2-Strokes 4-ever, on 19 May 2012 - 03:59 AM, said:

I bet your eating those words now, did you see the race yesterday by chance?

tnat1, on 20 May 2012 - 06:43 AM, said:

Yes I am.  JS was smooth and flowing.  Good job.

tnat1, on 20 May 2012 - 06:42 AM, said:

Cool thanks, I'll check it out!!

Try not using a clutch off road, wrong gear slip it on the hills, I have always used my clutch, a lot and I am on my stock clutch on my 07 Husky I bought new.
Balls of your feet I try but I tend to cover the rear brake more often than not but you need to in the tight trees.
I get mad at my 10 year old for not using the clutch but small hands and a long reach for him don't make it easy on the the CR85 but he knows how to use it to take off.

262 2stroke, on 21 May 2012 - 04:16 PM, said:

Get him an asv..they are adjustable

Hoot98, on 18 May 2012 - 12:13 PM, said:

Gary Bailey has forgotten more about racing motorcycles than you will ever know.

His comment about jumping a mountain bike with the balls of your feet vs. the arch over the pedal (the pedal spindle I assume) was interesting.  Unless you're pedaling, there's a lot more control of the bike to be had by keeping the spindle just behind the balls of your feet, more towards the arch.

The top World Cup guys who are on flat pedals all position their feet with their arches centered.  The ones that ride clips usually put the cleats the furthest towards the rear of the adjustment range in the shoe.

I've experimented with both positions while riding clips on my DH bike and ultimately settled on the rear-most spot (under the arch) for two reasons - cornering control and leverage over the bike, and less calf/arch fatigue from long rough trails.  The second part is obviously a little different with the use of a moto boot.

Just curious what he was observing in the mountain bike world to make that statement.

Funny didn't realize James road on his arches till this Post,but whats funny is so do I Lol!! After spraining my ankles from impact I decided to ride on my arch's.I guess we all can't be Gary I'm sure James doesn't mind !!!!

Edited by BOBCRF450, 22 May 2012 - 06:13 PM.

GHILL28, on 22 May 2012 - 02:43 PM, said:

I always ride my DH bike on the balls of my feet. Even at Whistler with half hour descents. It feels weird when I ride with the pedal in the arch. Jumps and drops hurt my legs if I cant pivot my ankles. I corner better too with my feet back too. My calves usually hurt the first few rides of the season, but soon feel fine most rides.
Different styles for different people I guess.

mictheaussie, on 22 May 2012 - 06:53 PM, said:

There's a LOT more variances with fit and geometry on DH bikes.  Doesn't surprise me to see that.

The reason I started messing with it actually was checking out the setup and rider form of a local rider who was just phenomenal.  I think the guy would easily drop some top World Cup riders on local stuff.  He had a couple ankle injuries in his career, and was thus forced into riding flat pedals because of the foot positioning.  He had his arches directly over the spindles out of necessity, and claimed it helped keep his upper body CG back more on the steep stuff.  Tried it, seemed to work for that, but sure didn't help pedaling much.

Stewart is sucking all the way to a potential 24 and 0 season.

Why I am sure Gary made his son a great technical racer.
He always seemed to be a tad behind RJ.  If RJ would have listened
as well as JS7 they both would have been lapping the entire field.

The fact that JS looks so good on the yellow bike..and appears to have the upper hand in the outdoor series means nothing with regards to Bailey's constructive criticism.  JS is so talented that he can do things wrong...and still be fastest...at least vs. the current competition.  JS may be the greatest talent to ever ride...but he is not the greatest rider...and the reason for that may very well be his choice to not utilize all the techniques that are available to him, which is a laziness of sorts.

There are times when riding on the balls of your feet is better...times when arches are better.  If you always ride on your arches...you are limiting yourself.  Same with using the clutch on a 4S.  If you never use the clutch...you are taking away a technique that could make you are more consistent rider.  The reason RC is the GOAT...is that he had the talent...AND he mastered and utilized ALL the techniques.

Now that he is on yellow...JS may be back ahead of Dungy, Reed, Villopoto...but Dungy, Reed, and RV are not at the level Carmichael was....  These 2 or 3 small deficiencies in JS's technique could very well be what kept JS from ever getting to quite the level of CONSISTENT speed that RC had over his entire career....

Blutarsky, on 26 May 2012 - 08:57 PM, said:

I think that James kinda knows how to ride a dirt bike.  Don't ya think?

I also think you should call James and tell him exactly what he is doing wrong.  Obviously, he'd have a better career if he used "your" clutch technique instead of the one that's served him pretty damn well so far.

mauricedorris, on 26 May 2012 - 09:13 PM, said:

Damn sure does...just not as good as he could  (and not as good as RC did!) and THAT is what Bailey is commenting on.  Also...this thread is about what Bailey said...in case you are not paying attention....and he IS qualified to make such statements.

JS is phenomenal...one of the best ever.  That does not mean he couldn't be better.  I am perplexed by this rabid response to a legitimate critique of JS's riding.  It just goes to show what a talent he is....that he can do things wrong...and still be fastest!

As an aside...Bailey is not the only one to comment on things that Stewart does wrong.  There is this nice little book Pro Motocross and Off-Road Riding Techniques....and there is a shot of Steward a bit out of shape in a corner...and the caption reads  "....he does a lot of things wrong to put himself in this awkward position..."  The authors of that book?   Gary Semics and Donnie Bales...also qualified to make such judgements...

Edited by Blutarsky, 26 May 2012 - 09:32 PM.

Said it before and it is likely a repost to many.

I have seen everybody from Decoster and Wolsink to The riders today.  JS7 is the fastest I have ever seen. That includes RC
Hannah, McGrath, ect ect.

ossidog, on 27 May 2012 - 07:08 AM, said:

I don't totally disagree with that but being the fastest doesn't necessarily win championships

Blutarsky, on 26 May 2012 - 09:25 PM, said:

Oh... I get it now.  You are saying that Stewart isn't perfect...  and  he should be, right?  Or are you saying that he doesn't try hard enough to be perfect.   I am not sure what the friggin point is.    Or are you just echoing what Bailey and Semics said.  

Everybody could be a little better.    Do you think that Stewart is the only guy to get a little out of shape or to do something wrong or make a mistake.


I'm saying that the view is nice from the cheap seats   How can YOU sit back, from the comfort of your keyboard, and call James "lazy"   

James isn't RC and doesn't have RC's accomplishments, but please tell me who does?   Bailey, in his heyday, could not have beaten James, not even when he's riding on his arches.

I respect Bailey.  But, I also think that if he put up a picture and critique of the guy who qualifies 20th at supercross and critique him, a whole lot less people pay attention.   In a sense, they are using James' name to draw attention to their articles.

mauricedorris, on 26 May 2012 - 09:13 PM, said:

I think you are missing the point, everyone,  JS can have room for improvement. A closed mind will not improve and get better, just because a person cannot ride as well or fast as JS does not mean they cannot point out the issues he has and he could improve upon.
If you watch these vids you will see that RC mirrors Baileys sentiments to a T.
Bailey is 100% correct on JS misques, and improper technique.

http://motocross.tra...ng-tips-starts/

Edited by ncc, 27 May 2012 - 09:07 AM.

The whole point of the article is even the best could use some coaching.  It was not a hate article on Stewart.  In fact Bailey said that he was a fan of stewart.  All sports have coaching at every level.  All Bailey is saying is that even Stewart could get even faster if he tightened up his fundamentals.

frdbtr, on 27 May 2012 - 09:01 AM, said:

some just don't get that... if your on top you got there by yourself and need no one else!    completly not true!!!!