Yesterday I went to my favorite spot again (not that there aren't others equally nice but this one is the closest to my home). I practiced pretty much everything I can do and when it came to the pedal up I noticed that I went from landing on the rear wheel to rolling up onto the obstacle. I think this happened because I have been doing a lot of up to fronts lately and the movement of pushing the front wheel forward just cannot be erased when doing the pedal up.

Anyways, I saw a tutorial on Trials-Forum.co.uk for how to tap and while I was able to do this already quite a while ago, I had to learn it all over again yesterday. The only thing that has changed from this video to now is that I can do it much more controlled and am not afraid of hitting the wall badly anymore. :)

I also figured that when doing the pedal up like a roll up, I might as well leave the brakes open after the jump. So in the video you can see what I can do rather consistently now. A pedal up (or roll up) with a tap before. I will have to try this technique on a higher wall though. I have become very careless in trying new walls and spots. :(

The gap onto the tree stump I was able to do 1 1/2 years ago already but it is the first time I have been able to land, turn and do the gap back. Not that it's particularly difficult but at this time of the year there's a bush your front wheel gets caught in. So there's a pretty small area you can land on without your front wheel getting caught in the bush and I managed to do this yesterday for the first time.

Breakless Tap, Gap to Gap from Niconj on Vimeo.

Here's my latest video. Due to the sidehop training I have been doing the last couple of weeks I was also able to improve on my gaps. It's pretty much the same technique except that you jump far not high. The first gap I was only able to do just now. The goal for this summer is to do the gap going one step further down.

Another go at the wall. :)

Sidehop March 16 from Niconj on Vimeo.

Getting better at sidehops. Still have to force myself to keep the rear brake open longer.

Sidehop 1m from Niconj on Vimeo.

After bloody Sunday almost two years ago, I just had a déjà vu.

I went back to this spot not having been there for almost half a year. Even though I spent time practicing other things. These gaps felt so much easier than last time. I also lost some of the fear I had doing the second gap. :)

Again, haven't been riding a lot lately. Actually, today was the second time this year as the weather wasn't quite for trials. During the dark days I went to the gym though and did a mixture of upper body strength, deadlifts and squats. I also lost the 3kg the last christmas cookie weighed. I also changed my diet in order to lose some more weight as I got some pounds more than I like.

This, and the new frame I got, made me get up my preferred sidehop wall better than ever. Even though I haven't been riding, I get up easier. I still have to get the technique done though.

I also began to practice sidehops off both wheels as I think that I can learn the basics of it more and faster and also get away with the bad habit of not letting open my rear brake long enough after the pedal kick.. Anyhow... here's the video.