Gapping Just That Little Bit Further

[Ali C]

(Y) Ali C has earned his hot chocolate tonight

[Ross W.]

I might have had the same problem. It seemed for a bit that I was stuck at six feet static gapping. I've practiced more, and it definitely seems easier to gap six feet now. Don't know if I'm going farther now, haven't measured in a while.

i definitely try gaps that I might not even have seen before though. I'd say practice technique more than power/trying to get farther. Once its easier to get smaller gaps, you can start going bigger again perhaps?

[Mr Motivator]

I find it quite hard to look higher than the ledge (Y) My eyes just wanna saty on the edge. Anyway, dropping the front loads has seemed to help and then leaning back as if I'm gonna do a drop and then flipping lurching myself at it, that seemed to help too but I do land kinda like a sack of shit.

Practice I guess.

[munkee]

It was weird looking above the gap when it was like to two level surfaces, thats why i started doing it on drop gaps. First thing that i noticed was how smooth it made the gap, then how much like my legs were kicking out to where i was landing which i never seem to do. Just felt really nice, all i do is just stare above for a few seconds but still keeping the edge im landing on in my vision then just aim to towards that height. I guesse it is just practice.. and also being able to lie to yourself is a good thing too ( i lie so much to myself sometimes i forget whats not bullshit and what is ..... im a loser )

[trialsking 55]

i have another tip : don't put the back brake on until you're just about to land. your momentum is way better when doing this and you land smoother. try this on something small until you're used to it, so as you don't leave it too late (Y)

[Bennnn]

If you drop the front before the gap it'll let you go alot higher. I can get about 7 1/2 feet static.

[Bennnn]

GAPPING HUGE - There is so much to gapping. Here are three common mistakes: Back to top

1.not jumping when you throw your weight forward.

2.not hoping up, dropping the front end and really pushing down on the rear end when you land before you gap.

3.Not getting low and far back enough on the bike before you launch.

Ok, first you do is to get a bike! THEN:

Static:

Before you do an attempt at the gap you should from beforehand have visualized it and thought it over many times.

1.Roll in front to the edge, get on the rear wheel, place yourself about 1-2 inch from the edge where you take off from.

2.Psyche you up, then do a little "jump" and then go really low and far back on the bike, your ass should just about hit the rear tire and arms stretched out.

3.Then at the same time as you push yourself really (with all the power you have) hard forward you KICK hard down with your feet (resulting in that you jump).

4.Then you do a slightly hard push in the pedals.

5.Then get very far in front (head in front of the bars!) as you push the rear end as far forward as you possible can (the bike should be as vertical as possible). But on very far gaps its not likely you will be able to do this (because of the height), what you should do then is to rise the bike a bit up so your helmet is just about to rub against your stem.

6.And when you hit with the rear wheel you push your bike really hard down in front of you making enough energy that you can pull yourself forward again without falling back.

TRA tips:

When you do a gap its often common to get the bike in an angle (that will result in getting a bit more air and shortening the gap). I always do this on big gaps and I also place myself in an angle before I take off. Then its easier to get the landing in an angle as well and this will result in bigger gaps.

Pedal gap:

Common mistakes:

1.Taking off with the last pedal stroke

2.Not getting far enough in front

3.Not jumping.

So here is what you do:

NOTE: This is base on that you ride with your left foot forward, if not you just turn it around.

1. Get some speed (if you want). Get a bit low on bike (so you are able to spring up more and get more height). Have your left foot forward ready to go. Start pedaling and when your right foot starts you use it to lift the front a bit up, pedal around and then shoot off hard with your left foot at the same time as you jump (quite hard to pedal and jump at the same time but that's the trick). Lifting this early will result in getting your rear end far in front of you.

2. Get really far in front (head as much in front of bars as possible) and push the rear end as far in front of you as you can, the bike should be even more than vertical!!

3. Land.

TRA tips:

Also here you can try to twist the bike in the air and get it on an angle, this will result in bigger gaps.

Gaps with rise:

Same except that you pull the bike up in the air to get the rear tire as high as possible.

-Thomas Remvik Aasen