The best feeling when I'm riding over obstacles on the trail is when I barely feel any bump on my rear wheel. It's an awesome feeling coz I did just enough and did not overdo it. XD
I'd like to see one devoted to rotation, specifically how to generate more rotation. Applied to hop 180, front/rear pivots, etc., and of course the fun stuff, off jumps.
Over wheel height with a vertical face is a serious obstacle to be rolling up! I think I need to work on my technique with this and really utilise the pedal kick along with the unweight to lift the front more than I do now.
Keeping the momentum while riding at something this high can be a bit daunting, but it helps so much. You know I always push to keep wheels rolling on this, so the combination between that and keeping your speed up can solve almost any problem (as long as you get your front wheel high enough!)
You're a great teacher!! I'm a beginner, and today i got over a 30inches obstacle that never before could i have even considered to jump on.. And then did like 30 times more hahaha I'm still so elated!!! Thank you so much
Your videos have motivated me to take my biking to the next level!!! I have an old Cannondale Prophet I use for bouncing around rocks and have now just bought a trials bike to take it up a notch!!! Thanks for the awesome videos, keep it up!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Even though I have used this specific move on numerous occasions, I still watch these informative videos just to help remind myself of how to do certain techniques. So far, my highest step/lip I have cleaned was just above knee high (about 18") on a rocky climb. I was actually surprised that I made it, as was my riding buddy.
@SuperRiderTV Watching you break it down actually helped me visualize how I actually approach step ups/lips. I hadn't really thought about how I actually do it, but now I can explain it better to some of my friends who are new to mtn biking. I do ride clipless, which makes moves like this easier imo.
Thanks, cool break down as always! Not sure if you covered that already, but I really like the move to go over logs slowly (touching with front wheel, then pulling up the back wheel on the log)
Please ive been asking about sprocket ratios, Ive never been able to get comfortable, especially in jib climbs up platforms like you show. PS: You and Ali Clarkson are the best on UA-cam, major props!
Loving this series, and the practical terms in which you explain techniques. Might be fun if you could do one one bunny hopping next, as that kind of builds on unweighting the wheels in succession too.
Hi Aaron, what a great video!!! I've been working on this since you mentioned it, it would help me a lot if you can make a video about a technique that I don't know what it's called, but it's for high obstacles. It consists of hitting the front wheel on the obstacle and with the force of the last pedaling go up and stay in the rear. I'm having a hard time achieving that technique. As always very good videos. Thank you so much!!!
I think you're describing what is most-often referred to as a "punch." Aaron's also done a video referring to the "three-pedal technique," which I've used to refine and understand my own punch technique. It's really effective for maintaining momentum for those higher obstacles.
@@brackettinthefield4412 Hello, yes I have seen Aaron's videos and the truth is that they are great, that's why I ask him about this technique. In particular, there is such a technical/coordinated moment between when the wheel hits the obstacle and you push the pedal to push it up that I can't decipher, it's all so fast and coordinated that I can't. And perhaps Aaron, as he has accustomed us in his videos, will give us the way to practice it. Thank you very much for answering.
I am asking again. It would great to get/see a video with a step-by-step tutorial about mastering switchback in a dynamic motion on the basis of a front wheely. Thanks in advance
As you saw in the video, I'm guilty of doing it, too! It's a tough instinct to overcome - but when you let it roll, it makes all the difference in the world.
I couldnt but help notice that you didnt move your hips back much while doing the pedal stroke and yet managed to clear the obstacle. I cannot coordinate moving my hips back and do the pedal kick together but when i do the pedal kick without moving the hips, the frint wheel barely gets off unlike yours 😅
As your skill develops, you'll become a lot more efficient with your movement, which is what you're seeing here. I always try to overexaggerate my movements to mimic the best way to learn, but sometimes it's difficult to recreate. Hopefully the lessons in here are still useful - I always recommend overexaggerating any movement until you start to feel it coming together.
What if the obstacle is already on a fairly steep incline? I have a passage in one of my regular routes that is always a challenge for me. It has rocks (and not even big ones, maybe the size of a human head) I have to get over, I'm already in a low gear and when I hit this one place with two of these rocks in the way, I almost always have to stop because I hit the rock and it takes practically all forward momentum from me. I've only gotten over it one time and that was just with more speed. But, making that extra speed is hard because I need a higher gear and getting up the incline in the higher gear is above my fitness level.
Hard to know exactly what to recommend based on the description, but I think I'd probably be trying to carry a bit more speed into the whole thing. I might try to bunnyhop over the rocks, that way I could keep my speed. You can use this pedaling technique at a bit faster speed with a higher gear, but it takes a bit of work to get the timing perfect.
