Mountain Biking - hey....wat am i doing wrong?

i am trying to do a pedal kick.....i can backhop for like 4 times but i cant pedal kick....every time i try i cant unwieght the rear wheel...is there any tips?

Practice...there really is no tip to doing that. Its a matter of finding your balance for doing it...Are you also 'humping' the front of the bike. When you pedal kick you should be thrusting your hips and upper body UP and FORWARD...

whats a pedal kick?

Its when you do a short powerful stroke on the pedal with your chocolate foot in order to get more air/power/speed/ leverage on the bike. When your are backhopping if you pedal kick you actually jump forwards. If you pedal kick more with more power and 'jump' you do a trials version of the j-hop which I think is called lurching. You get EXTREMELY high with this hopping method. Trials is a very difficult discipline and I am impressed zBlaster has come a lot further than I have in a very short time. Seems like a natural :D

www.trials-online.com

hahah thanks man.....i just practice sooo much... every day

How long have you been doing this now zblaster?

i cant even think about doing that stuff, i suck at trials moves. but would love to learn how to do some of if. i would think it could come in handy on the trail.

Originally posted by Mad Dog JR
i cant even think about doing that stuff, i suck at trials moves. but would love to learn how to do some of if. i would think it could come in handy on the trail.

Very true. A little trials practice will greatly enrich your trail-riding experience. Most people recomend you learn to trackstand, pivot, and bunny-hop. Those 3 skills will help you get over the most difficult of obstacles on the trail.

i have just started to pedal kick from a backhop like today...and i almost can get it...its all in the timing....but i still got ways to go

hey do u think my gearing is ok to pedal kick from a backhop? my gearing is 36 in the front and 1st gear on a 9 speed..(wat ever that is) do u think its to high of a gear? wats every1 else using?

i always find my self doin a half of a crank to hop instead of 1/8 of a crank...is that becuase of my gearing? or just practice only doin 1/8

Its your rear hub. If you are using a shimano hub your engagement points are too low for trials. You should have a minimum of 36 and most prefer 72. What happens is your hub doesn't engage the drive train fast enough. I would look at getting a hope hub to start as they tend to be cheaper than other well engaged hubs. To find a list do an advanced search with my name and engagment points. I create a long list of hubs and their engagements points as well as their weights :)

The gearing has very little to do with the 1/2 turn.

http://productcatalog.gtmountainbikes.com/catalog/index.php?id=60
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is that a good trials bike?

Originally posted by Holmes
http://productcatalog.gtmountainbikes.com/catalog/index.php?id=60
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is that a good trials bike?

Yes, and no.

It will definately stand up to the abuse trials comes with, and it has a pretty short chainstay length (if I remember correctly). However, the fork is a death trap, and she weighs a lot for a trials bike. Most DJ bikes are in the "acceptable" range to start trials. Unless you've got a mint to blow on a Jack Flash (http://www.planet-x-bikes.com/catalogue/frames/frame_newjackflash.shtml), your best bet is probably a DJ rig. Like I said though, replace the fork if you can. It'll pay for itself in saved teeth.

This is all assuming you want a stock bike. If mod is your thing then you're looking at a different world.

If you're looking for more info on what bike to get for trials, start here (http://www.trials-online.com/trials_faq.html#frames)

Holmes,

I can't answer that as I use a regular mountain bike to do all my riding. You could try www.trials-online.com or this faq http://free-du.hinet.hr/trials/ as he goes through parts and frames that work. One thing I do know is all of these moves are easier on smaller bikes and especially so on MOD bikes which are 20" wheels on a specialized frame. These tend to be difficult to use as anything but trials bikes though so that is your choice.

Is your name holmes or did you name yourself after the s&m BMX bike?

hey maelstrom....do u have AOL or AIM? if soo wats ur SN?

ok i checked that post...thanks...ya i do have shimano XT hubs....wats the engagement on that? and how can u tell wat they are on any other hubs? do they tell u ? or u just gotta know it?

Even though i have a XT hub u think i wont be able to backhop then pedal kick? i do feel like it doesnt engage very well...

Thanks for the help....i learned alot

o srry man i just found ur list of engagments...thanks man y is shimano soo bad.....lol....so u think i should go for a new rear hub?

Trueprecision Stealth 102 270 480 g


that has 102 points?@!!!!?? or is that a mistake?

no hang on a sec...you can do trials with shimano just fine (I don't know about the really good riders but beginners can definately use it). It is just easier with more engagements. Shimano has average engagement points simple because it is for average riders and xc. You really can't beat 50$ for an hub that works and is durable. Most people don't need anymore than 16 unless they can feel it. The only reason I can feel the difference is because I have been riding a BMX with lots of engagment points (not sure of exact number) and a friend rides trials with a Chris King (ohhhhh soooooo smooooth...ahhhh). It sure is nice to pedal and have instant excelleration (sp). Shimano makes an average hub in every way, engagement, strenght and durability.

Yes true precision has over 100 :)...nice eh? ;)...good luck finding them as I think they are sold out for this year. Like I said look at hope or hadley. 36 is reasonable priced and good for trials.

Aim = mae1str0m02 if you wanna chat. Keep in mind I am not a trials rider. I just practice trials for use on the trails as they are sometimes really technical. I can help but there are others who smoke me big time in knowledge and skill. Besides skill wise you are already ahead of me :D...

Originally posted by Maelstrom
...and a friend rides trials with a Chris King (ohhhhh soooooo smooooth...ahhhh). It sure is nice to pedal and have instant excelleration (sp).

I dig the CK hubs, but holy smokes are they loud. They're great as long as you don't plan on trying to sneak up on anyone with em'!:p

Thats actually what I love most. You can always tell who has the expensive rigs just by the sounds the make....BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.. I just wish I could afford one at 700$ cdn :D...

Ok, thanks for your help, but I want a light bike, with like atleast 14 gears so I can go on trails and stuff too, and is full suspension good for doing tricks/trials?

lol, about my name, I never knew there was a bike 'Holmes' oh wells. :p

Ht's are better for tricks and stuff. You get a better feel. Moving to a dually later you will still be able to do them but doing it on a ht is better for your skills. You should look at a bike like mine. Kona Roast can be used as a stock trials bike but is great for trails too. Some other bikes in similar geometries are the kona Chute/Stuff, Specialized p series bikes and norco supercross bikes. Slack geometry, short chainstay and mid range top tube. It just won't be awesome for trials...

To be honest with 9 spd being the standard cassette you are looking at 9,18 or 27 speeds. You won't find much 7 speed stuff available anymore.

ok thanks alot, I have the feel for a Hardtail, I ride a GT Saddleback, a 99 I think, pretty old, its my brothers. I'm looking for a bike all for my self. :D

Originally posted by Holmes
Ok, thanks for your help, but I want a light bike, with like atleast 14 gears so I can go on trails and stuff too, and is full suspension good for doing tricks/trials?

Not generally. Trials puts too much strain on the rear wheel and it's suspension for FS to be very practical.