Sidehops And The 'feel' Thereof.

[Jez]

OK, back in the days when I started riding, the idea of sidehopping UP a wall was an alien idea...but those days are long passed so I've decided it's about time I started learning. There was me thinking it all seemed pretty straightforward - essentially roll up alongside said wall, kick to back wheel, preload a lot and throw the bike up and sideways. I can do all that stuff, I thought.

Wrong.

Somewhere along the line I'm doing something wrong...it just doesn't *feel* right. I mean, it feels uncontrolled as fook - keeping balance once I'm up there seems ridiculously hard for some reason, and it just kinda feels really weird when lifting off; hard to describe. You know when you do some move or other and before the backwheel has even left the ground you just KNOW something's gone wrong? It's like that, but every time. It seems to be the sideways thing that's getting me, not the 'up' thing, which is weird because I can sidehop sideways for miles on the flat, and hopping straight up or down is easy enough for me, but combine the two? Not happening.

So, I guess I'm asking whether it's supposed to FEEL any different from just backhopping to the side (which is effectively what I've been trying to do, just upwards as well). I know once I can get the 'feel' right, height ain't gonna be much of a problem.

I dunno, maybe I'm aiming too much for the back wheel? Am I approaching this all wrong? Should I be thinking more about the front wheel (if I should I'm gonna suck at this - anything-to-frontwheel has never been my forte)? Is there some 'secret'? I've read all the 'how-tos' and they all pretty much say what I expected them to - kick to back wheel, preload, pull up like fook and absorb the landing to help keep the balance. Seems simple enough.

If I can get a vid done sometime (gotta borrow work's camera) I'll post something up here so you can see what I'm on about.

It's really frustrating because it's well within my abilities, but it just feels like I'm doing it wrong, and as a result keep bailing anything higher than a tiny 2 or 3 pallets. Which monumentally sucks.

Any help is mucho appreciated.

Oh and the other thing is leaning - when/how much do you lean (if at all) on takeoff? Or is it a 'go up first, then to the side' move rather than a 'up AND to the side at the same time' (which is what I'm doing at the moment).

Edited June 8, 2006 by Jez

[PaRtZ]

I've learnt to take off from a back wheel position, but not one big hop from two, and then jump. Sometimes you don't have the luxury of manifesto (or half-manifesto etc)

Basically when you start it WILL feel wrong. I learnt it the "wrong" way (to my favourite foot side) and i started by instead of hopping sideways I sorta span instead

You could be too close to the wall. I found that this was a problem and led to much frustration. Also you have to compleltly commit yourself everytime. I can't explain it, but its like sidehopping is a "vulnerable" move and can lead you wide open for injury if something goes wrong. But don't think about that, otherwise you will fall

Try it with low stuff (and I mean low stuff, maybe even double kerb/curb height or something) just so you get the technique dialled. Remember though on the low stuff, don't put the front wheel OVER the object, cos on bigger stuff, you cant do that

Hope that helps in some way

[Greetings]

This might not be too helpful but maybe you should try sidehopping from two wheels instead of the rear? It allows you to concentrate on fewer moves at once. You might just want to spend more time doing sidehops, from past experience (when I mastered doing it to my bad side) I can tell that one will practice a move for days on end with no progress, and then one day you get on your bike and can nail it perfectly.

This is probably the most useless piece of advice but just practice.

[Christophe']

it took me about 2 years to understand what a proper side hop from backwheel should feel like.

its hard for others to explain "how" , if they do the movement naturaly.

i now Know how to do it because a just played around with different technique.

But even now, on bad days, my brain can let me down and ive lost it.

practice makes perfect.

keep trying

This might not be too helpful but maybe you should try sidehopping from two wheels instead of the rear? It allows you to concentrate on fewer moves at once. You might just want to spend more time doing sidehops, from past experience (when I mastered doing it to my bad side) I can tell that one will practice a move for days on end with no progress, and then one day you get on your bike and can nail it perfectly.

