Video: Line Choice Is Easier Than You Think - How To Bike with Ben Cathro Episode 7

Sep 29, 2021 at 14:20
by Pinkbike Originals  


HOW TO BIKE

EPISODE 7



Ben Cathro aka "Line Guy" is back with a heater of a tutorial. Ever wondered how to pick good lines and where to look when you're riding? Ben has broken it down into 8-ish simple rules.




We'd like to extend a huge thank you to Santa Cruz Bicycles, Deity, POC and DHaRCO who supported this project.


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68 Comments
  • 135 1
 Ben is a truly rare individual, a top level athlete who is also an amazing teacher.
  • 69 0
 +1
Also props to whoever shoots & edits these videos. Its a fantastic production.
  • 6 0
 Yup, these two things are not mutually a given.
  • 10 0
 Cathro is a gem. I hope he's seeming some of that Outside money at least
  • 3 6
 4:24 is the sound of watching Richie cut the gates out

Enter the triggered 'mericans
  • 2 0
 Arghh, accidental downvote, apologies!
  • 4 0
 @Woody25: with this ownership change, it would be awesome if pinkbike could revamp their comment section formatting a little bit. Like being able to change your vote! Or having comment replies organize into threads instead of one long chain of 4 different convos underneath the main comment.
  • 80 2
 Great to see Ben taking a break from selfishly racing and posting travel articles and getting back to what really matters; making me marginally faster amongst my buddies.

Keep up the great posts Ben!
  • 43 0
 Best how to series ever, Keep it up Ben :o)
  • 19 0
 So wait, youre suggesting stopping and looking at features? Thats gonna mess up my strava times!

I joke, but strava times are why i slowly got out if the habit if sessioning sections of a trail. Id just do a full pull and hope to clean up mistakes next time. This year i flipped the script and started sessioning sections of trail. It made biking more fun because id get to just play and try things and find the fastest way through them. Plus i progressed a lot and was able to carry it over onto other trails. “Oh this is like that jump over on the other trail.”
  • 3 0
 Started doing this recently and your 100% right. I’m progressing while having more fun breaking the trail into a series of small, achievable goals. Plus I’m noticing the translation to other trails.
  • 2 0
 What’s the best strategy for sessioning downhill only trails? I feel guilty pushing back up a section in fear someone might hit me, and sometimes there’s not really any good way to hike up off the trail.
  • 2 0
 @Habaden: you just gotta keep your head up and listen for people coming. Also hurry through those sections that are kind of blind. Just be as visible as possible. Only other recommendation is to not try and hike up super long sections. Just find a spot up far enough where you feel comfortable with the speed and also where you feel comfortable getting on your bike. Its hard to start on a spot where you are faced with a technical move as soon as youre on the pedals.
  • 3 0
 @Habaden: also, if you just want to scope out a line. Leave your bike uphill and off the trail, but visible. Itll warn descenders that someone is on foot ahead of them.
  • 18 0
 my climbing line choice is often pingponging between the two edges of trail because the grass is always greener on the other side and the trail is always smoother on the other side i also like to ride close to rocks cause i think it looks cool when the logo on my tire gets all scratched up.
  • 10 0
 If only a few mins are available, here's Ben's "If you remember anything from this video" section at 8:55:

youtu.be/82T0m_uja4g?t=531

Well done guys. Excellent presentation (@ben-cathro) and and also video work (production and editing).
  • 11 0
 Would love a 'how not to brake in a corner' lesson...
  • 13 1
 brake before the corner.
  • 8 0
 Singing helps tremendously to filter out the noise. See vid from Tracey Hannah: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWyIG7wzgyM
  • 23 0
 Cathro did mention C-grade youtubers with clickbait titles
  • 3 0
 @spicysparkes: That would be Paul Smile
  • 2 0
 @2pi: ita also helps with pace and cadence Razz

youtu.be/lyl8id1mxMs
  • 1 0
 I skimmed through ... entertaining listening to her commentary while chasing Paul. lol
  • 1 1
 I often ride best with one part of a song on repeat as a sort of a mantra. Such as, “Wutang clan ain’t nothing to F with!” Clears out the mental chatter.
  • 7 0
 Love these! Always come away from watching Ben's videos riding more conciously of what I am doing.
  • 6 0
 Scotland!? With all the Scotch Broom and Ferns, I thought this was on Vancouver Island.
  • 7 1
 My line choice could be summed up with: Go that way, really fast. If something gets in your way, turn.
  • 3 0
 This was a brilliantly made video that will help a lot of riders hone their skillset in this key area.

