After reading about the technique you want to learn, try to keep in mind a few key phases for your next ride. The first reading does not necessarily make a lot of sense, but once you start trying out with the bike, you can get a feel (some response from the bike too) for a move.
Then if you read again the pages on the technique you just practiced, try to remember what it felt like on the bike.
This way, the explanations will make a lot more sense and next time you are out riding, you'll be able to focus on particular aspects of
the explanations that you missed out the first time (like lifting more, pushing more on the ground, using more compression, pulling the bars etc..)
Each technique emphasizes specific movements, like compression, body movement, pedal and foot positions, braking control etc...
These aspects only really become obvious once you are on the bike.
So try them out (on the first attempts, don't be put off if you fail, none of that stuff is trivial) and come back to read more in details, you'll probably understand better what didn't feel right
as you can compare the theory with what you just tried.
A global view of all the techniques in biketrials
Just staying on the bike
Use the trackstand to look around, and concentrate for your next move.
If you are loosing balance or you are in trouble, bail out safely rather than crash.
The first thing you want to know is how to lift the front wheel for a wheeling.
You 'll get on the front
wheel by shifting your weight above the handlebars, for smooth repositionning of the rear wheel.
Try out the hops on the back wheel.
Make your first hops on the back wheel.
Then you can try a few hops on the front wheel too.
Use a combination of the front wheel and back wheel steps
to turn the bike around and get ready for your next move.
Push the technique to turn 180° in one slick move.
You can hop sideways in small
bounces, either to stay balanced, reposition the bike, or climb up some steps.
The wheeling is an absolute
classic for kids. Learn them up a very smooth slope, by adjusting the pedal pressure.
Try out the wheel-swap, usually front-to-backwheel, and finish off your moves in style. Useful in some advanced techniques.
Check out the basic setup of most biketrial competitions, and enter one to get an idea of what the real thing is.
Pin down your location on the World Map of Trialists and find out where the others are.
For transitions and gaps
If you are a complete beginner, check out the basic pedal kick.
10 variations of the pedal kick in bike trials.
Jump over a gap from a rear wheel position with one kick.
If you have room for one pedal turn or half a pedal turn, and if the surface is smooth, you can jump over
a longer distance, or climb frontaly on small stuff with a pedal up.
If there is no space or you feel more comfortable balancing on the rear wheel, you can launch a rear side hop to climb sharp on street stuff or any odd rocks.
You can use the pedal kick to climb up sideways, without any run up distance starting both wheels on the ground (sort of a backhop and pedal hop combination).
Pedal hop sideways, over a gap and land either parallel to your initial position, or turning 90° during the pedal kick, land perpendicular.
Jump over a gap or climb on stuff with a pedal kick, but land on the front wheel.
Two pedal hops in a row, to bounce the front wheel directly onto an obstacle, and follow up with a front-to-back wheel transfer.
Starting from a static position, with "both wheels on edges", a pedal kick can bring the rear wheel right in place of the front wheel.
Cool variations, launching a 180° turn over a gap (on your bad side)
the essence of bike trials
12 biketrial techniques for all kinds of situations
Using the bunny hop approach at any speed (raw street style).
Rolling over the obstacle, a smooth quiet move.
In one hop sideways, to bring both wheels on the same level.
Sideways, with a rear wheel hop, when there is no room for both wheels and it is too high for using the static hop technique.
With a rolling pedal kick, for a smooth ascension crossing a gap.
From a static balanced position with the front wheel already onto the obstacle
(wheel transfer for accurate positioning in time trials).
Picking the front wheel onto the obstacle to support a smooth wheel-swap.
Banging or hitting the front wheel on the upper edge of an obstacle
(for higher stuff where rolling over or the bunny hop are not possible)
Hooking the bash plate onto the obstacle, by landing a slow bunny
hop or a pedal hop (that way you climb in two steps, but you need a good crank protection).
Hooking one pedal onto a wall edge sideways, and pulling up the bike.
Hooking the front wheel to an edge, to pull yourself up over huge obstacles
(a two-step move, for the pros).
The Wall Ride for a bit of urban fun, or for quick transition on slanted rocks.
from any height
9 techniques to get closer to earth
Raw street style: jumping frontally at full speed (bunny hop).
Forward from a pedal kick or brake release (pure trials).
Wheeling off a wall, with one pedal turn or in manual.
Sideways with the back wheel first (stylish and precise).
Both wheels at once sideways (if the bike is on some edges).
Riding down smoothly, if the step is not too high for your crank.
Pivoting 270° with a 90° front wheel endo.
270° freestyle turn: backhop flip on the rear wheel.
Absorb the impact progressively on the bike. Check out the lecture
Looking for any trials specific components?
Check out the Manufacturers' listing on the Bikes page.
You'll find all the major MTB and biketrial names and online shops:
(Ashton, Atomz, BT bikes, Czar, Echo, Gu, Koxx, Monty, Onza, Ozonys, Try-All, Zoo, etc...)
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