Egg Fried Rice Posted May 27, 2006 Report Share Posted May 27, 2006 (edited) hi guys, i got this off another forum (if this is aloud, if not then im sorry) literally a copy and paste job and i would like to share it with other riders as i believe this is will helpthem if they ahve not already seen it.here goesWant to up higher, gap further, and land smoother? Do you watch in awe and envy as "more skilled" riders do bigger moves smoothly and precisely while you feel like you're riding a bike made of lead? There must be some "secret" to it all, right? Well, this post contains that secret. A lot of people ask the same question in many forms, and it basically has to do with going higher, smoother, longer, or more precise. Often a rider will analyze his or her technique to death and overlook this one simple aspect. Here's the secret: Foot position. If your feet aren't in the right place on the pedals for trials, it changes the rider/bike geometry. A picture tells a thousand words, right? I'll start off with a picture of today's role model. Who could be the poster boy for proper foot position? How about our very own Ray, AKA Chronic. http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g148/J-K...sproperfeet.gifIn the above picture, I've highlighted his foot. Notice how close his toes are to the front of the pedal. There's a lot of room between the back of the pedal and the heel. He's getting some fairly impressive moves nailed, and this is one of the main reasons. With his feet positioned back on the pedals, toes just overhanging the front edge, he has all the rest of his foot behind the pedal axle to use as additional leverage, and where it counts. Try this quick test. Stand straight up and jump off the floor by pushing down with your heels. Don't use your foot or ankle to launch. How high did you get? Not very high, right? You also felty heavy and unsmooth doing it, right? Now, do the same thing but begin with your heels off the ground, held up by your ankle spring. When you launch, extend your ankles. You went a bit higher and did it with more smoothness and control, right? Study the picture of Ray again, and then look below to our next example. So, who gets to be our example of what not to do? Let's pick on Fizzmahon, as he asked for a critique not too long ago. I'm really not picking on you Fizz, it's just that you posted the best foot shot of what most average newbie riders do: Put their feet too far forward on the pedal. http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g148/J-K...forwardfeet.gifAbove is Fizzmahon on the rear wheel. Look at his foot, the pedal axle is closer to the middle of the foot, and part of the ball of the foot hangs off the front of the pedal. Comapred to the photo of Ray, Fizz has significantly less of a mechanical advantage due to foot position. Pointing toes up or down will cause little change in the distance of the center of gravity, while ray would have a distinct advant age at being able to point his toes up and effectively lower his CG by a few inches. Pointed down, the rider's CG will raise by several inches from level also. In this aspect of trials, riders with bigger feet, if they use them properly do have a mechanical advantage over smaller footed riders. Does that mean that if i have small feet i'll suck at trials? Not at all, because as long as you have proper foot position, you'll be able to make the bke respond just as well. It'd be like comparing a 100mm travel suspension fork and a 120mm. Sure, one has more travel, but it's not enough of a difference to make the 100mm fork inferior, and unless you're doing monster moves, the little bit of a difference won't mean much. So, how do I find the proper foot position? Easy, just get on your bike and plant your feet where you normally do. Can you feel the front edge of tke pedal under your foot? Is it around the ball of your foot? Slide back until you feel the front of the pedals under your toes, if you were barefoot, you should be able to wrap your toes around the front of the pedal. At first this will feel awkward but ride with your feet in this position and get used to it. Practice dropping your ankles. Want to manual like lenosky? That's the trick, drop them ankles and favor your back foot, get your weight as low as possible using the ankle leverage. Want to explode like TRA? Keep dreaming, but you can definitely benefit from making sure you use your ankles to extend fully. Going from full preload to liftoff, your ankles should go through their full range of motion, while in preload, try to touch your heels to the ground, (it won't happen, but try anyways, it's visualizaion, always visualize past the point that is possible and you'll execute right to the limits) go deep, and then unload till you're so tall on your toes you feel like a pretty lil' bike ballerina. Remeber if you bounce your ankles and it doesn't seem to do much, move your feet back. If you feel heavy on the bike, move your feet back. If you can't comfortably stand on your tiptoes on the pedal, move your feet back. Oh yeah, and move your feet back.EDIT: please reply and tell me if this helps. J-KAY thanks Edited May 27, 2006 by J-KAY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan6061 Posted May 27, 2006 Report Share Posted May 27, 2006 Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh... I have my pedals in the centre of my feet. I'll try this tomorrow, and post back if it works. Very decent find anyway, and good man for letting us know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Fried Rice Posted May 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2006 Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh... I have my pedals in the centre of my feet. I'll try this tomorrow, and post back if it works. Very decent find anyway, and good man for letting us know. no problem dude, anytime. John K aka J-KAY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
