BikeTrial Tutorial 0 - The Fundamentals

There are 3 fundamental skills that must be mastered before one can progress further in BikeTrials. They are track stand, pivoting and hopping.

These skills will be used in various combinations with each other to achieve more advanced techniques by the rider to over come the challenges of riding over obstacles of varying height and surfaces.

1. Track Stand

The track stand is used in all types of biking styles and disciplines ranging from regular cycling, technical mountain biking, BMX flatland, cross-country, etc. It is one of the most useful biking skills that can be used anywhere anytime.

In BikeTrials, the track stand is one of the most crucial skill to master. At any time, you may be required to rest by track standing on or between ledges, rocks, water features, planks, logs, etc. It is the first step in mastering the art of BikeTrials.

2. Pivoting

Before attempting to learn pivoting, you will need to make sure that you are comfortable with track stand on demand. Pivoting is a skill used by riders to maintain balance, move between small spaces, climb, drop-off, cross gaps, etc. It is a very useful skill to learn and less tiring than hopping. It is also a skill to set up the next technique. For example, using the pivot to bring up the front wheel to transition into a rear wheel hop.

3. Hopping

The prerequisite to hopping is the track stand. Before attempting to learn hopping, you will need to make sure that you are comfortable with the track stand. Hopping on 2 wheels is the starting point to the rear wheel hop. Whether hopping on 1 or 2 wheels, it is a skill that must be mastered, as it will be needed in various forms. Hopping requires the rider to lift the wheels off the ground with the intention of either maintaining balance, setting up for the next move, achieving momentum, crossing a gap, riding in narrow spaces, climbing, etc.

All the advanced BikeTrials techniques will incorporate any one, or a combination of these fundamental skills. So, you will need to be able to execute these skills on demand to be able to progress any further.

In my next post, I will be explaining the age old biking skill, the Track Stand.

As a footnote, although I am still very much a newbie, I hope I can contribute a little bit to the progress of BikeTrial in Malaysia. Peace and have fun on trials!!