Independent field notes
Suspension of Disbelief is a practical and entertaining guide to recreational mountain biking. It covers riding techniques, bike setup, suspension, maintenance, safety, essential gear, trail etiquette, and the lessons learned from climbs, descents, and the occasional unplanned dismount.
Jake HollowayHey there I'm Jake. I'm a mountain biker who enjoys technical challenges, long climbs, fast descents, and the satisfaction of keeping a well-used bike running smoothly. I write practical guides about riding skills, suspension setup, maintenance, safety, gear, and the lessons learned from occasionally choosing the wrong line.
I’ll compare the most useful ways to prepare for a mountain bike ride in tick country, from clothing and repellents to trail choices and post-ride checks, so you can carry enough for prevention without turning a short ride into an expedition.
Read articleI’ll compare what fork volume spacers change in the air-spring curve with what pressure, compression damping, or a service can address, so you can decide when another token improves support—and when it only masks the real problem.
Read articleWhen a steep, technical climb repeatedly stalls your progress, I’ll show how a brief walking reset can preserve useful practice, improve pacing, and sharpen line choices without turning every failed attempt into a hike-a-bike session.
Read articleI’ll explain how to use a shock pump safely, establish a useful baseline, and tune your rear shock by sag and ride symptoms instead of treating one pressure number as a universal answer.
Read articleI’ll clarify why the rear wheel locks so easily and show how finger pressure, body position, terrain, and release timing work together to keep braking controlled instead of turning every descent into a skid.
Read articleI’ll explain how to use ratcheting pedal strokes on technical climbs, including when to pause, how to time each partial stroke around rocks and roots, and how gear choice, body position, and traction affect the result.
Read articleI’ll compare the outside-foot technique with level-pedal alternatives, explain why low-banked turns offer less support, and show how to coordinate vision, pressure, and body position without treating every flat berm like a high-speed wall ride.
Read articleI’ll help you use riding footage as a focused coaching tool: record the right angles, review patterns instead of isolated frames, and choose one change that improves control without turning every ride into a search for perfect form.
Read articleThe last trailhead space can turn a quick ride into a neighborhood nuisance or a stressful parking gamble. I’ll explain how to choose between carpooling, overflow options, efficient unloading, and riding from farther away without creating new problems.
Read articleI'll show you how to build a simple mountain-bike riding journal that connects sleep, food, terrain, weather, equipment, fatigue, and mistakes—so you can make sensible changes instead of treating every rough ride as a personal failure.
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