@@SuperRiderTV Thanks for the reply. I think for bunny hopping, I wouldn't be able to get that kind of speed. The incline is fairly steep. Also, to do a bunny hop, I'd have to pull up on the bars a lot more than what I'm attempting currently and I feel I'd flip backwards. I think speed is the key. Thankfully the obstacle is somewhat at the start of the climb. I'll try to take it with a higher gear and maybe even standing at first to keep momentum. I'm not great at standing and going up hill either. Haha! Thanks again for the help.
Haha... ended up back on this video and I can report back, more speed is all I need. I just needed to be more trusting that the wheels will roll over the rocks, which it does, especially with a light pull on the bar.
It will still work, although you may have to make some adjustments to your specific body position (likely a little further back) based on the style of the suspension. But this will absolutely work on a full suspension bike.
That one definitely took a little while to master, but once you’ve got it, it’s locked in. I did another video about wheel placement that goes a bit deeper on the skill, too!
@@SuperRiderTV you trials riders are something else. I can’t even fathom having the amount of balance and control of a bike like you do 🤣 looks like a blast though.
I see a difference in your technique when approaching small obstacles vs big ones. When it's small, you just unweight your back wheel and that's enough. But when it's a big one, you are clearly pushing the bike forward as well as unweighting and scooping your pedals, and it's seems that the pushing is what's actually bringing the back of the bike up
Can you recommend a mtb that’ll be more easily maneuverable for these technical skills? I imagine a 27.5 would be easier than a 29 but I’m also eager to learn manuals and endo 180s etc but on a mtb. I’m 6’1” if it matters
'NS Bikes' do a jump bike almost identical to his bike, you can buy a hangar and have gears too! I ride one and do street trials also, however its 26" wheel size.
Thanks for your great content, I'm back at MTB riding at almost 40yrs old and I'm going through all the basics with your videos ! I clear a 20cm ledge with just a light unload of the back wheel, but if I put more intensity in the movement (for a higher obstacle) I loose contact with the pedals during the push/unload. I start on the front of the feet and land on the heel which is pretty scary for my shins... it's in the back of my head and holds me back. If I try to grab the pedal by rotating my feet, I stay centered on he bike, it prevents me from going behind the saddle for the push. Any advice ? Maybe it's normal to slightly jump off the pedal during the movement ? Maybe I've just got to "jump" higher for the unload ? Thanks !
Awesome to hear that you're back at it! My feet sometimes do the same thing, and I've been working on this a lot lately. One trick that helps me with that issue is really focusing my attention to my back pedal and what my foot is doing there. The pedal scoop can help keep your feet glued to the pedals, but when you're overexaggerating the move to get the most out of it, sometimes the feet slip a bit. Just know that as you improve, your movements will get more efficient and this will be less of an issue. In the meantime, you could always wear shin guards like a Trials rider...I still do from time to time!
@@SuperRiderTV Hey thanks for taking time to answer. I will keep working on it with my soccer shin guards !!! I realise that I come on the obstacle with my weak foot on the front (like for the drop explained in your other video). I think my grabbing motion can be better if I switch my feet.
@@SuperRiderTV Maybe it can help someone, I was trying to rotate both ankles which was almost impossible. Now I just rotate my back pedal ankle, and with the arms push it create enough tension to make the bike travel without moving under me feet !
Hi! I know this is different, I would like to know if you have tried this and climb some obstacles with a road Bike? I would like to use it for city roads. Evade some things
Oh, I didn’t realize there was a difference in opinion on the pedal scoop? Guessing Ali and I would be pretty close in our mindset - I think we both learned the technique from the same rider! :)
I think this is where instruction is hard to communicate to (relatively) new learners (like me). Since you can throw a bike into a bunnyhop motion with just a lifting and thrusting arm motion, some people say the foot scoop is less important than the shoving arm motion in a hopping rear wheel lift. But I feel it's a mixed up recipe of all those complicated moves, perfectly timed with the rider unweighting himself at the apex. I'm still working on that critical part of me jumping out of the bike's way.
My first time ever on a trail had a tree across the path. I picked the bike up and carried it over. This happened about two more times. Guess it was supposed to be there and I was supposed to ride over it 😮
I'm riding a medium frame (5'11") with 27.5 wheels. I think I might actually fit better on a size Large frame, but I found this bike on PinkBike a few years back and couldn't pass it up.
have never heard of Pedal Scoop. Its always been Unweighting the bike. i understand what is meant as the process and what is communicated in this video, why change the term though?
