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couple obstacle clearing questions
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Posted by: MikeOK---------------------
I'm going to try to draw a couple of obstacles, and I'm wondering which to use to clear them, double blip, or jap zap. Assume no kicker on either. If this comes out all jumbled up, disregard. Also assume both are 5'-6' high. Thanks...
1:
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2:
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Posted by: MikeOK---------------------
Bummer, it didn't work at all. It was supposed to show a straight climb on 1 and an undercut on 2, undercut about 1/3 the way up. I got one of these behind the house and it kind scares me...
Posted by: justql---------------------
You trials riders have always been a little diferent........
Posted by: MikeOK---------------------
true hehe. kinda like woods riders...
Posted by: JTT---------------------
My guess would be the Japzap on the undercut one at least. My EXTREMELY limited understanding is that the doubleblip will not work well on an undecut, particularly of this size as you would be inverted 
and/or the skid plate will hit. Disclaimer: this is based only on my readings and video watching...I personally don't blame you for being scared :scream:
ps. nice try on the illustrations
Posted by: MikeOK---------------------
I've been watching some of the videos. Those guys make it look simple, and from the couch I always think I can go right out and do some of what they are doing. But when I try even some of the simpler tricks I find it ain't quite so easy as it looks. My balance is good, and slow technical stuff is fairly easy but I think that's because I've done alot of mountian biking. But some of the big stuff they clear, I'm not sure if I'll ever get to that level. The floater turn is giving me fits right now, can't seem to get more than half way around. It's fun learning though. I did get on the big 426 the other day and it made me miss moto, wonder if I can find the time to do both?
Posted by: JTT---------------------
Mike, we sound alot alike. I too did alot of MTBing (and I concur, it does help, particularly as these bikes are more like MTBs than a motorcycle). Guess this is one of the things that attracted me to this trials stuff, plus the fact I can ride ouot my doorstep. Sure does look easy on TV! 
I too have been struggling with the floaters...I've got about a 100-110 degree rotation, so far (with enough laps of my driveway to wear a groove in the asphalt ). I tried the one where you tap the front wheel off a solid object, but only succeeded in looping the bike and then nearly breaking my wrist (hit it a little too hard...maybe? ).
I rode my 'ol CR today, and it felt like a GoldWing, but sure was fun. Only wish I had the Sherco's clutch...man, I forgot how "heavy" the lever is...spoiled after that tiny hydraulic one.
Posted by: MikeOK---------------------
That clutch!! I rode the Gas Gas every day for about 2 weeks, then got on the old 426 and at first I thought I was driving a farm tractor hehehe.
I got into trials after watching it for several years, and after a couple years of MX racing and a bad crash or two, I thought it was time this year. Also I'm 39, trying to race 30 year olds in the over 30 vet class.
I was out behind the house a week or so ago on the GG practicing double-blips over a big log. One time I got cranked side-ways and that little mellow bike spit me over the bars right onto my head. I laid there and moaned for a couple minutes, and when I finally caught my breath again and came to my senses I had to chuckle when I remembered that I started trials because it was "safer".
Posted by: JTT---------------------
LMAO....yeah, "safer"...I had my trials bike three weeks before I broke my finger on the little begger. This is the main reason I have yet to convert to the open faced trials helmets. I have already landed on my face once, but thankfully with my VXR on. I've got enough scars and broken teeth as it is :whiner:
I too had a bad couple of years MXing, with broken bones and torn ligaments. I look like "robocop" now when I ride. Even at 37, it's no joy racing those 30 year olds in Vet.
What GG do you ride?
Posted by: wayneg---------------------
We went on a training course this weekend with one of our top expert riders -Warren Laugesen, which was really really good. He covered everthing on the Ryan Young video and more, (with out having seen it himself) it was much more helpful than the video because then he would be there to tell you what you were doing wrong (when he had stopped laughing that is 
).
The right technique for the undercut step is definitely the jap zap, and for the normal step is the double blip. You may want to practice on something smaller if the steps scare you, just to build up your confidence and get the techniques right. We found that a two or three foot log was good for practicing both techniques - it needs to be big enough to catch your skid plate otherwise you will just ride over it. With the log the double blip is pretty easy, so you need to concentrate on getting the timing of the blips right. With the jap zap you need to get both the timing and also the accuracy of where you are going to try to place the rear wheel - prefeably right on top of the log. This is good because you can concentrate on getting things exactly right before trying anything bigger.
You may be able to just lessen the steepness on the normal step with a shovel, which will make it less scary, and let you build your confidence up. I don't know how you could ease the undercut section, maybe again with a shovel and lessen the slope above the undercut so its not so vertical, and therefore not so scary. When you have mastered these then make the step steeper or make the undercut a bit bigger again.
One thing that I got out of the weekend is just how much of the riding is having the confidence in your ablity to do something. With these steps you will really need to imagine yourself on the top of the obstacle, and be confident that you will make it - otherwise you won't because your brain will be working against you, and hindering your efforts. I haven't practiced my riding enough in the past which has really held up my progress, as I haven't been that confident when attempting some of these techniques. Riding over the two days on the course really helped me to improve my turning and also improved my confidence - it also helped to show me that some obstacles aren't really all that hard and that its more a mental thing to clean them rather than a bike or skill thing.
This becomes more apparent when you watch the experts ride - if they have a scared look on their face before trying to go up something then they probably won't make it (and stand well back!!). If they are looking pretty smooth and relaxed before the obstacle then they will fly up and make it look really easy. After watching Warren get up some pretty impossible looking steps and splatters, we got to see the correct techniques used perfectly again and again. You could also see the timing and compression of the suspension in slow motion on some obstacles, as he was trying to do some things really slowly so we could see each part of the technique. Amazing rider, some of the things he could do were just unbelievable!!
Posted by: MikeOK---------------------
JTT- I ride a TXT280. I tried 3 different brands and this was my favorite. I did try a Sherco after I bought mine, and if I stay in this game I will look at them closer next time, that's a sweet bike.
wayneg- I went over with some of the guys from my local club today and helped them set up some sections for next weekend. The one thing I learned was that they seem to all have a little different technique for the same obstacles. I haven't been able to watch a tue expert at this yet but I think that would be helpful. Some of them were cleaning some pretty big stuff but we really didn't have time for them to school me eheheh. I thought the same way as you on the obstacles I mentioned above. I am doing fairly well at the double blip but the jap-zap is gonna take a little more time. And I think I'm probably learning a little out of order too. I'm tuckered, a long day of trials wears me out more than a day of MX. I suppose you do have way more saddle (err peg?) time doing trials than you do after a day of moto...
Posted by: wayneg---------------------
Yes I agree totally with the amount of effort and energy you have to put into a full days of trials. We spent from about 10am till about 4pm yesterday with about an hour for lunch. Most of it was on the bike, and there were a few knackered looking people afterwards!! (me included:confused.
A option for seeing some top riders competing is to go to one of your national rounds or even the world championship round being help in the US later this year. Its well worth spending the effort and money to go to these events for entertainment value alone. Videos are pretty good to watch, but you don't really get a complete picture the sheer scale of some of the obstacles that expert riders can get over (and the amount of revs they use!!). It really is awesome to watch.
NZ is hopefully hosting a round of the indoor world championship in december 2003 (it was meant to be december 2002 but got put back a year) - I WILL l be going to this come hell or high water!!! One day if finances ever permit I would like to go to Europe again to watch some world outdoor rounds.
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