What Next?

[sotsog]

Right, I am new to trials, I have been riding my BASE TA20 for about two weeks, and with nobody i know to help me, it's been a slow start, but i'm getting there, i've nailed the trackstand, and can stand for at least 30 seconds every time,sometimes i don't even move at all, but where to next? Pivots??More Trackstanding??What??

Thanks in advance
Luke

[AgrAde]

learn to pivot properly and roll up onto stuff.

[sotsog]

I been learning to pivot all day, and i can pivot up and down kerbs, but that's all, the bike moves about 12", at most, what am i doing wrong, or is this OK?

[bwagner]

Hey Luke... don't worry about not moving at all during your trackstands. try trackstanding without using the brakes, that helps to build balance, and also with just one brake at a time. While learning the no brake ones, do it facing up hill slightly, and use the pressure on the pedals to help you maintain your balance. Also practice riding off of stuff thats about knee height, just go super slow, and keep your weight centered over the bike, or slightly rearward while allowing the font wheel to slowly drop off the edge. These things will help you in natural riding becasue most times there's no room for a decent run-up to do drops, and a rear wheel drop might be out of the question too. Most beginners concentrate too much on learning the advanced moves(rear wheel stuff mainly) a,d lose track of the smaller fundamentala of trials. Balance is the key to being successful, and it can be learned by praciticing it. How high an object can you get up onto, by rolling is cool, it doesn't have to be a hop, just practice getting comfortable on your bike, and the rest should be easier for it. I hope I've been of some assistance to you, and good luck buddy, don't get frustrated, it al takes time, more so when you ride by yourself!

[sotsog]

Thanks that helped a lot. i found a sep about knee height which i can roll off, and at the other side, there's a step i can get up onto, my hands are really sore now though :mad:

[rush]

Good stuff, that means you're probably practising enough!

Definately concentrate on rolling up and over stuff. Find little logs or rocks and try to get over them as slowly and as in control as possible.

Build up your feel for the bike you're riding so you know what will happen when you come to any obstacle, anywhere. Also try to practise riding in the wet and/or rain. It sucks at first, but its great fun, and really helps you improve your handling skills.

Good luck.

[sotsog]

thanks for the advice everyone, i'm real sore today, my arms and legs ache, but i'm gonna carry on riding today

[JasonMudd]

Enthusiasm is awesome, but also try to listen to your body as well. An intentional break of one day is much more preferrable to a forced break of multiple days later. This is mostly something you have to learn on your own: the whole it's just a little worked and needs a warmup vs I think I might of pulled something.

That being said, you've been good advice so far, so I'lll just add a few more:

1) Trackstands are awesome, but also work in sessoins where you keep your balance by small pivots back and forth between front and rear wheel. Also try keeping your balance by small hops, both wheels at the same time. In the beginning you might feel spastic and need huge movements to regain balance, but keep working and the adjustments will become more and more subtle.

2) Curbs are awesome. Pivot up and down them. Sometimes front wheel first, sometimes rear wheel first. When you get pretty comfortable with that, get your front wheel onto the curb, then try to hop both wheels onto the curb.

3) Start working in small sidehops to left and right. Start flat, just to get the feeling, and then start sidehopping off a curb. And then onto the curb.

4) As soon as you can, try to ingrain a new "natural reaction": instead of stepping off the bike when you feel you've lost your balance, try to recover with one of the methods you've learned (a pivot, a small hop, a weight shift).

5) Have fun. Seriously. Take your time if you need it.

PS - the above is written by a beginner as well who is still working on his back wheel hops (only up to 6).

[sotsog]

Thanks, i think a break is in order now, i'm gonna ride again tomorrow, so i should be ok, let my hands get better lol, Jason' no $ is the thing i need to really work on next, thanks.