Unweighting and pedal scoop are two different things - but in combination they can make a huge difference with the height of your back wheel lift. The pedal scoop is only what you're doing with that back pedal (down/back/up motion) to guide the rear wheel up.
I think it sort of depends? I feel like the larger wheels eat up obstacles easier in most cases, but I suppose if it was high enough, it could get more difficult, too.
The best feeling when I'm riding over obstacles on the trail is when I barely feel any bump on my rear wheel. It's an awesome feeling coz I did just enough and did not overdo it. XD
The best feeling ever! 🙌
I'd like to see one devoted to rotation, specifically how to generate more rotation. Applied to hop 180, front/rear pivots, etc., and of course the fun stuff, off jumps.
Over wheel height with a vertical face is a serious obstacle to be rolling up! I think I need to work on my technique with this and really utilise the pedal kick along with the unweight to lift the front more than I do now.
Keeping the momentum while riding at something this high can be a bit daunting, but it helps so much. You know I always push to keep wheels rolling on this, so the combination between that and keeping your speed up can solve almost any problem (as long as you get your front wheel high enough!)
You're a great teacher!! I'm a beginner, and today i got over a 30inches obstacle that never before could i have even considered to jump on.. And then did like 30 times more hahaha I'm still so elated!!! Thank you so much
Thats incredible!! Great work!!
Great video series - thanks! Breaking it right down really helps absolute beginners like myself - saves a lot of frustration.
So glad to hear this has been helpful - exactly why I’m making these videos. Thanks for watching!
Your videos have motivated me to take my biking to the next level!!! I have an old Cannondale Prophet I use for bouncing around rocks and have now just bought a trials bike to take it up a notch!!! Thanks for the awesome videos, keep it up!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
That’s awesome!!! So stoked to hear that you got your hands on a trials bike! Have fun!
Even though I have used this specific move on numerous occasions, I still watch these informative videos just to help remind myself of how to do certain techniques. So far, my highest step/lip I have cleaned was just above knee high (about 18") on a rocky climb. I was actually surprised that I made it, as was my riding buddy.
Awesome, thanks for watching! Is this the same technique you use? 18" is solid!
@SuperRiderTV Watching you break it down actually helped me visualize how I actually approach step ups/lips. I hadn't really thought about how I actually do it, but now I can explain it better to some of my friends who are new to mtn biking. I do ride clipless, which makes moves like this easier imo.
Thanks, cool break down as always! Not sure if you covered that already, but I really like the move to go over logs slowly (touching with front wheel, then pulling up the back wheel on the log)
Thanks! I did it in a video a while ago, but probably time for a little refresher - great call!
Please ive been asking about sprocket ratios, Ive never been able to get comfortable, especially in jib climbs up platforms like you show.
PS: You and Ali Clarkson are the best on UA-cam, major props!
Thanks! I'm using a 32t here, but on my trials bike its a 22:18 ratio. Same gearing, roughly, as what I have in this situation on my MTB
SR Your video is concise, gripping and Logical,, Thanks!
Thank you!
Loving this series, and the practical terms in which you explain techniques. Might be fun if you could do one one bunny hopping next, as that kind of builds on unweighting the wheels in succession too.
Thanks!! Bunnyhop would be a fun one to do - I’ll add it to my list!
Hi Aaron, what a great video!!! I've been working on this since you mentioned it, it would help me a lot if you can make a video about a technique that I don't know what it's called, but it's for high obstacles. It consists of hitting the front wheel on the obstacle and with the force of the last pedaling go up and stay in the rear. I'm having a hard time achieving that technique. As always very good videos. Thank you so much!!!
I want this too. On a motorcycle it's called a zap. I don't know what it's called for a bicycle though.
I think you're describing what is most-often referred to as a "punch." Aaron's also done a video referring to the "three-pedal technique," which I've used to refine and understand my own punch technique. It's really effective for maintaining momentum for those higher obstacles.
@@brackettinthefield4412 ua-cam.com/video/Y253zlTLAxE/v-deo.html
Posted Aarons video below
@@brackettinthefield4412 Hello, yes I have seen Aaron's videos and the truth is that they are great, that's why I ask him about this technique. In particular, there is such a technical/coordinated moment between when the wheel hits the obstacle and you push the pedal to push it up that I can't decipher, it's all so fast and coordinated that I can't. And perhaps Aaron, as he has accustomed us in his videos, will give us the way to practice it. Thank you very much for answering.
