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This might seem like a dumb question, but I watch all these videos of mtbers on platforms, at least they look like platforms, going DH and jumping but always keeping their feet on the pedals. I have been wearing clipless from almost the beginning but I haven’t been on a bike in a few years and so far out of shape that I’m basically starting over from the beginning.
I have been viewing videos about mtb skills and many use platforms and state the best way to learn how to jump and lift your bike is without clipless so you don’t cheat but actually do it correctly.
Well I just purchased my first pair of platforms CB 5050 so I can practice lifting the back end up for bunny hops, but I’m having a hard time keeping my feet on the pedals after I unload.
Is there a little trick, is it because I’m used to cheating with clipless, or is it just practice? The first time I tried jumping with the platforms I almost ate it because during the landing my feet slid alittle on the pedals. Boy was that a surprise, I’m so used to the clipless holding my feet in place.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. -
Is there a little trick, is it because I’m used to cheating with clipless, or is it just practice? The first time I tried jumping with the flatforms I also ate it because during the landing my feet slid on them
Sounds like you have learned alot already dude,ahahahahaa.I use to do that all the time on my bmx bike learning newer,bigger,better tricks and jumps.I still ride platforms to this day and love em to death.My shins have taken a beating from my feet slipping off platforms over the years and the front of the shin bones have alot of dents in them,hahahahaahaha.
Your right about practicing,keep riding em and you’ll learn to keep your feet on the platforms.
With platforms,your body needs to follow the bike whereas clippless the bike is attached to you so the bike follows you.You are already learning how your feet came off the pedals,dont let that happen and your feet will stay on the pedals.Short answer but I gotta go for now,be back later……………………………. -
Well I just purchased my first pair of platforms CB 5050 so I can practice lifting the back end up for bunny hops, but I’m having a hard time keeping my feet on the pedals after I unload.
When you unload off your feet with platforms,you need to pull up on the handle bars as well.It’s going to feel pretty goofy at first when you figure out that you dont just pull up,but you need to grip your handle bars with your wrist in a lowered position in order to twist forward on the grips.This will help get your back wheel up in the air as well.One thing to remember,once you unload off the pedals,your body weight and the bike may look like one,but they each have there own path through the air.That’s most likely where your feet are coming off the pedals,you need to use your imagination that your feet never leave the pedals even when there is no preasure to keep them on the pedals.couple of hints here to help with that imagination,dont let your knees come apart.Imagine your knees stay right in place and dont move apart from each other,OR get forward or backward of each other,this will really help keep your feet on the pedals.And this is where the imagination part really comes in,it’s hard to get a feel for it but imagine where the bike is going and make sure when you unload from springing up from the pedals where the bike is going and focus your body in following the same flight path,I mean,wether or not you bunny hop high or low,your feet still do not leave the pedals.Put a broom stick on the ground and practice bunny hopping the stick and keeping your feet on the pedals.It really doesnt matter at first how high your bunny hopping you really just want your feet to follow and stay on the pedals.That my freind,is what riding platforms is all about.hahahahahaahaha.
Try this to get a feel for the handle bar thing.Stand over your bike with your feet on the ground and your hands on the grips and your seat just behind your butt.It’ll be hard to just hold the bike up AND twist on the grips so it’ll be more like a quick lift up and back down,and wont be really all that high off the ground,just get a feel for it.You can even hold the front brake and practice twisting forward on your grips to get the back wheel off the ground.This is really just to get a feel for it so it’s a little easier when you actually do it when bunny hopping.Now,practice lifting up your bike.At first,only the front end should come off the ground.Now,try lifting the bike up AND gripping kinda hard and twisting forward on the grips,remember to start with your wrists lowered a little bit to take up the slack in your grip.The back wheel should come off the ground as well,if not keep practicing,it takes a little to get the feel of it.When you get a good grip for that and can pick your bike up with both wheels off the ground,start focusing on doing the same thing right after you unload from your feet.It’ll take practice to get your timing down so that unloading from your feet and lifting up on the handle bars while twisting forward on the grips and keeping your feet on the pedals all happen in the blink of an eye and follow each other like a shadow.Get this down pretty good and let us know how its’s going,I would love to keep helping you with this bike skill,it’s one of my most favorite skills there is in riding.[url:2w23ybuf]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19zFlPah-o[/url:2w23ybuf]
Here is a link to a video if you havent seen it,very inspiring vid.I used to be able to do some cool ass bunny hopping and tricks when I was kid,not quite like ol’ Danny in the vid,but I had my own horizon. 😎
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i have same problem but I also found if you tilt your feet down towards the ground and kinda push str8 back with your legs it will keep your foot on the pedals, not sure if this is proper technique but it definately works when bunny hopping..