This is probably the most useless piece of advice but just practice.

agreed, try it from two wheels , it will help you drum the "pedal kick up" into your brain.

even though u want to go sideways

[Ben Geary]

Just a quick question really, people who ride stock and mod do you find it easier to sidehop one of them more, do you have to use a different technique when sidehoping a mod or stock. I've heard of people saying mods are easy'er to sidehop.

Just been wondering about this really, personally i can't sidehop a mod, i can't even ride them.

[Krisboats]

Just a quick question really, people who ride stock and mod do you find it easier to sidehop one of them more, do you have to use a different technique when sidehoping a mod or stock. I've heard of people saying mods are easy'er to sidehop.

Just been wondering about this really, personally i can't sidehop a mod, i can't even ride them.

Mod bikes are loads easier to sidehop, i can sidehop blakes monty loads higher off the floor than i can may base, and its pretty much the same with every other mod i've been on. However i too suck at sidehopping up walls and things and i guess you're just going to have to watch a couple of videos to see how everyone does it then go out and try varying the moves. Just do it one way a couple of times then try another way. Sooner or later you'll find a way that suits you the most, mine seems to be hop from the rear wheel and aim to land on the rear wheel ... Unluckily for me i do it to the wrong side which is also my mech side, and so up until i recently purchased a fresh products tensioner i've been reluctant to commit myself to sidehopping for fear of breaking my mech hanger. Now i don't have to worry and so i've been trying them more frequently.

You'll get it eventually dude!

[Danny Kearns]

Right sidehopping is alot easier on a mod, reason being lighter, lower (more room for tucking) and smaller wheels.

How to sidehop:

1: roll on to backwheel.

2: Control yourself.

3: Do about 5 spothops max.

4: Always look at the top of the wall not the side.

5: pre-load into your back tyre, gives you spring.

6: Launch yourself up.

7: Front wheel onto the wall first.

8: Then swing the backend of the bike to get it on the wall.

9: The tuck, thats crouching down on the frame e.g - arse by crank arm, tilt bars to left.

10: Ride off youre done.

Cheers !

[Joe_Elding]

I found it about the same to sidehop my mates ashton as i did my GU, only problem was that I kep hitting my arse on the tyre. s'all good i suppose

[Danno]

This might not be too helpful but maybe you should try sidehopping from two wheels instead of the rear? It allows you to concentrate on fewer moves at once. You might just want to spend more time doing sidehops, from past experience (when I mastered doing it to my bad side) I can tell that one will practice a move for days on end with no progress, and then one day you get on your bike and can nail it perfectly.

This is probably the most useless piece of advice but just practice.

Agree here, I think if you learn to sidehop from two wheels you have to actually physically jump upwards and sideways, when learning to go from backwheel your front wheel will already be higher then the wall and it is so easy just to go straight to the front wheel without any explosive upwards motion which will be of no benefit to you when you start to sidehop higher.

So my advice would be to learn from two wheels

Dan.

[Connor]

most of the time you will get people saying your doing it wrong, but you develop your own technique which suits your style and feels comfortable

[Gavyn.]

just line your self up at a slight angle from the wall, take one big kick hop onto the rear wheel (this will get your body into the correct place to preload)look at where you want your front wheel to landand kick up so that it lands on that spot then lever your rear wheel round onto the wall

[nafan]

"Hopping sideways" is a completely separate definition to "sidehop"

I learned the technique first off from both wheels...

1. Learn to static hop (a bunny hop with pedals)

2. Learn to do it with sideways motion (on flat)

3. Learn to do it up curbs or small walls (tuck to the side slightly)

4. If you want learn it from back wheel (easier to learn on bigger stuff)

Hope this helps, did for me,

Nathan

[Danny Kearns]

Agree here, I think if you learn to sidehop from two wheels you have to actually physically jump upwards and sideways, when learning to go from backwheel your front wheel will already be higher then the wall and it is so easy just to go straight to the front wheel without any explosive upwards motion which will be of no benefit to you when you start to sidehop higher.

