Riding Technique For EnduroCross - Hitting Each Log, A.K.A. The Geoff Aaron Method

Off-road riding tips from Cody Webb

This article was originally published in the January 2018 issue of Dirt Rider.

If you’ve watched an EnduroCross race, you’ve likely seen riders picking their way through a series of unevenly spaced logs called the matrix. While most of the pros can get through the matrix fairly consistently lap after lap, it’s interesting to see how each of them make their way through it. Some prefer to jump through it like a rhythm section, others prefer to tire tap a few of the logs, and some prefer to to hit each log one by one, which according to FMF KTM Red Bull Racing’s Cody Webb is also known as “the Geoff Aaron method.” Per Webb, this method isn’t necessarily the fastest way through the log obstacle, but it’s a great way to get through it every lap consistently. Read on to get some tips from the three-time AMA EnduroCross champion and recently crowned SuperEnduro World Champion on how to pick your way through the matrix one log at a time.

Step 1: I'm not quite as aggressive; you don't see as much roost off the rear tire. I'm kind of in attack mode, and I want my front tire to land basically right on top of that second log.Jeff Allen
Step 2: At this point I know my rear tire is going to hook and send the front down. You have to adjust your body weight either farther back or father forward depending on how quickly you want the front end to drop. I don't want the front tire to drop right now because it's not on top of the log so I'm leaning back so the bike kind of drives up the log more.Jeff Allen
Step 3: If I did it perfectly I would land the front tire just right in front of the top of the log, to get that rebound effect to bounce off and get to the next one. But here I landed my front wheel a little too far and my front end is rolling down the backside of that second log; this isn't great, but I'm just about to start accelerating. My rear tire is on top of the first log. You don't want to accelerate on the front side of the log with the rear tire because the tire's just going to spin and all your weight's going to fall forward. So right about now I'm going to start accelerating but not aggressively.Jeff Allen
Step 4: That might be dust from the top of the log. At this point I'm starting to accelerate because I'm going down the backside of that log. I'm pushing into the back of the pegs because I know I need traction because it looks like the front end is not going to make it to that next log. I'm not using the clutch; it's just kind of like a "burp, burp, burp," little bit of throttle over each one. I'm leaning back because I'm going to accelerate and the front end needs to come up at this point.Jeff Allen
Step 5: And here the front end's just about to come down again, so I'm leaning forward, I'm pushing down on the bars, because when the front end hits the rear tire is just about to hit too, and it's going to compress. I'm leaning forward to kind of unweight the bike and get it to clear that third log.Jeff Allen
Step 6: Both tires are on top of a log, and it looks like I'm in a squatted position, but I think I'm in the process of unweighting. It looks like I'm aggressive but I think I'm weightless on the bike in a squatted position. I don't know if you see that but that's how I feel.Jeff Allen

Tip: I'm in second gear, but a normal geared bike would be in first, so I'll say first gear so everyone doesn't try it in second and say, "That [jerk]! There's no way!" because on my bike I have a 12-tooth countershaft sprocket… This [method through the Matrix] is a way to be really consistent. It's not necessarily going to be the fastest, but if it's a really hard Matrix with awkward spacing usually you can get by just by playing with the front end and throttle.