Rear Wheel Hopping

[KEEPitSTUPID]

Hi all, im getting pretty frustrated now, ive watched every demo the internet can throw at me and given it some time, but i dont seem to be progressing, there is a few things i need to do to the back brake to get it how i want it, but i still arent happy with my progress in rear wheels hops.

Im riding a mod meta 360 im new to push iron trials also, so trying to dial the basics, ive posted threads about me feeling too over the front on my bike, so i im on with getting the original length and size stem for it, but that aside, rear wheel hops seem to be not getting any better.

On my best try ive had about 15 hops on the back, but there wasnt much rhythm and they were rushed, ive learnt that its not a height competition and i still seem to be trying to put it into orbit, i dont know/ cant find a comfortable position when doing them, any quick tricks to figure it? Or what shape to be in?

I also get this cramp like ache after doing them in my foot, im guessing thats from tensing my toes or feet during them? I need to sort that somehow too, andive been trying to do them starting by lifting my front onto a small wall and then pulling off that once settled,

I didnt want to make this thread, but its cracking me up, i normally do ok at picking things up.

Thanks people.

[Blake]

I've been riding nearly 5 months and my record for backhops is 6, I hate doing them and can't do them whatsoever, but I don't practice them much because I never need to use them. I can do 11 pedal kicks but that's because I need them to get onto stuff and off of things. If you can't do rear wheel hops, do not worry, learn something new and come back to them when you need them. I only ever need to backhop to balance, so don't worry if you can't do 56 in a row.

Just learn some new things and come back to them if you NEED them, but for now learn new things and have fun.

Hope I helped

[Luke Dunstan]

Practice practice practice.

[bip]

Well, 15 rear wheel hops is PLENTY and it is definitely tiring hopping that much. Just do a few at a time focusing on form, if you do too many you'll just tire yourself out and end up all over the place. Play around with the front wheel height and let your body adjust itself accordingly and see whats comfy. Also when hopping try not to use your arms, instead try hopping from your hips (up/down) and kind of keep your arms/elbows in. You want to unweight your body and bike just enough so you get a small pop that will let you reposition the rear wheel.

I suggest moving on to something else like pedal kicking. You'll be able to practice your rear wheel hops indirectly whilst learning other stuff.

With regards to feeling to over the front, I assume this is when on two wheels? If so, this is normal for trials bikes, it's because they are designed to make rear wheel moves easier.

Edited May 21, 2011 by bip

[Carlperkins]

try letting your rear tyre down a little. i was practicing ages ago and could get about 10, then found out i was on a rock hard tyre. let it down to 30ish psi now my record is 60 something.

[KEEPitSTUPID]

Well, 15 rear wheel hops is PLENTY and it is definitely tiring hopping that much. Just do a few at a time focusing on form, if you do too many you'll just tire yourself out and end up all over the place. Play around with the front wheel height and let your body adjust itself accordingly and see whats comfy. Also when hopping try not to use your arms, instead try hopping from your hips (up/down) and kind of keep your arms/elbows in. You want to unweight your body and bike just enough so you get a small pop that will let you reposition the rear wheel.

I suggest moving on to something else like pedal kicking. You'll be able to practice your rear wheel hops indirectly whilst learning other stuff.

With regards to feeling to over the front, I assume this is when on two wheels? If so, this is normal for trials bikes, it's because they are designed to make rear wheel moves easier.

Thanks all, all great help, especially that hips note, i think thats what is unsettling my balance, so its kind of arms for balance and position and seaparate your body to unweight it all? Brilliant, i am wanting to get the pedal kicks going shortly and thought these were the way to get to them?

[forteh]

What Ive always noticed when people are trying to learn to keep the bike on the rear wheel, is that they dont bend their arms. Keep your elbows bent and pull the bars up towards your chest, bend your knees and keep your hips over the rear axle; you shouldnt be expending any real effort to keep the bike up on end, that lets you concentrate on your sideways balance and movement to compensate

[KEEPitSTUPID]

What Ive always noticed when people are trying to learn to keep the bike on the rear wheel, is that they dont bend their arms. Keep your elbows bent and pull the bars up towards your chest, bend your knees and keep your hips over the rear axle; you shouldnt be expending any real effort to keep the bike up on end, that lets you concentrate on your sideways balance and movement to compensate

ive also been doing that from time to time, like pulling too much on bars so hanging back and arms straight, not good, links in with what others have said by trying to keep arms separate of body to maintain balance and still create the hop, thanks )

[KEEPitSTUPID]

This has all really helped, just the bend to po up to un weight the bike is sometimes causing a loss in balance, new stem helped too

Thanks lads