I'm terrible at bunny hops, wheelies, trackstands and manuals. I'm not entirely sure how I manage to ride at all 🙂

I blame not being bought a BMX as a kid and only being given hand-me-down racers.

There was this teenage guy on my street when I was about 8 who could ride all the way down it on a racer while pulling a wheelie. It was like he was on a unicycle.

I struggle to pedal and stay upright personnally.

Bunny hop's et all, are things I just dream about and see in video's... (well I can get the front wheel up over stuff, but the rear is more luck than judgement)

i can't manual very well, I'm getting a lot better at trackstands though. I can't ride on skinny stuff very well

I can manual well enough for everyday trial and DH but I'd love to be able to pull those long manuals down the road....

manuals and wheelies just seem to escape me 🙁

but hey I get round

Maybe I'm being harsh on my abilities. I can indeed bunnyhop trail obstacles, as long as they are no greater than kerb height, and manual, and trackstand, and wheelie, albeit briefly for the latter three.

Like saxon and jam bo said, I'd like to be able wheelie or manual down the street, clear higher obstacles with a perfectly executed bunny hop and track stand effortlessly for hours.

Unfortunately this takes practice and time, which I don't always have time for and spend it pedalling and covering distance with my limited skills instead 🙂

Eat spaghetti bolognese without splattering clothes...

I've heard people talk about the wheelie "gene"! I could never do it, but with enough practice I learned.

I wish I could whistle loudly using my fingers. Then my life would be complete.

Drop offs.

I can jump without fear, and I [i]know[/i] its exactly the same body movement, just with a flat takeoff, but I just can't do it! Closest I've ever managed is to build a tiny takeoff (barely and inch high) with a few branches and a spadefull of dirt, then psycologicaly it seemed fine!

Closest I've ever managed is to build a tiny takeoff (barely and inch high) with a few branches and a spadefull of dirt, then psycologicaly it seemed fine

You must 'drop off' roots far bigger than that!

Bunny hop's et all, are things I just dream about and see in video's... (well I can get the front wheel up over stuff, but the rear is more luck than judgement)

+1

I can 'get by' well enough and manual/jump through/over stuff on the trail, and tend to be fairly quick by virtue of being fit, but lack any real skill! Must get around to sorting that!

Not verbalize random thoughts.
Ride sociably or for 'fun'.

Wheelies. I can lift up the front wheel no problem its just keeping it there that escapes me. Im getting better at everythiing else but proper wheelies just don't "take"

Wheelies also, and I'm never going to learn as long as I carry on riding in clips.

I always find it embarrassing when you're out riding your expensive toy, when some 13 year old on a nackered Apollo (or the obligatory stolen Hardrock) wheelies past you the length of the road while simultaneously texting their dealer and eating a Greggs sausage roll

You must 'drop off' roots far bigger than that!

I didnt mean a 1" drop, say a drop of a couple of feet, I'll bottle it, add in a root/rock/transition about a foot away from the actual lip and I'll happily pre-jump it though.

Think its a fear/comitment/controll thing, I'll take off when I want to thankyouverymuch!

Either that or I have to accidentlay be on a line that comits you to a drop, given no way out I can do it. Similarly, there was a really easy drop at Warncliffe, that after about 10 attempts I was still rolling, mainly because it was barely a transition, so the little voice in the back of my head couldnt see the point/comit to effectively bunny hopping into the slope.

Can't do any of the 'skills'.....wheelie, manual, bunny hop, trackstand, drop offs.....

I can wobble about almost stationary, but I wouldn't call it a trackstand but that's about it.

I did a skills course a couple of years back and got quite confident at small drop offs 12-18", but due to lack of exposure to them/practice I am back to wobbling off them.

I think my general balance is rubbish, so I find things like wheelies & trackstands difficult, and I always imagine some horrible outcome to a confidently executed drop off, so bottle it.

I'm terrible at bunny hops, wheelies, trackstands and manuals

same here 😳

Can't use apostrophe's correctly 😕

Spoon - can you ride off a curb?

I need to perfect manualling and pumping.
Manualling I'm rubbish at, pumping I've seen people who are better.

When I had a chopper I could wheelie all time.
I learnt to wheelie on my first MTB years ago, but unlike riding a bicycle wheelies you forget.

Never been good at drop offs but now I'm getting older I don't think it's time to learn. As a slightly younger friend who moved into downhilling when he hit 40 found out, you don't bounce as well after 40 = several months in traction.

I blame not being bought a BMX as a kid and only being given hand-me-down racers.

Njee - did you ever try slamming your saddle?

