Basic Trials Tricks

Front Wheel Pivot

To perform a front wheel pivot you will need to learn how to keep your front brakes locked while moving your rear wheel with your body. Landing is important is if the handle bars are perpendicular to the frame when you land the bike could slide under you. Turning the handlebars away from you when landing puts a stop to this and allows you to regain balance easily.

When the brake is locked, push your weight down on the bike to make sure you build momentum when popping the bike up. When you push down, lean forward and move the back of the bike up with your hips towards your landing spot. The hips are extremely powerful and they will help you get distance in your hop so that you can traverse from one object to the next easily.

Hopping In Place

When trying to keep your balance on things that are at an odd angle, many trial bikers use hopping.
Hopping in place helps you to keep your balance as your are essentially moving with your body when you lose your balance, but landing to correct your balance. The basics of hopping are locking both of your brakes and pressing down onto the bike to build tension. Once you raise up you will be able to lift the bike up and then absorb the landing.

Once you have mastered hopping in place, you can apply the same principles to moving up and down stairs or curbs. The easiest way to do this is to lead with your front wheel. Lift your front wheel up on to a step that you want to land on. Then while keeping your balance by hopping, lift your body in the direction you want to go while hopping. If you hop from the hips you will be able to create more drive in your movement. When you get your rear tire up to the same level as your front, you can continue to repeat the movement to climb the stairs.