I am asking again. It would great to get/see a video with a step-by-step tutorial about mastering switchback in a dynamic motion on the basis of a front wheely. Thanks in advance
Did you see this video? Just came out a few weeks ago: “The Single Best Skill For MTB Switchbacks”
ua-cam.com/video/ZVHBmjFjq-4/v-deo.html
Now I get it. A 24" obstacle should be preceded by lifting 24" before actual effort. Makes sense.
Awesome vids/channel! Super helpful! Keep going man 👍
So glad to hear the videos have been helpful! Thanks for watching! 🙌
Very well explained - I need to go and try out for myself now
Have fun! Practice makes progress!
You nailed my problem. I seem to lock the brakes when I make progress and dont complete the full obstacle.
As you saw in the video, I'm guilty of doing it, too! It's a tough instinct to overcome - but when you let it roll, it makes all the difference in the world.
I just want to say thank you. I am a new rider in Arizona. 🍻👍🏻
Awesome, I hope these videos are helpful! Thanks for watching.
Again thank you. Very clear instructions.😊
Thanks for watching! Glad it was helpful! 🙌
Great video!!
It helps so much!!
Thanks! So glad it was helpful!
I couldnt but help notice that you didnt move your hips back much while doing the pedal stroke and yet managed to clear the obstacle. I cannot coordinate moving my hips back and do the pedal kick together but when i do the pedal kick without moving the hips, the frint wheel barely gets off unlike yours 😅
As your skill develops, you'll become a lot more efficient with your movement, which is what you're seeing here. I always try to overexaggerate my movements to mimic the best way to learn, but sometimes it's difficult to recreate. Hopefully the lessons in here are still useful - I always recommend overexaggerating any movement until you start to feel it coming together.
What if the obstacle is already on a fairly steep incline? I have a passage in one of my regular routes that is always a challenge for me. It has rocks (and not even big ones, maybe the size of a human head) I have to get over, I'm already in a low gear and when I hit this one place with two of these rocks in the way, I almost always have to stop because I hit the rock and it takes practically all forward momentum from me. I've only gotten over it one time and that was just with more speed. But, making that extra speed is hard because I need a higher gear and getting up the incline in the higher gear is above my fitness level.
Hard to know exactly what to recommend based on the description, but I think I'd probably be trying to carry a bit more speed into the whole thing. I might try to bunnyhop over the rocks, that way I could keep my speed. You can use this pedaling technique at a bit faster speed with a higher gear, but it takes a bit of work to get the timing perfect.
@@SuperRiderTV Thanks for the reply. I think for bunny hopping, I wouldn't be able to get that kind of speed. The incline is fairly steep. Also, to do a bunny hop, I'd have to pull up on the bars a lot more than what I'm attempting currently and I feel I'd flip backwards. I think speed is the key. Thankfully the obstacle is somewhat at the start of the climb. I'll try to take it with a higher gear and maybe even standing at first to keep momentum. I'm not great at standing and going up hill either. Haha!
Thanks again for the help.
Haha... ended up back on this video and I can report back, more speed is all I need. I just needed to be more trusting that the wheels will roll over the rocks, which it does, especially with a light pull on the bar.
Especially liked all the visuals instead of just talking.
Thank you! Doing my best to demonstrate everything as best as I can.
Great video subscribed today !
Awesome, thanks for watching (and subscribing)!
GREAT explanation! How will a full squish bike do with this technique , since the rear shock will compress under load moving the bike downward?
It will still work, although you may have to make some adjustments to your specific body position (likely a little further back) based on the style of the suspension. But this will absolutely work on a full suspension bike.
Tenks for info mr biker🙏🤗
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
awesome vid. thanks
You make that little sideways crab walk look so easy. I tried today 🤣. I got to go way more basic first I guess.
That one definitely took a little while to master, but once you’ve got it, it’s locked in. I did another video about wheel placement that goes a bit deeper on the skill, too!
@@SuperRiderTV you trials riders are something else. I can’t even fathom having the amount of balance and control of a bike like you do 🤣 looks like a blast though.
I see a difference in your technique when approaching small obstacles vs big ones. When it's small, you just unweight your back wheel and that's enough. But when it's a big one, you are clearly pushing the bike forward as well as unweighting and scooping your pedals, and it's seems that the pushing is what's actually bringing the back of the bike up
Spot on, I may need to make a second video to dig a little deeper into the higher obstacle adjustments to the technique.