So my advice would be to learn from two wheels

Dan.

Some people just never learn.

Cheers !

[Gilman]

One thing I found that helped me with sidehopping is:

Always look at where you want your bike to go. Never look down at the ground or your bike, just keep your eyes fixed on the spot that you want to land your bike. If you already know all the steps to make the sidehop, and can do little ones, then when you go to do bigger ones, you put your feet down or hit your frame or something, your not looking at the right spot. When you are looking at a spot when making a move on your bike, your bike and body will follow your eyes to that spot.

Good luck, hope this helped and works for you.

Matt.

[Bigman]

Some people just never learn.

Cheers !

What are you talking about, going from 2 wheels is a perfectly fine technique, just because you think "your" way is better it doesn't mean that every one in the whole trials comunity has to do it!!!!!

I will say that i go from the back wheel and i land on 2, to land on 2 wheels you have to be more accurate than when you place your front wheel first becasue if you land with your front wheel first you can guide your rear wheel on........

I say practice both and see which one you feel more comfortable with

Adam

[Danno]

Some people just never learn.

Cheers !

What are you talking about, going from 2 wheels is a perfectly fine technique, just because you think "your" way is better it doesn't mean that every one in the whole trials comunity has to do it!!!!!

I will say that i go from the back wheel and i land on 2, to land on 2 wheels you have to be more accurate than when you place your front wheel first becasue if you land with your front wheel first you can guide your rear wheel on........

I say practice both and see which one you feel more comfortable with

Adam

Well said Adam

Also 'profile' my reply was based on the topic question that he is looking for a 'feel' he needs for a sidehop, which is why I suggested that he learn's from two wheels for the reason I said in my post. I was not saying that sidehops from two wheels is how to sidehop (although is a perfectly good way).

If he was after a guide on how to sidehop I would list instructions similar to what you posted as I sidehop from back wheel myself If you read the post properly though he is after the feeling of a sidehop, not a guide and the way I suggested in my post is what I think will help you get the feeling of a sidehop, If you dont agree with my opinion then fair enough, it is only an opinion anyway but I found it helped me out on sidehops in actually executing the right motion of it, the rest comes with practice.

For the record though, like Adam said it doesn't matter what technique you use, there is nothing wrong with them and do what ever you are most comfortable with

Dan.

[Danny Kearns]

Well said Adam

Also 'profile' my reply was based on the topic question that he is looking for a 'feel' he needs for a sidehop, which is why I suggested that he learn's from two wheels for the reason I said in my post. I was not saying that sidehops from two wheels is how to sidehop (although is a perfectly good way).

If he was after a guide on how to sidehop I would list instructions similar to what you posted as I sidehop from back wheel myself If you read the post properly though he is after the feeling of a sidehop, not a guide and the way I suggested in my post is what I think will help you get the feeling of a sidehop, If you dont agree with my opinion then fair enough, it is only an opinion anyway but I found it helped me out on sidehops in actually executing the right motion of it, the rest comes with practice.

For the record though, like Adam said it doesn't matter what technique you use, there is nothing wrong with them and do what ever you are most comfortable with

Dan.

If you go from two wheels it is more classed as a bunnhop up more than a sidehop in my eyes, it is just alot easyer to go from backwheel.

Cheers !

[Brian Bleech]

If you go from two wheels it is more classed as a bunnhop up more than a sidehop in my eyes, it is just alot easyer to go from backwheel.

Cheers !

wha...

anyhow after riding my crappy 24" zebber for a couple of months, which was the worse bike for sidehop up ever (so i didn't bother) . I got on my leeson and couldn't sidehop for shit, I mean really crap struggled to do wheel height, it was really bizarre.

sidehop gaps are more fun than ups though ...

