Mastering the Scrub: How to Shred Jumps Like a Pro on Your MTB

Scrubbing a jump on your mountain bike isn’t just about looking cool (although, let’s be honest, it does look pretty awesome). It’s a valuable technique that allows you to maintain speed and flow on the trail while navigating jumps that might otherwise send you flying a little too high. Scrub is a stylish way to squash a jump with precise control that allows you to navigate obstacles while maintaining flow.

Ready to conquer those rollers and clear technical sections with confidence? Here’s your step-by-step guide to scrubbing jumps like a pro:

Step-by-Step Guide to Scrubbing Jumps

Step 1: Approaching the Jump

• Find the Right Gear: Choose a gear with some resistance, similar to what you’d use for climbing a gentle incline. This helps maintain power as you initiate the scrub.
• Maintain Speed: Avoid braking before the jump. Aim for a comfortable approach speed that allows you to scrub without losing momentum.
• Body Position: Center your weight over the bottom bracket, keep your elbows slightly bent, and engage your core for stability.

Step 2: Initiating the Scrub

• Preload Your Suspension: As you approach the lip of the jump, push down slightly on the handlebars to compress the suspension. This absorbs the impact and initiates the scrub.
• Centralize Your Position: Just before the jump, position yourself centrally on the bike. Drop your heels slightly, keeping your chin over the stem and hips over the bottom bracket.
• Foot Position: As you approach the takeoff, start dropping your outside foot. For instance, if your right foot is forward, drop your left foot, and vice versa. Choose whatever feels comfortable.
• Lean and Turn: As you reach the top of the takeoff, lean the bike slightly and begin turning the handlebars. Keep your eyes on the takeoff while scrubbing off the top, leaning your bike over to prevent it from gaining too much height.

Step 3: In the Air

• Maintain the Lean: Keep your body weight slightly off-center, following the carved turn initiated by your handlebars. This shifts the bike’s center of gravity and reduces vertical height.
• Light Pedal Stroke: Maintain a very light pedal stroke to help keep momentum and control the bike’s position. Avoid going all-out.

Step 4: Landing

• Straighten Up: As you approach the landing, gradually straighten out your handlebars and body position to prepare for a smooth touchdown. Push the bars in and turn them back straight, readying yourself for the landing.
• Spot Your Landing: Focus on where you want the front wheel to land, not on the obstacle itself. This ensures a controlled and precise landing.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to execute effective scrubs and maintain better control during jumps. Practice regularly, start small, and refine your technique to master this skill.

Tips and Tricks for Scrub Mastery

• Practice on Straight Jumps: Focus on jumps that have a straight approach and landing, free of other technical features. This allows you to concentrate solely on perfecting your scrub technique.

• Practice Makes Perfect: Like any skill, mastering the scrub requires time and dedication. Find a safe area with rollers or small jumps and consistently practice your technique.

• Start Small: Begin with smaller jumps and gradually progress to larger ones. This will help you build confidence and control without taking unnecessary risks.

• Feel the Suspension: Pay close attention to your bike’s suspension as you preload and execute the scrub. Understanding how your suspension reacts will help you refine your technique and find the optimal balance.

• Visualize the Turn: Imagine carving a turn on flat ground just before you leave the jump. This mental visualization can guide your handlebar movements and improve your scrub execution.

• Don’t Overcook It: Aim for a subtle scrub rather than an exaggerated lean. The goal is to maintain control and smooth flow, not to completely turn sideways. A controlled scrub is often more effective and safer than an overdone one.

Common Scrub Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

Carving Before the Jump

• Mistake: Turning your bike on the way up to the jump.
• Fix: Approach the jump straight on. Start your turn just as your front wheel takes off. The goal is to bring the bike down quickly, not to get it sideways. While getting sideways might look cool, it can cause you to lose speed and increases the risk of damaging your wheels or wiping out.

Leaning Too Far

• Mistake: Leaning excessively, as if you’re doing a full superman.
• Fix: Maintain control by avoiding extreme leans. Scrubbing is about subtle adjustments, not dramatic body movements. Over-leaning can lead to loss of control and unstable landings.

Not Preloading Suspension

• Mistake: Failing to preload your suspension before the jump.
• Fix: Preload your suspension by pushing down on the bike before the takeoff. This helps absorb the jump’s energy and aids in the scrub.

Overturning the Handlebars

• Mistake: Turning the handlebars too much.
• Fix: Make slight, controlled turns with the handlebars. Overturning can throw off your balance and make it difficult to straighten out for the landing.

Stiff Body

• Mistake: Keeping your body too rigid.
• Fix: Stay relaxed and flexible. A stiff body reduces your ability to control the bike and absorb the landing. Use your arms and legs to cushion the impact and maintain control.

Forgetting to Straighten Up

• Mistake: Holding the lean for too long.
• Fix: Straighten up before landing to avoid a sketchy or nose-heavy landing. Over-scrubbing can be dangerous and lead to crashes.

Coming in Too Slow

• Mistake: Approaching the jump with insufficient speed.
• Fix: Maintain enough speed to carry you through the scrub and onto the landing. Avoid slamming on the brakes before the jump, as you need momentum to execute the scrub properly.

Remember: Safety first! Always choose appropriate terrain for practicing your scrubs, wear proper safety gear, and don’t push yourself beyond your comfort level.

The MTB scrub technique is your secret weapon to conquering those technical sections with flow and confidence. Hoefully this guide helped you unlock the secrets – from finding the right gear to mastering body position in the air. No more nosedives!

But here’s the real challenge: Share your first scrub attempt in the comments below! Did you land it flawlessly, or did you go for an involuntary Superman impression (off the bike, hopefully)? What fears did you battle, and how’d you conquer them? Did you dust yourself off after a glorious dirt nap?

We want to hear it all! Let’s build a supportive community of shredders who share their scrub triumphs (and wipeouts – because let’s be honest, we’ve all been there!). Together, we’ll dominate those jumps and shred the trails like never before! So grab your bike, conquer your fears, and share your scrub story!