Jump to content

Wheel Swaps


Lewis Gething

Recommended Posts

So I have gotten to the point where I am becoming a fairly well rounded rider in terms of my trials skills. I feel like most of the moves I am doing are at a similar level, however there is one part of my riding which is severely letting me down and I really want to learn it but after trying many times I simply cannot grasp it.

The move in question is the wheelswap, where one has the front wheel hooked over an obstacle and then vigurously explodes upwards, tucking the back wheel into the body and landing to rear on the object.

I have read the page on TrashZen, however I am still unclear as to how I go about doing the wheel swap.

I will usually execute a pedal kick in order to lift me upwards, however when I do this, my tyre will slip a little and I fail to get the height required. Trashzen says to keep the brakes locked throughout this move, however having seen the likes of Jack Carthy performing this move countless times, it seems a pedal kick is used :S

Any tips or pointers will be very welcome,

Thanks in advance.

statichop1l.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I should also add that I can do this variant of the wheel swap:

statichop1h.gif

However I am unable to put this technique to use on a sloped object such as the one in the first animation :(

You don't use any pedal stroke.

As the image shows, stand high over the bike, then launch it up until the back wheel's on the object.

Hi, thanks for confirming the pedal kick not being used, I am going to go out for a bit now and try the move as you have suggested. Thanks for the advice :)

Edited by streetrials24
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The main difference is in the second picture, you 'push' off your rear wheel to throw the bike in the air, where as in the first one, you 'push' off your front wheel to throw the bike in the air.

Okay, so I have just got in after spending time seasoning this move. Your advice has actually given me a great amount of help and I have already improved greatly. I totally understand the differences you have outlined here as before I was trying to push off the back wheel using a pedal kick (which obviously makes the move really hard as I have now found :P )

Should the same technique (no pedal kick) be used when doing hooks to rear?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was also extremely bad at these, I'm still not good at them, but I am able to do em now!

The thing that made the biggest difference was to release the brakes when you jump up, it's pretty much impossible otherwise. It will feel pretty weird at first, but that'll pass.

The other thing is to practise them on a "ledge" where you can put your front wheel onto. Like the gif with the pallet, when you can put your front wheel on a corner you will get alot of spring from tire compression and that helps a massive amount.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I lock my front brake, obviously, and keep my rear one released. This means the rear wheel can roll when I use the flex in my forks to help spring me up to rear, followed by the application of the brake just before the rear wheel lands.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hopping or gapping without pedal kicking is called a 'boon' I think? Apparently it's a completely pointless move.

It is called booning and it's far from pointless, you try pedal kicking up a 45° slope :)

For pidgeons/wheelswaps/transfers whatever you call them, I keep the back brake off when going from flat floor (as said it lets the rear wheel roll to allow fork preloading), if there isn't anything to preload the rear tyre onto then I use a combination of rear tyre grip if possible and fork/front tyre preload.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Front brake on, rear brake off. Get balanced, bars straight. Load up the forks and front tyre by shifting your weight down. You will feel the forks / tyre spring back. Time your jump with the return spring, and you'll get a big 'boost' from the bike. Keep your weight forward, even though natural temptation is to shift it back...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Rear brake off for the flat and on for slopes. All the spring I find comes from the font wheel and compressing your weight over the bars. On slopes if you can time it right it helps to release the rear brake as you spring upwards as it helps the rear wheel to roll up the slope and stops the tyre dragging, then obviously re apply the brake as you land the rear wheel.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Front brake on, rear brake off. Get balanced, bars straight. Load up the forks and front tyre by shifting your weight down. You will feel the forks / tyre spring back. Time your jump with the return spring, and you'll get a big 'boost' from the bike. Keep your weight forward, even though natural temptation is to shift it back...

I already mentioned it in my post, but I think it's also pretty important to note that you should release the front brack when you spring up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I already mentioned it in my post, but I think it's also pretty important to note that you should release the front brack when you spring up.

Hmm. I don't do that, and I can't work out how it would make a difference (other than a huge crash if you release too early! haha). Got any vids of you doing it that way?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hmm. I don't do that, and I can't work out how it would make a difference (other than a huge crash if you release too early! haha). Got any vids of you doing it that way?

Afraid I don't :( I think everyone does it subconsiously. When I don't release the front brake, I spring up in a straight motion, instead of forward to make the front to rear wheel switch.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This thread is confusing as f**k!

Theres 2 discussions going on: A 'static hook' as shown in the vid on the first post or a pigeon / wheelswap shown in the vid within the post a few down.

Static hook: Front brake on, rear brake sometimes on, sometimes off (depends on a few things). Keep front brake locked at all times, even after you've sprung up to rear (as Adam was saying)

Wheelswap / pigeon: Front brake only, you can release the brake just as you go to spring up (as omgnoseat mentioned).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...