Bigger ups??

[Free-Ride-Junkie]

I didn't know what else to call this.....

I can surge up about 2 feet to the rear tire (I think surge is the correct term) and as long as I can get my front tire up I can usually get up. What is the key to getting up higher obsticals? 3+ feet? Any pointers?

Thanks guys.

[KeepRollin]

If by surge you mean 2 wheels on the ground, perpendicular to the obstacle and then 'surging' forward and putting the rear wheel on the obstacle, then I'd say you've come far enough with that move and you should switch to a wedge. A wedge is much more useful when riding natural and you can go much higher.

[Giant1118]

jump higher?!?!

I think you are referring to a pedal up? I dunno. Are you starting right next to the object or are you using a run up. If you are actually rolling at the object, the best bet is to learn the technique (pedal up or tap) and just train yourself to jump higher

[bigdonut]

I was wondering the same thing. With a run up I can bunnyhop up about two feet to my rear wheel. Not sure what certain moves are called (Surge?) but after doing some searching I concluded I need to start learning how to pedal up instead of bunnyhopping . So I tried it a couple times last weekend and couldn't get it. It feels really weird, don't know if I'm doing it correctly. Should I get my pedal kicks dialed in first before trying pedal ups?

[Free-Ride-Junkie]

If by surge you mean 2 wheels on the ground, perpendicular to the obstacle and then 'surging' forward and putting the rear wheel on the obstacle, then I'd say you've come far enough with that move and you should switch to a wedge. A wedge is much more useful when riding natural and you can go much higher.

That is what I am doing. I can do them stopped (surge correct?) and rolling slowly (pedal up?). I can't do them with any speed as I feel that I cant get any power into the drivetrain almost. (If that makes sense.) I can't/dont know how, to tap properly so I usually tap and then just land on the bash ring/BB. Not good. And what is a wedge? I'm a newb. :momaru:

[KeepRollin]

http://www.observedtrials.net/otn3/wedginator.jpg

That's a wedge. Basically you pull a surge but you front wheel is resting on the front face of the wall/rock. It's a lot more complicated than that. Just learning how to balance when you are wedged is difficult. Then learning how to surge from that position is also tricky. BUT it's an extremely useful move.

As far as pedal-uping is concerned, you should get some video of yourself. Then see what you're doing and compare to guys who are going bigger. But one thing I can tell you is to preload preload preload. Really compress your body and jump!

[Free-Ride-Junkie]

Ahhh.... looks much more usefull in natural than urban. Right now, because of where I am, I ride about 90% urban. I'm sure it has its place though. I imagine tapping would be even more usefull to me.

[KeepRollin]

You should still practice it. Trying to learn a wedge on rocks is even harder. To start just go up to a wall and try and figure out the balance.

As far as taps are concerned, you really can't do a proper tap untill you are upping ~3 feet. This is just because of how taps work and where you want to hit the front wheel on the obstacle.

[Free-Ride-Junkie]

Gotcha. I'll just keep riding as much as I can. I'll try wedging the next time I am out.

[netto]

the trick to staying balanced in wedges is to compress your wheel base. there are a couple ways to do this. you can get in position first, release rear brake and press down on pedal and then lcok rear brake. or you can just go real fast into the wedge position and lock your rear brake split second after hitting the front wheel

giacomo explains this in some video?

[Free-Ride-Junkie]

the trick to staying balanced in wedges is to compress your wheel base. there are a couple ways to do this. you can get in position first, release rear brake and press down on pedal and then lcok rear brake. or you can just go real fast into the wedge position and lock your rear brake split second after hitting the front wheel

giacomo explains this in some video?


I know EXACTLY what you are saying. Seems like it would almost press the front end into the face harder and help keep the bike upright a little easier. Is that the theory??

[stewpend0us]

It would also ensure that you have three good points of contact (3 points make a plane remember geometry class!!! :bigthumb:). Instead of the front of the tire just slipping off the wall you'd have good contact on the wall, on the ground with the front tire, and on the ground with the rear tire. With this you should be able to use the bars to get your balance.

I guess it'll get trickier as the points on the front tire get closer together like in the picture KeepRollin (http://www.observedtrials.net/vb/member.php?u=1301) posted.

[decline]

I was wondering the same thing. With a run up I can bunnyhop up about two feet to my rear wheel. Not sure what certain moves are called (Surge?) but after doing some searching I concluded I need to start learning how to pedal up instead of bunnyhopping . So I tried it a couple times last weekend and couldn't get it. It feels really weird, don't know if I'm doing it correctly. Should I get my pedal kicks dialed in first before trying pedal ups?

when i first started riding i could only bunny hop. i think that had something to do with the fact that i was commin from bmx but i could do it like 3 feet or so. i didnt really consider it a prob up until i rode natty where run ups are rarely long enough. so i really started working on the pedal up and it was god awfully weird. i eventually figured it out and it was well worth the learning experience. now i cant bunny hop as high but i can pedal up. the pedal up seems to be much more fluid where as the bunny hop, even if its smooth is relitivly violent as an up to rear wheel. it looks smooth going breakless.