Thankfully I mastered all of these basic skills yea4s ago, I guess I must be ranked fairly highly when it comes to skillful mtbers. However, in terms of bmx riding (which is what I used to do a bit of) I'd be ranked as very middling to shite.

now I'm getting older I don't think it's time to learn. As a slightly younger friend who moved into downhilling when he hit 40 found out, you don't bounce as well after 40

Spoon - can you ride off a curb?

Yep, and I can ride off 2-3ft drop offs, I just can't seem to comit to them.

Turning fast left is harder for me than turning fast right. Dunno why. When I turn right it just feels spot on, outside foot down, inside bar weighted, body correct position, head forward, tyres bite in etc. Turn left and all composure is lost and it's more fingers crossed than anything else.

Wheelies for me too. Really wish I'd learned them when I was young. That said, I only learned to trackstand about ten years ago (London and traffic lights help a lot), and bunny hop a couple of years ago, so there's hope yet. I'm saving up for a session with jedi next year, but I think wheelying may be one of the least of the skills I'm lacking!

Turning fast left is harder for me than turning fast right. Dunno why

The ones I require to do my job. It's pretty bad really.

everone has a weaker cornering side, it's because you are one foot biased. I can ride switch but am still right foot dominant.
You'll also find most riders fall off way more to one side than the other.

I'm right handed, but ride left foor forewards, this only bothers me if I notice it (so on the run into a set of jumps). Out on the trail if I'm not thinking about it I'll hapily ride right foot foreward.

I can quite happily fall off either way though!

your dominant riding foot is not necessarily the same side as your dominant hand.

Njee - did you ever try slamming your saddle?

No I've not, got an ISP on the Top Fuel, so can't drop the saddle. I'd be interested to try it, but I don't think the set up of my bike is contributing remotely to my crapness, as much as it'd be nice to blame it!

Turning fast left is harder for me than turning fast right. Dunno why

I'm better at turning right, but only really find it a problem at slow speeds, going fast I'm happier either way.

Left foot forward is regular, right foot forward is goofy and it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with being handed, although left handers do tend to be goofy.

Simple test, stand with your feet slightly apart looking forward, lean back until you have to put one foot back to brace yourself, inevitable you'll be left leading with your left foot if your regular and vice versa.

Everyone is handed and most riding sports involve more practise on the switch stance.

[i]You'll also find most riders fall off way more to one side than the other.[/i]

Ah - perhaps this explains my very non-scientific observation. I'm left handed and lead right foot forward and tend to hit the deck on my right side. I've noticed following riders who lead left foot forward (most riders) that they tend to hit the deck on their left side. I was thinking this was just coincidence but perhaps not!

The ability to ride the Black at Llandegla is pretty much beyond me, or at least not without it becoming an absolutely terrifying experience.

There I've said it!

but I don't think the set up of my bike is contributing remotely to my crapness

like I said, everyone has a weaker side.

What's an ISP? interupted seat tube? if so, get a cheap saddle and post and chop the post to under 200mm

Left foot forward is regular, right foot forward is goofy

I can't do 720 degree frontflips on me mam's Raleigh Shopper. 360's are fine, but I can't for the love of me nail the 720.

What's an ISP? interupted seat tube? if so, get a cheap saddle and post and chop the post to under 200mm

Integrated seat tube - can't put the saddle down, there's only a little stubby seatpost.

Definitely a valid point about learning a certain way, and transferring back, just doesn't work on my current bike!

Odly I think of it as regular/goofy as well, and when surfing I'll pop up randomly one way or the other*, usualy faceing the wave though, or I'll invariably turn to face it.

*usualy the way I wasn't intending to as I lift my back foot up first (intending to pop up with it in front) then step through as being a fat f***** I can't 'pop' up in one fluid movement 😳

nah popping up is nothing to do with size/strength, its just technique (much like bunnyhopping in that regard)

I'm better at turning right, but only really find it a problem at slow speeds, going fast I'm happier either way.

More to do with the curvature of the corner than the speed, as you probaly ride slower on the very tight ones.

Yep, which is why it seemed odd the person who I quoted found faster corners harder.

I can't whistle, manual, wheelie, bunny hop, surf, skate, dj, sing or dance but I manage to get by - just

Should I just give up?

eyerideit - Member

Should I just give up?

Absolutely. It's the first step in recognising one's limitations.

bsolutely. It's the first step in recognising one's limitations.

Ok what's the next step?

2. Going home
3. Moaping
4. Succumbing to drink/drugs
5. Turning to crime

[i]Yep, which is why it seemed odd the person who I quoted found faster corners harder. [/i]

That'll be me then. On slow corners I have time to check body position and technique. Fast corners you're kinda straight into them so it needs to be instinctive.

On slow corners I have time to check body position and technique. Fast corners you're kinda straight into them so it needs to be instinctive.

