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wanting to start learning trials

shuttlefever

shuttlefever

Chimp
Apr 11, 2007
63
0
Enumclaw Wa.
Hey folks,
I am wanting to learn to do some trials style riding. I have a decent dirt jumpish bike that I do some skate park stuff on. I would like to learn some of the basic moves. shoot me some advice on how to start!! Quick disclaimer here, I am almost 42 years old and have found that healing takes more time than it used to!! I will more than likely be kinda slow with my progress. please keep that in mind when shooting your advice to me!! Thanks in advance!!
 
giantrider89

giantrider89

Monkey
Oct 16, 2006
423
1
P-town, MN
^^^I second that.....I'm a member there, and it's actually helped somewhat

Do a search around there, and there's all kinds of instructional videos from people from many different skill levels....

It really helps to find videos from other riders that are just barley better than you so you get the general idea of how to do the simple things........it's hard to figure out how to do a small side hop by watching a pro jump five feet high onto a three inch wide hand rail.....

good luck to you though.....learning trials your gonna need it :cheers:
 
reflux

reflux

Turbo Monkey
Mar 18, 2002
4,617
2
G14 Classified
2gunnz said:
Bunnyhop and Trackstand
Click to expand...
:stupid:

Sadly enough, those are the only two tools (besides a weak front wheel pivot) in my skillset. Fortunately though, the skills transfer over pretty well to general riding. Being able to trackstand is paramount: it's come in handy countless times on the trail. Bunnyhoping on the other hand, is more like a parlor (sp?) trick on the trail. Having enough speed is the problem, but the general motion of the skill has helped me in learning some new stuff.
 
shuttlefever

shuttlefever

Chimp
Apr 11, 2007
63
0
Enumclaw Wa.
The bunny hop has been a stickler for me too. I can do it on my big bike when flinging myself downhill, but I cant seem to master the mechanics on a slower platform. I can hop straight up about 8 to 10 inches but the actual bunny hop where the front wheel is up and you actually leave off your back wheel is still eluding me!! I need to figure out a way to force myself to re learn how to get the bike off the ground!
Thanks for everyones advice so far!!
 
2gunnz

2gunnz

Monkey
Feb 9, 2007
108
0
Ft. Lewis
reflux said:
:stupid:

Sadly enough, those are the only two tools (besides a weak front wheel pivot) in my skillset. Fortunately though, the skills transfer over pretty well to general riding. Being able to trackstand is paramount: it's come in handy countless times on the trail. Bunnyhoping on the other hand, is more like a parlor (sp?) trick on the trail. Having enough speed is the problem, but the general motion of the skill has helped me in learning some new stuff.
Click to expand...
Dont feel bad I cant even bunnyhop the right way. I really need to get some flat pedals so I can practice more.
 
reflux

reflux

Turbo Monkey
Mar 18, 2002
4,617
2
G14 Classified
2gunnz said:
I really need to get some flat pedals so I can practice more.
Click to expand...
Yup, that's the secret. I learned how to bunnyhop on flat pedals during my commutes to and from school. Apparently it worked. Without working on my form (now), I think my max hop is around 2 feet up to a ledge.

I went to Moab back in May (great trip btw) and a couple moves shown in the link at top would have helped. Without looking at the link, it's the move where you put your front wheel up (on?) to the object while pedalling with your off leg. When you pedal with your good foot, you should be able to lunge the bike up and over the object. Sahweet...
 
2gunnz

2gunnz

Monkey
Feb 9, 2007
108
0
Ft. Lewis
reflux said:
I went to Moab back in May (great trip btw) and a couple moves shown in the link at top would have helped. Without looking at the link, it's the move where you put your front wheel up (on?) to the object while pedalling with your off leg. When you pedal with your good foot, you should be able to lunge the bike up and over the object. Sahweet...
Click to expand...
I can kind of do that one. I roll up to a ledge, pedal kick to get the front on the ledge and then lunge forward to get up on the ledge. Right now I only try it on stuff around one foot or a little bigger. I get nervouse trying it with clipless pedals though. Once I get the flats I think things will go alot better. Plus I think my stem needs to be a bit shorter so I can hang off the back a bit more.
 
shuttlefever

shuttlefever

Chimp
Apr 11, 2007
63
0
Enumclaw Wa.
Flats are great!! Just wear shin guards!! I still have dark scars from going to moab on flats when all i was on before was clipless. I have not been able to go back though. I am all flat pedals now!! So is the bunny hop motion similar to the one that is being described above?? kinda like going up to a ledge?? I can do that one ok, front wheel up with a 1/4 kick then weight the front tire and use the handlebars and your weight to lift the rear. is this similar to what the motion of a bunny hop is?? Like i mentioned before, I can pull it off when i dont think about it!
 
buildyourown

buildyourown

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2004
4,832
0
South Seattle
J-hop
A bunny hop that starts as a really big wheelie. You get you back tire up by pushing your bars forward.

Balancing on rear wheel
Find a nice old solid city trash can with a round lid or similar structure. Do a wheelie to get the front tire up. Balance. Now bounce on your back wheel and try and back off the structure.
Do this a few times and you're set.
 
shuttlefever

shuttlefever

Chimp
Apr 11, 2007
63
0
Enumclaw Wa.
So is the trash can thing a good elevation?? should it be close to the balance point? or is that part of the excersise to find the balance point? By the way, Thank you very much for the info!
 
n00dlez

n00dlez

Chimp
Apr 4, 2007
41
0
Woodbridge, New Jersey
buildyourown said:
J-hop
A bunny hop that starts as a really big wheelie. You get you back tire up by pushing your bars forward.

Balancing on rear wheel
Find a nice old solid city trash can with a round lid or similar structure. Do a wheelie to get the front tire up. Balance. Now bounce on your back wheel and try and back off the structure.
Do this a few times and you're set.
Click to expand...
He's exactly right. Getting your balance down is the key to everything in trials. First you start with a trackstand, next, getting your front wheel off the ground from a trackstand. Then try a back hop. Being able to back hop helps alot with getting on your back wheel and staying there.
 
shuttlefever

shuttlefever

Chimp
Apr 11, 2007
63
0
Enumclaw Wa.
so when your talking track stand, are we talking about standing completely still or actually rocking a little. I am still working on the
still thing, but i am gaining on it. And getting the wheel off the ground from a trackstand..... hmm, so is that done with a pedal stroke or just body language?
 
n00dlez

n00dlez

Chimp
Apr 4, 2007
41
0
Woodbridge, New Jersey
shuttlefever said:
so when your talking track stand, are we talking about standing completely still or actually rocking a little. I am still working on the
still thing, but i am gaining on it. And getting the wheel off the ground from a trackstand..... hmm, so is that done with a pedal stroke or just body language?
Click to expand...
eventually you'll be able to stand completely still and straight but first start off facing up a slight incline(by slight I mean barely an incline) level your pedals out and turn your wheel the opposite way of the foot thats forward (right foot foward turn the wheel left or vice verse) and just balance using your pedals and the handle bars. Try to keep your weight over the bike as much as possible and bend your legs slightly. Eventually you'll get straighter while balancing in a trackstand.
 
TheLoneRider

TheLoneRider

Chimp
Aug 24, 2007
18
0
Ellicott City, MD
I can only do a few basic things but I can hop quite a few times on the rear wheel and I just learned it from practicing. I do the track stand and the just throw my body weight over the rear wheel and get up to my balance point. I am 6'6" so I have a lot of leverage.
 
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