tris Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 well ive been riding for about 6 months now and im getting pretty good. may have seen my video in my other post.ive got a zoot and am finding it hard to stay in the same spot whilst on the back wheel.when i first started (backhopping) i cood lock my rear brake and hop on the spot all day long.however on my new bike my pedals come back more and more each hop i do. when hopping on the spot do you have to constantly release and grab the brake?? i swear i never used to.....same problem after gapping....front wheel just drops straight away. i guess i can fix this by getting the bike more vertical however i hate putting my whole weight on the rear brake incase it flips out.thoughts anyone,also im finding it hard to hop with my arms bent. it feels as though i need a longer and higher rise stem....do i??? thanks, tris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabiot Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 I can barely even get on my back wheel but I'll attempt to help. A lot of people here have been saying to just give 'er and throw the weight back. You're gunna loop out eventually. Maybe try sticking your butt towards your rear tire a little bit more on the landing? It might help. I'm sure somone more knowledgeable will come by later today and let you know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkiLLz Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 I used to hop backwards on my back wheel but one day i woke up and started hoping forward and now i can hop on the spot Problem is i can only do about 10 hops max lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sstein Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 Pull your bars closer to your chest and get your pedals a bit more level. It will allow you ot hop with your arms bent and improve your balance on the rear wheel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan6061 Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 Learn how to 'boon'. Basically hopping on the bacwheel without using the pedals to kick. I can hop forwards and off stuff without kicking the pedals. Like most trials 'moves/tricks' there's bound to be a thousand differant names for it, but I know it as 'booning' haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neomember Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 Learn how to 'boon'. Basically hopping on the bacwheel without using the pedals to kick. I can hop forwards and off stuff without kicking the pedals. Like most trials 'moves/tricks' there's bound to be a thousand differant names for it, but I know it as 'booning' haha.Can you explain how to "boon"?I've never see someone doing it.I'd like to learn...Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomm Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 I don't think it's something that you need to go out and practise. It'll come just by getting your backhopping sorted. It's a really weird technique though, I wouldn't really know how to explain it. But if you must try - Kind of bounce your back wheel forwards under you. I can only do small hops (maybe 6" forward max) but I'm sure there's a video of Phil (totaltrials) doing a 3ft gap without a chain Oh, and it helps if you've got flat tyres (10psi makes it super easy) and you're on a sharp edge.With regards to the original topic - for a hop on the spot you shouldn't be pulling your pedals back. If you're going to do a pedal-hop, then yeah, cock the pedals back a bit. But for just hopping on the spot (or backwards, I suppose), your pedals should stay put. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikeperson45 Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 It'll just come with practise, hopefully... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabiot Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 It'll just come with practise, hopefully...Shouldn't you be able to do gaps without a pedal kick? Couldnt you just jump and throw your weight forward? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaceman Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 Youtube Video -> Original Video Take note from 00:54 to 01:04You should be able to find your sweet spot as you try out how far the front wheel is from you.If your pedals keep ratcheting back/up, during the up hop give it a kick, this should level them out. (of course you must release the brake in order to kick)In time you could even hang on the rear wheel, and you don't have to hop so much. I usually practise the hanging before I pedal kick down a drop. This improves your balance, and makes your riding look nicer. Don't forget to move your entire body - knees, hips, shoulders! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tris Posted May 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 Youtube Video -> Original Video Take note from 00:54 to 01:04You should be able to find your sweet spot as you try out how far the front wheel is from you.If your pedals keep ratcheting back/up, during the up hop give it a kick, this should level them out. (of course you must release the brake in order to kick)In time you could even hang on the rear wheel, and you don't have to hop so much. I usually practise the hanging before I pedal kick down a drop. This improves your balance, and makes your riding look nicer. Don't forget to move your entire body - knees, hips, shoulders!thats the thing....i'm not exactly a beginner. i can gap about 5 foot, pedal up or backwheel about 2 foot.the thing is because i cant hop in the same place (without keeping release and grabbing my brake) it means i have to hop from obsatcle to obstacle really fast. this is scary sometimes and very dangerous because my tire may be just on the upside of the wall (on a gap) and then when i try to gap i sometimes fall off. i used to be able to hop on the spot (brake fully locked) but on my new bike the pedals come back and i don't know why!!!recently i've been backwheeling to a 2 foot wall and then dropping the other side (about 4 foot). it really sketchy because as soon as i land i have to kick again and go straight over. its a problem because if my backwheel is not on far enoguh i can do a small hop to readjust....