[bigdonut]

when i first started riding i could only bunny hop. i think that had something to do with the fact that i was commin from bmx but i could do it like 3 feet or so. i didnt really consider it a prob up until i rode natty where run ups are rarely long enough. so i really started working on the pedal up and it was god awfully weird. i eventually figured it out and it was well worth the learning experience. now i cant bunny hop as high but i can pedal up.
Thanks, I'll keep at it. Natty is a bitch, I'm just doing clean objects right now. Next time I'll try to post in the correct thread!

[dkoppric]

You should still practice it. Trying to learn a wedge on rocks is even harder. To start just go up to a wall and try and figure out the balance.

As far as taps are concerned, you really can't do a proper tap untill you are upping ~3 feet. This is just because of how taps work and where you want to hit the front wheel on the obstacle.

ehh, i agree with almost all of that, except the 3 foot part. when i teach someone how to tap i tell them to run their front wheel into a curb with their weight back to get the feeling of how the front end reacts, and then to continue upping the height while completing the same motion.

[Keith Courage]

Wedges and surges are such cool moves.
I can seriously be happy surging 8 inch curbs for hours.

[carnagr]

ehh, i agree with almost all of that, except the 3 foot part. when i teach someone how to tap i tell them to run their front wheel into a curb with their weight back to get the feeling of how the front end reacts, and then to continue upping the height while completing the same motion.

Anything below 30" is not a tap. Maybe not quite 3 feet, but no chance on a curb.

[Free-Ride-Junkie]

Anything below 30" is not a tap. Maybe not quite 3 feet, but no chance on a curb.


I think he is just talking about getting the feeling of the front wheel glancing off or "tapping" an edge. It's not as surge but it will help you know how the bike may react when you move bigger....

[KeepRollin]

If your front wheel isn't slamming into the front face of the wall it is not a tap. Sure having people try it on really small stuff is good to figure out front wheel control but it isn't helping them learn how to tap. The scariest part is slamming your front wheel into the vertical face of a wall. Doing anything else just isn't the same.....

[Free-Ride-Junkie]

If your front wheel isn't slamming into the front face of the wall it is not a tap. Sure having people try it on really small stuff is good to figure out front wheel control but it isn't helping them learn how to tap. The scariest part is slamming your front wheel into the vertical face of a wall. Doing anything else just isn't the same.....

Why do I picture myself standing on top of the object with the bike on the ground behind me the first time I try this?? Over the bar FTW!! :run:

Now something that is about 32" tall..... what is the best way to attack it?? It is short enough to where I can get my front wheel up, have the back on the ground, but I need to be completely over the bars as the bike is almost vertical. I have tried surgeing or a pedal-up but I can't seem to get the height. I am kind of hitting the front face of the tire and then slamming onto the bash guard (at which point the bike slides back to vertical before even getting a second attempt in.) Pointers? Or do I need to just keep practicing and adding height very slowly??

Thanks. :slap:

[Bryan]

32"... pedal up it or sidehop it to rear. Practice sidehops and your pedal ups will improve as well.

[toyota200x]

This last fall I learned pedal up and I love them but I am stuck at the 2 foot mark. Do most people have a rolling start when doing the or are you going at it from a stand still at a set distance?

Just over the past two weeks l got the hang of a sidehop. I never knew when to kick the pedals, but now I kind of do. :)

[Free-Ride-Junkie]

This last fall I learned pedal up and I love them but I am stuck at the 2 foot mark. Do most people have a rolling start when doing the or are you going at it from a stand still at a set distance?

Just over the past two weeks l got the hang of a sidehop. I never knew when to kick the pedals, but now I kind of do. :)


I am stuck at that 2 foot mark as well it seems. I guess I should start working on sidehops because right now that distance is at 0 inches. The thing that scares me is I think I want to go to the left side..... which also happens to be brake rotor side. Haha :greddy2:

[KeepRollin]

I rode dual disc for over a year (185's) and never hit the rotor on a botched sidehop.

[toyota200x]

From what I hear it is pretty hard to land on the rear rotor. I sidehop to the left but I run V brakes........:D

[Free-Ride-Junkie]

The possibility of landing on the rotor is not going to stop me. I always have that shop discount to fall back on if I crush one beyond repair. They are pretty durable. That's the risk I take buy running the DD setup. I would never go back though. Endless power AND modulation!?!?! Can't go wrong.

[PalyPlayer]

I'm having the opposite of you guys right now. Well not exactly i can still bunnyhop higher but i trust pedal ups more right now cuz i have total control of the motion/speed. Its cool but my bike is still setup for street(32-18). But like someone said before its all about preloading or compressing. I start with my back foot at 12-1 o'clock start and when the bad foot is at 6 o'clock i am almost compressed totally and i am shifting my weight to the rear and back. when my good foot starts coming around i start coming up again till i get to the point where i do my pedal kick when i thrust my hips up. Position of the feet may be different at the start because of my gear ratio i don't remember how it is with real trials gearing. Its really just like a bunnyhop, once you get it good you'll be doing it everywhere at least thats what i do. I like it alot during windy weather cuz i have been blown over by wind during bunnyhops.