I've been trying off and on for years to learn trials basics from the internet. I haven't found any riders locally. I figured I would ask here about some very basic stuff regarding rear wheel moves and bunny hops to see if I'm on the right track. Hopefully I can explain my question clear enough. Basically what I want to know is:
Being new to trials I was obsessed with doing everything from the rear wheel. It looks cool and to the untrained eye seems like the key to the entire thing. So I practiced to the point where I can balance on the rear wheel for a few successive hops enough to feel like its not just luck. I can leverage the drivetrain for a pedal kick and most of the time hop a lot higher from that position then just a normal bunny hop.
I soon noticed that from a roll when there is no drivetrain to push on I had no hop. I was just muscling the bike up all clumsily with basically my arms. I felt like I was trying to jump off of thin air. I found myself slowing down or stopping in front of things just so I could punch the pedals to get up or over them. That seems wrong to me. As I got a little better at manuals I noticed that my vertical hop from a roll was getting higher. It makes sense to me that once on the rear wheel you can get the bike pretty high since you are already standing a few feet up. So now when I am rolling at speed faster than I can pedal I feel like I am getting into a manual and just jumping from there. My highest hops seem to be when I have a long manual before the hop.
So now I am wondering if there is some advantage to pulling up to the rear wheel and jumping in one smooth motion or is it ok to break it into two distinct steps being rear wheel balance first then jump from there?
Sorry if that description sucks. I wish I had other riders to watch up close or just give me some pointers in person.
- Is it easier to hop vertically from a roll or from the rear wheel with a pedal kick?
- Is balancing on the rear wheel first then hopping any different (better or worse) than pulling the front wheel up and hopping in one smooth motion (american bunny hop)?
Being new to trials I was obsessed with doing everything from the rear wheel. It looks cool and to the untrained eye seems like the key to the entire thing. So I practiced to the point where I can balance on the rear wheel for a few successive hops enough to feel like its not just luck. I can leverage the drivetrain for a pedal kick and most of the time hop a lot higher from that position then just a normal bunny hop.
I soon noticed that from a roll when there is no drivetrain to push on I had no hop. I was just muscling the bike up all clumsily with basically my arms. I felt like I was trying to jump off of thin air. I found myself slowing down or stopping in front of things just so I could punch the pedals to get up or over them. That seems wrong to me. As I got a little better at manuals I noticed that my vertical hop from a roll was getting higher. It makes sense to me that once on the rear wheel you can get the bike pretty high since you are already standing a few feet up. So now when I am rolling at speed faster than I can pedal I feel like I am getting into a manual and just jumping from there. My highest hops seem to be when I have a long manual before the hop.
So now I am wondering if there is some advantage to pulling up to the rear wheel and jumping in one smooth motion or is it ok to break it into two distinct steps being rear wheel balance first then jump from there?
Sorry if that description sucks. I wish I had other riders to watch up close or just give me some pointers in person.