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 I think the others have misunderstood ur problem. I have the same issue I think, it seems more natural to keep letting go of the brake now that u can pedal kick etc.So you can pedal kick and remain roughly in the same position, but theres no point wasting the energy, it never is in exactly the same position and it feels sketchy.So it would make sense to lock the brakes permanently once uv gapped or gone up stuff. And only release when ur ready to move forward or off.But to control ur position with locked brakes I guess its a case of going back a step and just practicing to backhop in controlled motions left, right, forward, and backward (with the brake locked). (Have you noticed how difficult it is to deliberately backhop backward more than one hop.)On the other hand, I might be over analysing.In which case, just get out there and practice!Hope this helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tris Posted May 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 I think the others have misunderstood ur problem. I have the same issue I think, it seems more natural to keep letting go of the brake now that u can pedal kick etc.So you can pedal kick and remain roughly in the same position, but theres no point wasting the energy, it never is in exactly the same position and it feels sketchy.So it would make sense to lock the brakes permanently once uv gapped or gone up stuff. And only release when ur ready to move forward or off.But to control ur position with locked brakes I guess its a case of going back a step and just practicing to backhop in controlled motions left, right, forward, and backward (with the brake locked). (Have you noticed how difficult it is to deliberately backhop backward more than one hop.)On the other hand, I might be over analysing.In which case, just get out there and practice!Hope this helps!thanks that helped a lot. i just went riding and it is, as you said, its like taking a step back and remembering to backhop.however now when i backhop my pedals ratchet back....so i cant do it....i think its because my technique has improved so much though.thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 however now when i backhop my pedals ratchet back....so i cant do it....i think its because my technique has improved so much though.Unless your freehub is f**ked theres no way your pedals should ratchet back What hub is it, what gearing are you using and are you relying on the pedal pressure to keep the front wheel up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
otaylor38 Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 i dont know but this is just a thought?.?perhaps your new bike has a diffrent freewheel that has more clicks in it so that you cannot pull the pedals back as far without it clciking.just a thought althought it's probably wrong.hope that helped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilikeriding Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 I don't think it's something that you need to go out and practise. It'll come just by getting your backhopping sorted. It's a really weird technique though, I wouldn't really know how to explain it. But if you must try - Kind of bounce your back wheel forwards under you. I can only do small hops (maybe 6" forward max) but I'm sure there's a video of Phil (totaltrials) doing a 3ft gap without a chain Oh, and it helps if you've got flat tyres (10psi makes it super easy) and you're on a sharp edge. With regards to the original topic - for a hop on the spot you shouldn't be pulling your pedals back. If you're going to do a pedal-hop, then yeah, cock the pedals back a bit. But for just hopping on the spot (or backwards, I suppose), your pedals should stay put. just tried a boon gap got 4ft10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neomember Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 however on my new bike my pedals come back more and more each hop i do. when hopping on the spot do you have to constantly release and grab the brake?? i swear i never used to..... I used to have that exact same problem over a long period of time. Really annoying. I've been working hard to fix this. You made me realize i don't have it anymore. I've changed my stem for a longer one just a few weeks ago. Maybe it fixed it. Your geometry as changed. Your body position has probably changed to adapt. My guess is that... front end is lower during backhops now(straighter arms/legs to relieve stress) and a bit more pressure is applied to the rear pedal(than on the front) due to the bike angle being too low and the back leg being too straight. Causing it to ratchet back(just a theory). I'm no pro, probably nothing new here but... this is what i felt happening in my case. Your front end will feel "lighter" with a longer stem. You'll be able to backhop, arms/legs bent a little more with less stress in the arms. Body closer to the bike, you'll be able to keep the bike more upright and this is what(i think) fixes the "crank ratcheting" thing. I can even pedal up and pedalkick higher since then. Have more control over landing gaps too. A bit more effort to get the front up but easier to keep it up. Easy to observe during manuals. Just my own experience... Hope it helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshW Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 just tried a boon gap got 4ft10 4ft 10. Holy crap. Cant do that with a pedalkick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ubuntu_user Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 To boon, push your hands forward and then jump up with your calves and its sure to always move you forward! The farther you push your handlebars forward, the farther you go... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Franc¡s J Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 I found that asking people how to do it was confusing me. I think that it is best to just watch other riders. Watch their body. Basically its all about moving your arse. If you keep practasing you'll get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiremesh Posted May 26, 2008 Report Share Posted May 26, 2008 A gap without a pedal kick...that far? Thats sick.! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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