Getting front of bike off the ground -- tips?

[indigoiis]

from a virtual standstill (but clipped in with both feet), give a hard push with your dominant leg (for me, I always use my right leg, starting at 12:00 and pushing hard). You can try this both sitting, and standing, but I recommend fully seated first.

Next, try to do this and complete a pedal rotation (keep those fingers over the brake lever! If you feel yourself going over backwards, a tap of the REAR brake will put the wheel back down). I can go for about three full pedal rotations doing this.

Should I be braking when I make that hard push?
Because if it is just making the push, I just go forward.

(I am feeling wickit duh right now...)

[Irulan]

Should I be braking when I make that hard push?
Because if it is just making the push, I just go forward.

(I am feeling wickit duh right now...)

quote:
If you feel yourself going over backwards, a tap of the REAR brake will put the wheel back down

[indigoiis]

But I don't feel myself going over backwards, I just go forwards, which is why I was asking... am I supposed to brake during the push? Or just push? Because if I just pedal from a dead stop, I just go forward. I don't go up in the air. ?

[Irulan]

You only do the brake check if you feel like you are going to go over backwards.

Try shifting into a bigger gear. You should feel the front of the bike wanting to come up when you do a pedal stroke.

[rocknrollgirl]

I am able to get up and over logs by unweighting my front instead of popping my front. I shift my weight back like I am going downhill, give a very slight pull onthe handlebars. Once the front tire is up on the log, power stroke and give a little umph with the body weight forward like a rocking horse.

[indigoiis]

Thanks, I will try it again tonight!

[Irulan]

I am able to get up and over logs by unweighting my front instead of popping my front. I shift my weight back like I am going downhill, give a very slight pull onthe handlebars. Once the front tire is up on the log, power stroke and give a little umph with the body weight forward like a rocking horse.

great description of the technique.

[redrhodie]

Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19zFlPah-o

cycling-Sarah just sent me the link. This guy is Baryshikov on wheels.

[SheFly]

Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19zFlPah-o

cycling-Sarah just sent me the link. This guy is Baryshikov on wheels.

If any of YOU are doing THAT, I want video! Not quite the technique we've been talking about, but he makes it look oh so easy...

SheFly

[Irulan]

Ryan Leech would've nailed it the first time.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGXwiAO57Jg

(we want the BB code to embed you tube on TE!!)

Ryan Leech and Danny McAskill are the two top trials riders in the world....

[Irulan]

erm - not being the expert at all, I don't know if this works for no-suspension bikes but we just learned this yesterday:

when you come to the obstacle, bend down (at your hips, hope I'm getting across how I mean it) with your torso over the handlebar and yank up, until your arms are straight, and the bike will follow as your "arms get too short". - don't bend your elbows.

Actually it works the same for rigid bike, you just have to work a bit harder. My friend Gab can pop her old school rigid over downed telephone poles.

[sundial]

Here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FUo9tzK2SY&NR=1

[Irulan]

I've seen that one before: ow ow ow!! I climb over ones that size.

Any one else notice the pink bike is a ss?

[sundial]

Yeah, and it makes me want to start scavenging yard sales.

Sigh....I really miss being on the trail.

[crazycanuck]

Thanks for the info, much appreciated

I would like to ask one thing. How can i keep my heart from jumping out of my body when doing an uphill logover? We have tons of these here in WA & drives me nuts. I have started to slow down going uphill in order to maintain my hr because i know the log over is coming up but i'm not there quite yet...