting old. I think I was at my best at 46, not joking. You got this!!!
  • 4 0
 Great to hear I´ll probably be peaking in five years Smile
  • 1 0
 Yes, that's why I still hope to get better @56. Big Grin
  • 2 0
 @cool3: You will. I started freeriding at 44 only. Now I'm 58 and more confident than ever.
  • 6 0
 #2 oncoil
  • 3 0
 Coil and coil-like air springs make everything so much simpler.
  • 5 0
 Awesome, I now realise I'm a crap rider.
  • 4 0
 Nothing better than a Frenchman in a Ford truck I tell you what. Ricky Bobby's head would explode
  • 3 0
 You mean Wicky Boo-bee.
  • 2 0
 Haven't ridden in a while and I just got a new bike so let's find the biggest features I've ridden in the past and just SEND IT!
  • 2 0
 Just don't forget to film it!
  • 1 0
 @remymetailler - great video and input regarding the off season and strengthening up. Is there any specific reason you never run the EDC Tool in your steerer? Thanks and stay healthy
  • 1 0
 My one rattles so I've taken it out, I've always assumed that's why he doesn't have it in there either.
  • 4 0
 He's sponsored by Topeak tools so probably can't use the OneUp tool?
  • 1 0
 @David8048: yeah this is it.
  • 1 0
 @Davec85 - mine did at the beginning too, I just stuck some gorilla tape on the flat side of the tire lever part, rattle free for 2 seasons..
  • 1 0
 The auto translated captions are hilarious. "android" for "enduro" is perfect.
  • 1 0
 occasionally the captions on my TV just say "foreign"
  • 1 0
 How does it translate h'arder?
  • 2 0
 Thanks
  • 1 0
 *ride more
  • 6 9
 #1 ride in untouched areas
  • 3 2
 Lol. I wonder who down voted you
  • 1 2
 @Dillonmennie: It's the media, man lol
  • 1 4
 see you soon, in friday fails!







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv65 0.035203
Mobile Version of Website