Today's Ride
- Thread starter FairfaxPat
- Start date
Re:
Solid cloud, mild 14, no breeze, getting a bit sticky out riding, rising to 16 at 08:00.
At the age of 4.3, after finally learning how to ride no handed, I've decided it's time to conquer the fear and learn how to jump. This is going to take a long, long time but I'm up for the challenge.
Luckily enough there's a little BMX/pump track close to home. I'm starting from scratch pretty much so today and for the next few months, it's a case of going around and around and slowly building up confidence and getting comfortable. After an hour or so this morning, I'd managed to "nail" the first "jump" here...
...by nail I mean both wheels off the ground and landing "in control". This is looking at the landing side, so you drop in off that large mound at the back.
All tips welcome... although get a new bike comments will be met with my palm
Solid cloud, mild 14, no breeze, getting a bit sticky out riding, rising to 16 at 08:00.
At the age of 4.3, after finally learning how to ride no handed, I've decided it's time to conquer the fear and learn how to jump. This is going to take a long, long time but I'm up for the challenge.
Luckily enough there's a little BMX/pump track close to home. I'm starting from scratch pretty much so today and for the next few months, it's a case of going around and around and slowly building up confidence and getting comfortable. After an hour or so this morning, I'd managed to "nail" the first "jump" here...
...by nail I mean both wheels off the ground and landing "in control". This is looking at the landing side, so you drop in off that large mound at the back.
All tips welcome... although get a new bike comments will be met with my palm
Re: Re:
shouldn't take too long mate. And the Kona is perfect for jumping.
First thing i would say is lower your seat, which you have, the lower the better, maybe use an old post so you don't mind putting it all the way into the frame. Second is to practice on a table top as you can build up distance and technique safely. Then if you haven't already, which i imagine you can, you need to be able to bunny hop, proper wheel first bunny hop, not both wheels hop, which you can practice anywhere and is useful for trail obstacles and kerbs anyway. Also you can practice pumping around the pump track, pumping on the back down slope
Dont worry about speed and clearing jumps, work on the technique and then when your comfortable you can increase speed. If you can already bunny hop just learn to use the transition to pump and help lift the front wheel, your then into your bunny hop and should have the bike under control. Then just a case of adding speed until you are hitting the backside of the jumps Also bmx jumps tend to have tighter transitions which pop the wheel up quicker, better to look for jumps with longer smoother transitions for bigger wheels, doesn't really matter that much its just easier to learn on. And lastly, have fun
al-onestare":uv2lm98z said:Solid cloud, mild 14, no breeze, getting a bit sticky out riding, rising to 16 at 08:00.
At the age of 4.3, after finally learning how to ride no handed, I've decided it's time to conquer the fear and learn how to jump. This is going to take a long, long time but I'm up for the challenge.
Luckily enough there's a little BMX/pump track close to home. I'm starting from scratch pretty much so today and for the next few months, it's a case of going around and around and slowly building up confidence and getting comfortable. After an hour or so this morning, I'd managed to "nail" the first "jump" here...
...by nail I mean both wheels off the ground and landing "in control". This is looking at the landing side, so you drop in off that large mound at the back.
All tips welcome... although get a new bike comments will be met with my palm
shouldn't take too long mate. And the Kona is perfect for jumping.First thing i would say is lower your seat, which you have, the lower the better, maybe use an old post so you don't mind putting it all the way into the frame. Second is to practice on a table top as you can build up distance and technique safely. Then if you haven't already, which i imagine you can, you need to be able to bunny hop, proper wheel first bunny hop, not both wheels hop, which you can practice anywhere and is useful for trail obstacles and kerbs anyway. Also you can practice pumping around the pump track, pumping on the back down slope
Dont worry about speed and clearing jumps, work on the technique and then when your comfortable you can increase speed. If you can already bunny hop just learn to use the transition to pump and help lift the front wheel, your then into your bunny hop and should have the bike under control. Then just a case of adding speed until you are hitting the backside of the jumps
Also bmx jumps tend to have tighter transitions which pop the wheel up quicker, better to look for jumps with longer smoother transitions for bigger wheels, doesn't really matter that much its just easier to learn on. And lastly, have fun 
Re:
Today was the final instalment of commuting for this week.
Some days the way my body responds to stuff never ceases to surprise me. Today, for instance, I felt much stronger on the way home than on the way in. After a full day, really?
Leaving five minutes later this morning made a big difference: It was busy along the towpath.
Usual route in. Up to Amwell, and picked up the dismantled railway on the way home. Which is now becoming my favourite route back.
Overcast and dull this morning. I was concerned it would rain, didn't quite manage it, thankfully. 16°c and a bit muggy.
Coming home, 23°c ish and just enough of a light breeze to take the edge off.
Another 43 miles. I'm not exhausted today. Must be the Friday buzz.
Today was the final instalment of commuting for this week.
Some days the way my body responds to stuff never ceases to surprise me. Today, for instance, I felt much stronger on the way home than on the way in. After a full day, really?
Leaving five minutes later this morning made a big difference: It was busy along the towpath.
Usual route in. Up to Amwell, and picked up the dismantled railway on the way home. Which is now becoming my favourite route back.
Overcast and dull this morning. I was concerned it would rain, didn't quite manage it, thankfully. 16°c and a bit muggy.
Coming home, 23°c ish and just enough of a light breeze to take the edge off.
Another 43 miles. I'm not exhausted today. Must be the Friday buzz.
Attachments
Re:
Sunday shakedown ride for the Stumpy. This has sat idle in the garage for almost a month, and as the bushes have worn in the Manitous on the Mtrax, causing an unnerving wobble, I've put it back to suit me.
It's a very different ride - stiff, and I feel perched on top of it, but comfy.
25 miles, frequently stopping to make adjustments for the first 10. Then settled in and breezed through the rest. Ground was much softer, thanks to the rain, but not muddy.
Into Essex, back lanes and tracks to Dunmow, then back along the Flitch Way.
15°c when I left, and steadily warming until I got home. Light breeze. Very pleasant morning.
Sunday shakedown ride for the Stumpy. This has sat idle in the garage for almost a month, and as the bushes have worn in the Manitous on the Mtrax, causing an unnerving wobble, I've put it back to suit me.
It's a very different ride - stiff, and I feel perched on top of it, but comfy.
25 miles, frequently stopping to make adjustments for the first 10. Then settled in and breezed through the rest. Ground was much softer, thanks to the rain, but not muddy.
Into Essex, back lanes and tracks to Dunmow, then back along the Flitch Way.
15°c when I left, and steadily warming until I got home. Light breeze. Very pleasant morning.