Man I love that video
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blackcomb – It’s not improper technique if it works. In fact it is quite similar to what Ryan Leach suggests. Although, he suggests smearing your foot instead of pushing straight back.
I agree it is mostly likely technique that causes problems with sticking. Pedal, shoe, foot combination can be a problem. My foot hates convex pedals like the 5050. I rode them for about three months. I ride with a guy who equally hates concave pedals. 5-10s have built a strong reputation for sticking like glue. If find Vans with the waffle board soles are spot on. Shoe pedal problems are most often exposed riding jittery, chattery sections and not when lifting the rear end. But, if your combination is way off it may be harder to find your technique.
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Hey i thought i would ask this here since ya’l arel already on the subject somewhat. My pedals (which are platform) are about worn out. My drive side is cracked while both sides are mising half their pins on each side of the pedals (not replaceable type of pins either). So now my shoes really dont have anything to grip a hold of and are sliding all over. Makes for a nervous ride going over those "jittery/chattery" sections especially when hitting 30+ on em. I’m starting to look around and was wondering if any of you know of a good set that i could for under 40 bucks. I am also kinda going for looks here to, so any type of black/gold (or white instead of gold) combo or blue/gold combo would do great.
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thanx man. i have looked at those azonic/oneal a-frames before and really like em. but i just dont see my self spending 72 $’s on a set of pedals and i read some bad reviews on the truvativ ones and how they dont really want to stay with the shoe. the other azonics were nice in terms of strength and grip, but i would like to get that certain look to you know what i mean.
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well that was gonna be my new project. new handle bars, new pedals, new stem. And with those three i was gonna try to match with the rest of the bike. I have white powder coated wheels and anodized gold BB cups and the frame is like an electric blue. I would like to stay within those colors, but for pedals it needs to be something that can take a hit and not change colors. I looked at the 420’s and they were nice, haven’t seen those yet, but maybe they’ll be at a lower cost on jenson or pricepoint. They typically are. But I know that you pay dearly for that stuff, that’s why its taking a long time for me to get it all. I shop for the lowest cost stuff. thanks again.
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"ChiliPepper" wrote
Yeah, here you go bro:
[color=blue:28hbjbl2]Azonic Fusion[/color:28hbjbl2]Those are the peddles I use. I like them. The pegs stick out pretty far so they are really grippy. Also available in white to help with your color scheme.
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"ChiliPepper" wrote
I second that one on the 5.10’s. I am a avid user of the Rennie High Impact 5.10’s and the standard black high impacts as well. I also second the Vans cjm mentioned as well. I have used both in my DH and FR competition days and now-a-days whenever I ride. Having pedals with a broad platform and a full array of removable pins for big feet like ours is a winner and helps a lot, especially using good soled shoes like the above mentioned.
On another note, I also agree with cjm on the technique thing, do what works bro. I basically do what Brian Leech recommends as our good man cjm noted. Are you still using the stock pedals Blackcomb?
yeah still on the flimsy wellgo’s but my platforms are on their way hoping they make things little easier as I have big feet lol
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Great thread. If the helmet laws DO lead to more dangerous alternatives, that should be visible in total mortality rates in bicycle riding.
But there are probably too few total deaths of high schoolers to show this, even if true.
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