One thing Ben didn't mention which may also help others is how sometimes following another rider can help with building confidence. When I was in my teens I would often try to follow/chase the faster riders (you know, those lines you'd initially think were beyond your capabilities). This helped me understand how much speed I actually needed to clear jumps, bounce over rocks, enter turns and boosted my confidence.

Keep it up Ben.
  • 1 0
 Also allows you to focus on bike handling and tune out some of the line choice brain tax
  • 1 0
 I once followed a rider on their entire ride. After 10 hours I learned so much, they ate tuna sandwhiches at lunch, and stopped 4 times to take phone calls, when hiding in a bush it is best to take your bright orange helmet off, and as I suspected they were super sketchy on all the tracks which built my confidence no end - turns out I was way faster.
  • 3 0
 1. Look ahead - X
2. Look for grip - X
3. Filter out the noise - X

Of feck it, looks like I have quite alot to work on. I come in at snails pace and can only see a sea of rocks and no way through!. Great vid mind. Love the new noun "rockage"
  • 6 0
 Does DHaRCO only make one shirt???
  • 3 0
 No, but this one looks cool...

Also, when I type Dharco on Google, why does it mostly give me adds from Ali Express to buy their apparels?!!
  • 1 0
 @danstonQ: Unfortunately, they've been targeted by chinese copy merchants
  • 1 0
 I don’t know, but with the double headers this year I really hope they gave Ben more than one copy of it.
  • 2 0
 Another great video! Love the point you made near the end about up & down movement and where you plan to apply weight. I've been trying to work on that piece, to help in planning the best places to brake (following your earlier vid on braking), how I can unweight across the more gnarly stuff, and also to work out where I have greatest traction for turning. I won't claim to be very good at it, but I love the visual/mental puzzle aspect!
  • 5 0
 Channel my inner Joe Barnes, gotcha.
  • 1 0
 This series is far and away the most helpful I've ever seen. It's completely changed my riding - I'm routinely setting PRs on trails I've ridden hundreds of times, feeling safer and in more control than I ever have. Kudos Ben and everyone else involved!
  • 5 0
 This video come out a bit late for Richie - do not cut corners
  • 5 1
 Back to your brilliant best Ben! Bravo!!!
  • 3 0
 I tried to follow Aaron Gwin's line at the Vail lake enduro and I ended up smashing my helmet & goggles on some rocks
  • 1 1
 Line choice.
1. Find an easy flow trail with nice supportive berms
2. Take you 6k enduro bike down it and feel like a boss
Done.


Great video Ben.
Practice brings confidence = more speed, brings the crash eventually, back a few steps, practice, confidence, speed, crash, repeat.
  • 1 0
 The only "problem" with these videos from a traffic perspective is that they're are so well done.
That said, I hope PB keeps these going for as long as Ben has inspiration to make them.
  • 2 0
 Sam hill says if you get inside of the inside of the inside line, you will therefore be inside of that inside line. Fastest methodology 101 Samuel Eugene Hill
  • 4 0
 These rock
  • 3 0
 Safe & Sick - my personal motto
  • 3 0
 Your videos rock. I learn so much every time. Thank you
  • 2 0
 Phenomenal stuff! Will we be getting a how to jump vid as well? Would love that
  • 2 0
 Yes he briefly talks about it coming up in an earlier video.
  • 3 0
 All useful stuff. I'm slow and I felt included. Thanks Ben.
  • 2 0
 This is very will written. Organized, clear, and great scope of relevant information. Well done sir.
  • 2 0
 My line choice decisions: go fast, take chances
  • 3 1
 Please keep doing these. Learn something every time
  • 2 0
 Very well done. All you need, nothing you don't. Good job Cathro
  • 3 1
 The lines I take usually look like I've just taken a line.
  • 1 0
 Great dinner entertainment thanks Ben! Looking forward to "how to shralp corners like Loris."
  • 2 0
 These are fantastic, keep it coming!
  • 2 0
 Ben you are an absolut legend! This videos are pure gold. Thank you!
  • 2 0
 much appreciated tall fella.
  • 1 0
 Masterclass Cathro. Also, you make 29" wheels look like 26" wheels man.
  • 2 1
 I bought a full suspension so I didn't have to pick lines.
  • 1 0
 Ssssoooo much good fooking information in this vid. Thanks Ben!!
  • 1 0
 Are you really able to never close your eyes?
  • 1 0
 Always take the biggest line before someone else does
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