[Bigman]

If you go from two wheels it is more classed as a bunnhop up more than a sidehop in my eyes, it is just alot easyer to go from backwheel.

Cheers !

Um how exactly, a bunnyhop is when you are traveling forwards, ie rolling towards something and then pull up, COMPLETELY different to a sidehop.........

Adam

[011001000110010101110010]

If you dont pedal kick side hop from two wheels it is just a bunny hop.

[Danny Kearns]

If you dont pedal kick side hop from two wheels it is just a bunny hop.

Thank you, atleast somebody understands.

Cheers !

[Bigman]

If you dont pedal kick side hop from two wheels it is just a bunny hop.

Thank you, atleast somebody understands.

Cheers

But to be fair, who is not going to put in a pedal stroke when sidehopping, it would be near on impossible to get any height over 1ft................

Adam

[Jez]

OK, an update.

It appears that all along, in my infinite wisdom, I have been sidehopping to the wrong side.

Everywhere, I was reading "sidehop to your 'bad' side, it helps". I completely ignored this advice under the impression of 'if I can't do it to the left (my good side), there ain't no way I'm gonna be able to do it to the right'.

Until earlier today. I decided to do a sort of gap-up from the floor onto one of those 12" (or thereabouts) sloped kerb sort of things. So I approach this thing slightly at an angle (with the kerb slightly to my right), thinking that will get me a bit more space to lower the front wheel before take off, so I could then spin it round 45 degrees while in flight and land facing into the kerb right? Except I forgot the spin and realised I'd just almost sidehopped. A couple of minutes later I had it nailed and it feels 'right' now. I'm no better at it than I was to the left, but the whole thing feels a hell of a lot more controlled than it did to the left, so it feels like with a little more practice I should be getting some decent height, rather than thinking I'm never gonna get any higher than a couple of pallets.

So for some oddball reason it feels right going to the right, even though historically I always do sideways stuff to the left. I'm a left-foot-forward guy as well so that probably has some bearing on it.

Weird.

So the lesson is: try it the wrong way if you're having trouble like I did. You may thoroughly surprise yourself. Or the other thing is, it feels kinda like a spinny move rather than a sideways move when I do it from backwheel, so try hopping to the side you spin to.

Thus, I probably talketh more bollocks.

[Mark W]

Right sidehopping is alot easier on a mod, reason being lighter, lower (more room for tucking) and smaller wheels.

How to sidehop:

1: roll on to backwheel.

2: Control yourself.

3: Do about 5 spothops max.

4: Always look at the top of the wall not the side.

5: pre-load into your back tyre, gives you spring.

6: Launch yourself up.

7: Front wheel onto the wall first.

8: Then swing the backend of the bike to get it on the wall.

9: The tuck, thats crouching down on the frame e.g - arse by crank arm, tilt bars to left.

10: Ride off youre done.

Cheers !

I'd disagree with the two highlighted bits. On natural, you've basically got to do as many hops as it takes to get to the spot where you're comfortable, but also going to be able to send the hop up there. Equally, everyone's well into the comedy tucks at the moment, but you don't really need to do them unless you're pushnig the limits like CLS, Benito, Tunni & Co. are. When people are tucking as much on a 30" sidehop as they are on 55" hops, something's not quite right.

[PaRtZ]

I'd disagree with the two highlighted bits. On natural, you've basically got to do as many hops as it takes to get to the spot where you're comfortable, but also going to be able to send the hop up there. Equally, everyone's well into the comedy tucks at the moment, but you don't really need to do them unless you're pushnig the limits like CLS, Benito, Tunni & Co. are. When people are tucking as much on a 30" sidehop as they are on 55" hops, something's not quite right.

good point. Also when on natural, a lot hopping can make you boon towards the edge of the rock accidently if its on enough of an angle. If you can, as mark said do as many as needed but you'll get tired pretty quickly and you want as much energy for the up as poss