Can you recommend a mtb that’ll be more easily maneuverable for these technical skills? I imagine a 27.5 would be easier than a 29 but I’m also eager to learn manuals and endo 180s etc but on a mtb. I’m 6’1” if it matters
'NS Bikes' do a jump bike almost identical to his bike, you can buy a hangar and have gears too! I ride one and do street trials also, however its 26" wheel size.
Thanks for your great content, I'm back at MTB riding at almost 40yrs old and I'm going through all the basics with your videos ! I clear a 20cm ledge with just a light unload of the back wheel, but if I put more intensity in the movement (for a higher obstacle) I loose contact with the pedals during the push/unload. I start on the front of the feet and land on the heel which is pretty scary for my shins... it's in the back of my head and holds me back. If I try to grab the pedal by rotating my feet, I stay centered on he bike, it prevents me from going behind the saddle for the push. Any advice ? Maybe it's normal to slightly jump off the pedal during the movement ? Maybe I've just got to "jump" higher for the unload ? Thanks !
Awesome to hear that you're back at it! My feet sometimes do the same thing, and I've been working on this a lot lately. One trick that helps me with that issue is really focusing my attention to my back pedal and what my foot is doing there. The pedal scoop can help keep your feet glued to the pedals, but when you're overexaggerating the move to get the most out of it, sometimes the feet slip a bit. Just know that as you improve, your movements will get more efficient and this will be less of an issue. In the meantime, you could always wear shin guards like a Trials rider...I still do from time to time!
@@SuperRiderTV Hey thanks for taking time to answer. I will keep working on it with my soccer shin guards !!! I realise that I come on the obstacle with my weak foot on the front (like for the drop explained in your other video). I think my grabbing motion can be better if I switch my feet.
@@sepultubob Awesome! Practice makes progress. Exciting times ahead!
@@SuperRiderTV Maybe it can help someone, I was trying to rotate both ankles which was almost impossible. Now I just rotate my back pedal ankle, and with the arms push it create enough tension to make the bike travel without moving under me feet !
Hi! I know this is different, I would like to know if you have tried this and climb some obstacles with a road Bike? I would like to use it for city roads. Evade some things
Hmm, I haven't done anything like that....BUT....check out "road bike party" - there's plenty of interesting stuff you can do with a road bike. :)
I would love to see a live stream debate about the pedal scoop. You VS Jeff Kendall Weed and Ali Clarkson VS Lee McCormack.
Oh, I didn’t realize there was a difference in opinion on the pedal scoop? Guessing Ali and I would be pretty close in our mindset - I think we both learned the technique from the same rider! :)
Nothing to debate. Ali is always right.
I think this is where instruction is hard to communicate to (relatively) new learners (like me). Since you can throw a bike into a bunnyhop motion with just a lifting and thrusting arm motion, some people say the foot scoop is less important than the shoving arm motion in a hopping rear wheel lift. But I feel it's a mixed up recipe of all those complicated moves, perfectly timed with the rider unweighting himself at the apex. I'm still working on that critical part of me jumping out of the bike's way.
@@sapinva 😆
@@SuperRiderTVyep JKW made 2 videos critical of pedal scoop theory. ua-cam.com/video/U7MsXVlo1H8/v-deo.html
I see you are riding hard-tail. Any difference in the technique if you were riding full suspension?
Not really - same basic technique no matter which bike...although your approach to unweighting will have to take the suspension into account.
My first time ever on a trail had a tree across the path. I picked the bike up and carried it over. This happened about two more times. Guess it was supposed to be there and I was supposed to ride over it 😮
what size is your chameleon? i have a 2019 alloy. 29er size L i'm 6foot 1
I'm riding a medium frame (5'11") with 27.5 wheels. I think I might actually fit better on a size Large frame, but I found this bike on PinkBike a few years back and couldn't pass it up.
Awesome
Have fun!
have never heard of Pedal Scoop. Its always been Unweighting the bike. i understand what is meant as the process and what is communicated in this video, why change the term though?
Pedal scoop
Unweighting and pedal scoop are two different things - but in combination they can make a huge difference with the height of your back wheel lift. The pedal scoop is only what you're doing with that back pedal (down/back/up motion) to guide the rear wheel up.
That´s easier when you have a 27,5 instead of a 29er, correct?
I think it sort of depends? I feel like the larger wheels eat up obstacles easier in most cases, but I suppose if it was high enough, it could get more difficult, too.
This technique it wrong foot forward to get over obstacles. After you learning this you can add jumps with the same technique .
first
🔥🔥
Can you pls use a full suspension bike so we can see how it goes🤙🙏
Absolutely!