FireChief

NO KIDDING! The progress is slow - my legs get exhausted much quicker than I would like. Having said that, I feel it getting better. I have been doing ATG squats ('Ass to Grass" :-) , and straight leg dead lifts. These exercises have brought some 'youth' back into my lower half! ONWARD I say! ~Chief

Ha ha .. 30... I'm with Peter Pan; at 30 you are just a young whipper snapper. Try learning this stuff at 55!! It's pushing me to the limit; but the challenge is one of the reasons I like it so much. There don't seem to be many short cuts to developing an expert level proficiency in this sport. You have GOT to put in the time and HARD PHYSICAL effort. (I've ridden mototrials for about 15 years. This bicycle stuff takes quite a bit more endurance and athleticism though)

I've been thinking about this. I have a new Echo 24 and it has the 150mm x 30° stem. I can pedal up the front and get to hopping fairly easily, and I can get the front up to ride a wheelie (well, I wouldn't call it 'riding a wheelie' yet since I'm only good for a few feet to 10 feet), but trying to pull up the front for a bunny hop or for the beginning of the manual -- man, it feels like someone has a bungee cord holding down the front wheel! I wouldn't mind trying a shorter stem just to 'ease' this task for practice.. Sounds like it worked for you. Thanks for the info.