human_furball Posted May 27, 2006 Report Share Posted May 27, 2006 Yeah this all makes sense, it's exactly what I got told to do on the Dj ride because a fellow (better) rider pointed it out. It really does help to have your toes on the front of the pedal as I have found and I used to keep my dominant foot slightly higher then me recesive foot when on the back wheel but keeping them level does the trick.Good find J-Kay Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Concussion Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 Fair play, I guess that all makes sense huh! Sitting here now I can't think how my feet are exactly positioned, but will give it a go tomorrow.If I slip and smash my shins, its all on you! cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onza t-pro rider Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 I ride with the pedals in the center of my feet. I will try this when I next go riding.Thanks for the advice.Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandomHero Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 I know exactly where my feet are positioned. When i look at the soles of my feet i can see permanent indents from the pedals.My toes are definately close to the pedals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash-Kennard Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 excellent advise, I have just gone out and tried this and it really works, I can feel myself being smoother, yey, finally something useful in NMCI know it was copied and pasted, but validate that kid. Probably the best piece of advise since the tpa bodge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
am4zin Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 I came across that post quite a while ago (like 6 months ago!) on the forum you got it from (don't know if you're allowed to name it or not) and I found it was a real useful post. Did you come across that thread as a current topic or were you searching through the archives?Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash-Kennard Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 (edited) why didn't you post it up then, you made me learn gaps craply for 6 months longer EDIT: something for the first post, watch this vid and look at his foot position... Edited May 28, 2006 by ash-kennard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ogre Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 I know exactly where my feet are positioned. When i look at the soles of my feet i can see permanent indents from the pedals.My toes are definately close to the pedals.Ditto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Fried Rice Posted May 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 looks like my post is helpful! woo! enjoy J-KAY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 Only because you copy and pasted someone elses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash-Kennard Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 still really, really helpful. this is a good topic, please don't ruin it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walleee Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 That's something which is so second nature to me im amazed in the number of people who don't know about it.When i did my cycling profiency, using the ball of one's foot rather than the middle was something we were specifically told about.Seriously, do most of you guys just plant your feet on your pedals and hope for the best?It can take me minutes to get comfortable on my pedals sometimes depending on my shoes.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killer4all2 Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 when I will go out with my bike , I will try this secret than I'll post here if it worked thanks a lot guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Fried Rice Posted May 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 i tried this the other day, and trust me, what an improvement i had! try it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killer4all2 Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 yea .... I tried it too can't believe it , it really works ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Fried Rice Posted May 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 yea .... I tried it too can't believe it , it really works ! !! lolJ-KAY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamtrials Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 Im off to try it now...I was wondering about foot position the other day, thanks for putting this up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Fried Rice Posted May 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 when i started trying the new foot position, your feet start to ache because you need to get used to it but if it still aches after a few week, try riding in a different pair of shoes and it should stop the aching John K aka J-KAY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeCottTrials Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 oh my god i ride with them in the middle , the only thing is im scared of slipping off excellent find Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Fried Rice Posted May 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 oh my god i ride with them in the middle , the only thing is im scared of slipping off excellent findtrust me you cant slip unless you have the balls of your feet on the pivot point of your pedals. you can slip off if you've got crap pedals lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamtrials Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 I tryed it, deffo better but my pedals are really slippy when used in this position,ill probably get some different pedals before i use this position a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 (edited) I've always ridden like that. Before I rode trials, or before I even knew what it was I rode with my feet like that. Having the pedal in the centre of my foot just felt.....wrong? Stupid? Having the balls of my feet on the pedals, not the middle of my feet, was just second nature to me. I can't even ride with the pedal in the centre of my foot, let alone do any trials maneuvers. Thats really, really strange how many people ride with their feet centred rather than the balls of their feet. Edited May 28, 2006 by Billy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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