Well i got out and gave it a go today. I still have some setup issues like the bars feel too low and the suspension bottoms too easily and feels too slow in the rebound.. Might need different springs. Anyway i went up behind my house and tried a few double blips. Laughing because it seemed like i was going so slow and looking at the video i think i was still going too fast. The second one was the best i think. I set the front tire on top of the rock even though i was aiming for the face. The on top technique feels more natural so i might concentrate on that for a while before i go back to bashing the face. Despite what ive read all over the place, i still wasnt ready for how foreign these bikes feel compared to a regular Dirt bike. The good news is balancing was much easier out in the dirt compared to my garage. Ahhh, the beginings of a new obsession

ok, try this. imagine there is a turn right after the rock, like 2 feet after the rock and you need to turn immediately, how slow would you go then? thats how slow you need to go. your gassing it and going faster not up. none, zero compression before or during your actions of going over. when you lift on a small rock like that the front wheel should almost stop on top the rock, thats the first blip to get the wheel up. no gas the bike should compress, then the 2nd blip and unload the suspension and the bike goes up and the back wheel goes onto the top of the rock.

also instead of riding around the rock and parking lot make a real attempt of it by going slow and only being a few feet from the rock to start and a few feet away once over the rock. then it will help with how much speed your going at it.

keep trying

good luck

rob

Thanks for the tips Rob, yes i need to embrace the slowness! Another thing im thinking about is how you throw your weight when you jump. I think im trying to jump off of both wheels. Now that im analyzing it maybe it will work better to jump off of the back wheel only

Brian,

The trials bicycle is great tool to improve balance (especially static) and I can take it anywhere!!!

Also...You think the trials motorcycle is a workout... try one of these suckers!!! I try to practice every day on the trials bicycle but we have a love/hate relationship!! Hehehehe

Mags

Edited December 6, 201411 yr by mags

check out these from ryan young,http://youtu.be/Yj48DkxZRaM you tube is a good source

rob

I'm pretty bad a double blips but I'm able to get over things while maintaining control and without a bunch of speed or drama.

From my experience, Rob's comments are dead-on.

Check out this video regarding bunny hops. I think it contains many double blip elements. Perhaps an expert could comment on this.

Mags: Any advice on choosing a trials pushy? Seems like there are lots of choices (different wheel sizes, brakes, etc). Thanks.

Maybe try to do some slow turns around the rocks on that slope where you are practicing, mark out a route and if you can do it without dabbing tighten up the lines you can take. I would suggest practicing riding as slow as possible in a straight line, experiment with how much or how little throttle you need to get over obstacles and hills too. Power doesn't really help on a slippery off camber turn for example.

I'm a beginner too, but you wouldn't believe the difference just practicing figure 8 turns and turns up and down hills across cambers make to your riding.

b_42woody,

I am an absolute beginner on the trials bicycle and didn't know what to purchase. The bike above was decided on because of price... it went from $1300 to $700 on sale! The Australian agent told me a 20 inch would be fine as a beginner bike and I might progress to a larger wheel size in the future.

I'm riding it every day and I think its a great bike to supplement my trials motorcycling. I'm 55, 81 kg and 178 cm. My wife had a session yesterday arvo and commented "Thats a thigh workout on that thing". She throughly enjoyed it.... I said "Hey! Thats my bike but you can use it, Khalessi!".

Mags

Slow it down a bit, get that front wheel compressing and then give it a blip.

Actually made it past the staging area today. The more time i spend on the bike the more i want higher bars. I traded emails with lewisport and they only have 15mm over stock risers. Cant seem to find anything close to 2" or more so im thinking i might have to go with different bars.

Did i mention there is a lot of rocks around here?

Edited December 9, 201411 yr by tahoebrian5

Actually made it past the staging area today. The more time i spend on the bike the more i want higher bars

how tall are you? if under 6 ft. you shouldn't need it. based on the video you need to pull the bars back towards you a bit. to far forward for a beginner. bend over more, bend legs more.

Edited December 9, 201411 yr by rob214

I'm 6' even. I'm fairly convinced I need higher. Having trouble getting my weight far enough back because of reach, that and it is physically very uncomfortable to be on the bike for long because I'm bent over really far with my neck bent up to see. I can only find 15mm over stock for risers so it looks like new bars

Trials helmet might help... a lot lighter and cut in the back so you can look up easier. I'm 6'1" and have thought about risers but haven't got them... rotating your handlebars forward and back makes a really big difference so play with that a bit first.

you need to pull the bars back some. as a beginner you probably have trouble turning? if you squat and your but hits the fender area around the silencer then thats about right. do you have other trials riders to ride with?

that would be a big help

rob

A lighter trials helmet is on my list for sure. My mx lid feels like an anvil strapped to my head.

Turns aren't too bad for a beginner. I can do full lock .. Well on flat ground. No one around here to ride with so its just you guys. I didn't have time to go out today but I'll try to get some more photos or video. Looking at the video up top of this thread, bars don't look too bad. They sure feel awful though. That and the brake lever is too high.. Doesn't appear that it's made for adjustment. Damn these things anyway! Despite the frustration, and extreme lack of skill, I'm really enjoying it. Hopefully I'll be ready by spring to go to an event and not embarrass myself on the novice line.

I did make some progress on balancing today. Just did a garage sesh due to time constraints. I learned that if I start with the bars only halfway to lock, then as I step up onto the foot peg I compensate by going to full lock. This helped me a huge amount. I guess just the way I was stepping up was throwing me off. I was getting 20 to 30 seconds on concrete with normal tire pressure. Quite relieved as I was struggling a lot. It is heartening to know that most of these skills can indeed be learned with some determination.