Gapping

From TrialsWiki

[edit] Gapping to Rear Wheel

[url=http://tv.isg.si/site/?q=filebrowser/snowy][color=#22229c]Viddy-ho[/color][/url] - "Gap, including slow-mo.wmv" or something like that.

There are several ways to start off doing your gappage. With the vid, it's not a great example 'cos I had to hop into it, so it gave me more momentum. However, you can either hop on the spot, then get settled then launch, or you can do it one hop to your take-off, then use that momentum to sail further. It's up to you - it's the same as with sidehops.

Anyways, assuming you're going to do the many hops technique, we're away.

Hop to the edge of where you want to go from. Really look down at the edge of the take-off. This'll help you place your bike in the best place possible, so you can send it good 'n' proper. For good technique, ref. the section where they're riding Paris in the AndyT Koxx vid, and check out Benito Ros. Hops for a while looking straight down, knows he's in the right spot, looks up, spots landing, kicks, and leaps over half of Paris. That's what you need to aim to do, especially if it's on natural 'cos although you can feel to some extent where you are, you can see other potential pitfalls around you.

When you get to the correct spot, you need to do a preload hop. Hop the bike a little higher than you normally would, and instead of absorbing the impact (like you would just backhopping), force the wheel down more. This is where going from the edge can help, as it forces your tyre away, making you gap further. However, this technique means you have to focus more on going upwards rather than forwards. Anyway, just do the preload hop. As you land, keep your weight over the back wheel/BB area, and lower the front whilst cocking the pedal back however much you need to.

/\ That's why you keep your weight fairly far back. You really need to kick on the pedals and throw yourself into the bars with your hips to get it moving. As they always say, you weigh more than your bike, so get yourself moving and your bike will follow. As you kick off, simply move your weight forward as hard as you can.

As you pass through the air, you need to suck the bike up more with your legs to start the transfer from having your weight over the bike to having your weight behind it. Basically, suck the back wheel up, whilst lifting the bike upwards and forwards with your arms.

When you start to get nearer to the landing, you need to start moving your legs out straight, placing the back wheel in front of you. This will absorb the impact, and it's also the time that you can precisely position the back wheel if you're gapping onto something narrow or you have to be very accurate. It's also the completion of the movement you have to do with the bike - if you look at it, you start off with your body being thrown forwards, then it's like the bike catches up and goes off in front, which is pretty much the best way of thinking about it.

Extend your legs fully, as well as your arms too to keep the front high if you want to keep it on the back wheel or just to keep in control in general, and absorb the landing with your legs. This is the point which will decide whether you land it and keep your wheel round, or land it and give it a tasty flat-spot. The decision's already been made for you if you're running the new Echo rims though, so just do whatever 'cos it'll flatspot anyway.

That's pretty much how to gap, really. Just watch the vid, watch vids of Benito, Vincent, etc. (Probably more Benito, 'cos he seems to exaggerate the movements more because of the bike he's on. Vince just seems to sail stuff, which I guess is the thing to aim for).