Endohopper Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 (edited) ...So I've been practicing manuals for well over 2 years now ( :$ ) and just cannae get 'em right . Yes , I HAVE searched and read all similar posts . I think I understand the move , and I do practice every time I ride , attempting varying speeds , uphill / downhill , pulling up , or starting with a few pedals , but Goddamnit , it just ain't happening . No progression , no common cause of failure , very frustrating . By the way I ride 26" ( shown in sig ) with flat bars - yes , risers would help but surely I can get at least like 5 meters with my setup ? Am I just never gonna get the holy grail of smooth riding ? Any tips ? Edited September 16, 2006 by Endohopper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krisboats Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 Its all in the legs, if the front end starts to drop down get your legs and arse leaning back, if it starts to fall back get your arse qand legs forwards, thats all there is to it really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Endohopper Posted September 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 Fast reply , Krisboats , some psychic connection among Base riders ? Should my stance be like when backhopping ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_skj0lsvik_ Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 I do what KrisBoats do, but I also adjust how far back I lean with my rear brake.. I find that helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyseemonkeydo Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 (edited) Best advice I could give you is to watch some BMX videos. Check out any rider who rides brakeless particularly and you'll see the perfect technique slightly exagerated. As Krisboats said, it's all about keeping the perfect balance point by shifting your weight forwards and back while using your knees to sort out left/right. I've always found it easiest to do them on a slight downhill, that way you can afford to use the brake a bit more without losing too much momentum.Daveedit: try At the end of the day, you probably know the correct technique, it's just a case of keep practising and you should get there. Edited September 16, 2006 by monkeyseemonkeydo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurtisRider Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 try and get you bellybutton over the rear axle and get your arse nice and low. pump with you legs and feather you brake when you feel likethe fronts getting a little too high saying that, i still suck at them but when i try, that seems to work for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mooore! Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 By the sounds of thisgs i do it the same way as pauloliver. keep low. arms fully extended is usually the easiest way & wen the bike starts to dip, instead of pedalling like in a normal wheelie, pump your legs to full extention (like you're kicking the bike out from underneath you) & as it rises to high, pull yourself back in towards the bike. I'm shite at explaining techniques but i hope it helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A!! Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 Make sure you are bending your legs and getting your bum over the back. Try and keep your arms locked in a straight position, as i find that way they act a bit like a lever. Also when you do it try not to pump with your legs straight away as it can upset your balance, so try rolling without pumping your legs for a bit and then when you feel the bike slowing down or the front dropping, pump with your legs to counter act it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todge Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 My manualing skills were average on my 24, with a big fat maxxis on the back. Then, I changed to a different tyre, which rolls so much better.Now I got manuals dialed properly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibs_m Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 Best way imo is to go down to your local bmx track and try pumping through the doubles instead of jumping them - if you mannual through you get used to the feeling of doing it without touching the brake which 9/10 is the problem, either grabbing it or dragging it so you loose momentum.I used to drag the brake so my mannuals were vertical and people always said it looks so odd, but i went to the track a few times and then could just do it without thinking of the brake.Keep on it and you have them quicker than you know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manuel Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 Quick question - have you ground your rim ? if so its gonna be b*****d hard to learn....Anyway - like dave said learn downhill that way you can lean to far back and drag the brake to keep you balanced - when you are leaning too far back is better than too foward.... youll find that way you can just start to use the brake less n less then just roll forever ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomm Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 Maybe with black pads or whatever you use Rowan! I don't think you can really use the brake if you've got a powerful grabby setup like most of us do - as soon as you touch the brake the front slams down. Brakeless is definitely the way to go - although I always cover the brake just in case. Having said that, don't listen to me because I suck at manuals... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christophe' Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 plaz pads , heat sink reds are fine for smooth soundless manuals ( on a smooth rim ) .If you grind , start learning perfect balance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshywa Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 I used to be able to get them on my bas e to an ok distance..... best way id say is pop 1 cranks worth of weelie before to raise the nose then used your legs..... that said my brake was "soft" comapred to others.Try a nice wide back tyre too that will help !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash-Kennard Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 can't be arsed to read the other posts, but, all there is to it is keep your weight over the rear axle, and use your legs to pump/keep balance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RicH_87 Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 look at something in front of you too, like quite far away, don't look at the floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joker Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 ...So I've been practicing manuals for well over 2 years now #hate to break it to you, but maybe your just shit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theone2be Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 look at something in front of you too, like quite far away, don't look at the floor.Best advice given so far, i tried this on my bmx the other day and got ALOT further than usual. Don't know why this works but it does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euro Braker Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 I can sorta manual by riding as fast as possible and lifting wheel off the ground. The best way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BONGO Posted September 17, 2006 Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 i keep my arms straight and my legs in pretty static position, and use my hips forwards and backwards. Only small amounts.Try it???john Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Endohopper Posted November 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2006 Well , a month or 2 has passed and I'm beginning to get kinda reasonable stability going , but they're sketchy as Hell . Thanks to your advice I didn't give up on the move entirely , even though it's not strictly speaking a neccesary move . Still considering changing back to a riser bar like an Azonic something or other . Thanks anyway , folks . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Bleech Posted November 18, 2006 Report Share Posted November 18, 2006 Well , a month or 2 has passed and I'm beginning to get kinda reasonable stability going , but they're sketchy as Hell . Thanks to your advice I didn't give up on the move entirely , even though it's not strictly speaking a neccesary move . Still considering changing back to a riser bar like an Azonic something or other . Thanks anyway , folks . yes do that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil H Posted November 19, 2006 Report Share Posted November 19, 2006 Well , a month or 2 has passed and I'm beginning to get kinda reasonable stability going , but they're sketchy as Hell . Thanks to your advice I didn't give up on the move entirely , even though it's not strictly speaking a neccesary move . Still considering changing back to a riser bar like an Azonic something or other . Thanks anyway , folks . Yeh quite funny you should be thinking that - its exactly what my mate did a couple of days back on his onze. He put the azonic risers but found they didnt really make manualing too much easier and they weren't as wide as his try all flat bars so didn't feel to nice. But its worth a try I guess . He is crap at manuals anyway though - like me.I really cant find the position but the only time I did a decent manual was by basically doing a tiny 'pedal up' onto a curb and landing in the right position to just keep on holding it. This is so stupid but on my t-rex I can seriously not get the front wheel to the manual point - just won't go up without a pedal. I find it annoying because when stationery I've got good balance on the back wheel but I just cant pull off the manuals ....need to practise alot more.Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomR Posted November 19, 2006 Report Share Posted November 19, 2006 I lock my legs out too and sort of hang off of my arms from the bars. Front goes down i hang lower, so to speak and lean more ofer the back wheel which pulls my weight back on the bars, front goes too high i kind of lean up/squat my legs so my weight shifts forward a bit, either that or lights apply the brake/a combination of both.Ill admit im not that good anymore (i used to have a zebdi now i have a base with zoo pads) and although easy to get it up due to the short back end i think maybe its so short its a bit twitchy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted November 19, 2006 Report Share Posted November 19, 2006 Fast reply , Krisboats , some psychic connection among Base riders ? Should my stance be like when backhopping ?no, you need to get your arse right over the backwheel to spread your weight out, and dont have your body too rigid, needs to be fluid so you can counterbalance it when the bike falls backwards or forwards, all the time you need to be lightly feathering the brake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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