Dift

Cracking a zoot I would imagine is no simple task. I doubt I'll ever break mine as I don't weigh much and I'm not really very good at trials

I had a go of iron_pandas bike this morning and it is very different to mine, despite the same frame (I have one link less in my chain). I think the longer stem with heavier forks and wheels may be detrimental to pulling the front wheel up for manuals. It does feel a little more stable on the back wheel than mine though.

I land Saturday night so should be around Sunday morning if you want a to try my bike.

I'm back in liverpool on Saturday night and will be at the park on sunday morning. Feel free to join tag along. Don't be disheartened. It will all click sooner rather than later

I would say it is simply technique although pushing the rear wheel forward would naturally help. Next time im home, have a go of my bike, its a little lighter at the front than yours, but it will give you an idea of your bike with a shorter wheelbase. I can help you take a link out of your chain if you still wanted as it only takes 5 minutes and push your wheel forwards; you wont necessarily require a chain tensioner - i dont, and we have similar bikes. You have the skate park local, so just keep trying using the bottom of the shallow inclines to help lift the front. If you cover your rear brake you wont come off the back of the bike, and even if you do, its a case of putting your feet down.

An avalanche LE no less! I think they are more rare than the fabled Zaskar LE! I've had two avalanches, one 16" which I donated to my dad, but I kept my 12.5 Avalanche, neither were LE's though. Lovely in polished aluminium.

I took a link out of the chain and moved the rear wheel forward... what a difference! I'll drop the handle bar when I work out how the headset works I can get the front wheel up no problem now... it's feeling like a perfect all rounder at the moment, as happy in the air off jumps as it is on the rear wheel hoping round. Thanks for the help everyone.

Thanks for the input. I somehow thought the higher the bar the easier it would be to lift the front. I will take a link out of the chain this weekend and see how I get on moving the rear wheel forward, then I'll drop the handle bars to see if that helps further should I need it. I've always been able to manual all my bikes (even big DH rigs), but this zoot seems a little more stuck to the floor (I guess no suspension to pre load). I've got an old retro 20" monty for fun, but want to get a little more serious with this bike. I enjoyed messing around Street riding it on Wednesday in the local skate park, but that's not what I bought it for. I'll let you know how I get on .

That looks very good actually! I was down at otterspool today which was also pretty good, but not as good as the above picture.

I've recently acquired a bike from a previous owner who was a good foot bigger than me (I'm ~5 3"). I've trimmed the bars to an acceptable width but I am just wondering what I can do to help me lift the front easier (I've swept the bars back slightly too). On previous bikes (the mountain variety) I would pre load the front suspension to good effect. Can I push the rear wheel forward in the dropout as it is only half way along the slot at the moment, I assume that would reduce the length of the bike and help? It's already got a few spacers, a three inch riser bar and a short stem as per picture. Perhaps I need to man up and grow some legs?

Some nice drops in Sudley Park - by the house, off a small sandstone wall, also along the promenade by the cafe in Aigburth is nice (plus they have just built a small concrete skate/bike park), I used to ride here along time ago.

Where about in Liverpool are you? I picked up a 2013 Onza Zoot for a cracking price yesterday, I had not rode a bike for about 15 years, but I bought a cheap monty a few months back to see how I got on trying to re-learn everything. I saw the Onza, and for the price had to go for it. I'm south Liverpool, so happy to meet up and have a ride somewhere if you are close.