You need to lift your chin up, as I suspect it's not the speed of the corner itself the problem, but the fact that you have trouble to plan the trail ahead. Start by forcing yourself never to have your front wheel in your sight. Then if not enough, buy a map holder and install it in such way that you MUST look well ahead as otherwise you'll see a white sheet. And practice, you need to be able to shift position faster without thinking about what to do during corners...

2. Going home
3. Moaping
4. Succumbing to drink/drugs
5. Turning to crime

do I have to do them in that order?

I'd like to do 4 then 4 then for then a bit of 3 then some 4 followed by a very little bit if 5 then lots more 4.

I cant pump , manual, wheelie , bunny hop, jump, do drops or endos.
Still, I can succumb to drink on a regular basis 🙂

"Son, if something's not easy to do straight away, it's not worth doing."

- H. Simpson

i used to be able to wheelie for miles (council kid me) never bothered as an adult. i get by 🙂 🙂

jedi: it doesn't bother you now because you didn't have a problem with it when you were a kid!

It's childhood angst being worked out here!

its not a mtb technique nor is trackstanding

I could never wheelie or manual, too scared of falling off the back. I can only do decent sized hops on a bmx, even a hardtail feels like the forks suck all the momentum out of it. I can probably mange a few inches on my full sus.

All I seem to have truly mastered is falling off

Beat Danny hart down a hill. Cant manual either, hate people who can....

I've beaten Danny Hart down a hill (he was about 14 tho 😳 )
Beat Gee earlier this year (thanks to continental 8) )

heh heh high5 gw 🙂

😀

GW - Member
Left foot forward is regular, right foot forward is goofy
Yeah, on a board it might be, but lets stick to bikes please
POSTED 9 HOURS AGO # REPORT-POST

The same principle applies. I am goofy and when I'm off the saddle 'surfing' singletrack I always lead with my goofy foot so right hand turns are far more instinctive because I have more power and drive with my left foot on the outside.

I am a longtime roadie and windsurfer who got into MTB because I got fed up with windsurfing depending on the British weather - I get the same thrill from MTB as I got from windsurfing it is much more like it than riding a road bike (except when descending perfectly surfaced French switchbacks at 60/70kmh).

So goofy/regular definitely applies IMO.

On the phone so can't edit the bottom of rambling posts.

The skill I don't have which I wish I did is instinctively knowing how far a given speed carries you through the air.

And being able to wheely for miles rather than yards 🙁

and IMO there is no Goofy or regular on a bike since the cranks rotate to alternate your leading foot every half revoution but the bike doesn't. talking about regular and goofy is just pointlessly complicating things.
As for your technique. - if you lead with your right foot LEFT turns are easier as your hips (and therefore body) are naturally facing left (where you should be looking 🙄 )
What are you on about with your comment on more "power and drive"? are you are saying that when you turn right with your (stronger) right foot forward you push down on that foot? if so, that's properly retarded!
Just because YOU ride a board and a bike with the same foot forward doesn't make it a rule! I ride a skateboard left foot forward but my right is the more natural leading foot on my bike.
like I said lets stick to bikes, eh? 😉

My strongest stance is leading with my left foot. I don't know if that means my left or right foot is strongest but I definitely can drive out of a right handed berm better and more powerfully.

I'm thinking of trails where I'm not pedalling.

I definitely have a better side just like waveriding or well anything...

Presumably I'm thinking wrong :-p

ah.. ok. now you're leaving out the "regular/goofy" shit in your description you're actually making sense.
like I said left foot forward faces your hips right and that's the reason you ride right hand berms better!

I ride right handed berms better as well. Left foot forward and on a bmx I spin clockwise. Thing is in a berm it shouldn't really make a difference which foot is forward because the outside foot is down rather than feet level anyway, but right handers just feel better to me.

i'm crap at everything 🙁

Thing is in a berm it shouldn't really make a difference which foot is forward because the outside foot is down rather than feet level anyway

Personally I feel more in control if I have the outside foot down, seems easier to lean the bike and get more weight over the front, or something like that. Maybe doesn't make much difference to speed in a big smooth berm but pedals level feels odd to me now.

how it "feels" best not always correct tho, you're just continuing the habit you have of dropping your outside foot when it actually is needed but in actual fact you really don't need to. try it.

if you don't believe me watch a fast pumptrack rider, he won't keep dropping his outside foot for each corner.

Yeah I've tried it a bit, feels fine on smaller berms as you seem to be able to pump around them, but on bigger berms with the pedals level I just feel like I'm hanging on for the ride rather than being in control.

you sure you're looking far enough ahead round longer faster berms?

I think so.