How to speed jump!!!

Ok for my next HOW TO i will try and explain speed jumps over small rollers. I didnt have a stunt double so i had to perform this myself. Note iam wearing Pro Tec helmet and Thor gloves, Vans shoes.(shameless plug)




Step 1: The approach, in a race you aint going to want to slow down, you want to go through every obstacle like its not there! As fast and as smooth as you can. If your learning for fun then and to improve your skill level then just slow it all down.
I tell people in sessions "sometimes you have to slow down to go faster" strange but true, knock off a rev and you will be suprised, you end up going faster! That applies most of all when your learning a trick.
Approach at a medium/fast speed a few feet before the obstacle pull back on the bars to lift the front wheel up, i lean back on the bike to help this. I also cover my rear brake to stop it looping.



Step 2: Now we are getting there, the jump is nearly on us, i use my knees to soak up the bumps and although ive got a firm grip on the bars, i keep them relaxed. Keep looking at where you want to go.




Step 3: Now you have it, your on the jump compressing your weight to keep the bike low and fast. Dont lean to far back or you will flip over, also to far forward and you could end up OTB ( just like me last week OUCH)



Step 4: Ive cleared the jump keeping the wheels pretty tight to the ground, my weight is more towards the front of the bike.


Keep practising this move till you have it smooth as then you can learn to keep pedaling over things (just like Wozza) or manual down the backside (very impressive. If your really good then you can start to nose bonk stuff on the way over. Wear your pads keep practising and whatever your age or ability you cant beat the feel of a good speed jump.

Names and faces have been changed to protect the guilty...

How to do airs!

Hi well this is a short HOW TO on aerials. ASC pupil Jake Roberts (current national points leader and skater/freestyle rider) shows you how.

Jakes riding a pool with coping that isnt vert.Note he wears Helmet and protective gear at all times!!!

Step 1: When i was learning airs on quarter pipes and banks i basically did a 180 bunnyhop. Learn these before you progress any more.

Step 2: approach at a slow to medium speed and get a feel for the transistion. If its got coping, how sharp or mellow it is.One tip is to just carve or turn the bike 180 on the ramp (Brian Blyther used to do this so smooth) Then you can progress to a small 180 bunnyhop to turn.

Step 3: I always cover my brake in airs (in case you land back wheel up it can stop you flipping) As you gain confidence and go higher up the transistion you need to pull out less to complete the turn. Gravity will take care of that and your body position. Basically the higher you go the more weightless you become and the less you need to pull out of the ramp. Its a feel thing, when riding vert ramps you just float out and sometimes have to push the bike into the transistion to stop landing on the flat bottom. With some ramps that are not vert you may have to pull out to stop hanging on on the top.

Step 4: Gaining height, this is a matter of confidence, the more speed the more height. Dont just blast up though or it could end in a flat bottom TALE. Just progress slowly. Check out the sequence of Jake riding the bowl and turning just out of the coping. He is pulling his bike just enough to turn at the top of the air but not enough to land on the flat.Good man Jake!!!

Step 5: practice practice practice and always wear safety gear. When you have airs wired try them the opposite way or start doing variations. Airs are the key to some of the most fun you will ever have on a bmx bike!!

Check back soon for some race tips cheers Mike

down but not out..

Well i took a fall last night at the newly revamped Coppull track i was tired after a training session and wasnt going to ride,,, should have listened to the inner voice!? Thankfully i had my Giro lid on and full pads.I hit a jump wrong and landed like a sack of spuds!! So iam out of action for the immediate future with a suspected broken scaphoid.
Iam Gutted to say the least, i miss the euro champs and my home round of the national series in coppull next week. Still i aim to be back at the last round in Wales and the british champs in August.
At least now i will have more time to update my blog so keep checking back.
see ya Mike

Hiya all,

ive been racing the Peterborough bmx national over the weekend and here is a couple of pics that iam well proud of..report to follow

Mike

Preston track changes

Heres some pics i took this Monday morning of the recent changes to Preston bmx track, it look really good, its made the track fun for everyone. Well done to all involved it just needs some rain and the surface tamping in to make it really fast.

Hard at work

Well i was hard at work this weekend coaching an up and comer Jake Roberts in the art of airs, check later for some HOW TOs, cheers Mike

A land that time forgot

Heres some pics of a forgotten bmx track at a place called Bruntwood park near stockport. Its still got the start gate on there! Why it cant be turned into something special is beyond me theres defintely the scope to do it..check pics.

Its all action

Hiya sorry i havent been updating my blog lately been in training for the upcoming Peterboro bmx national.Meantime iam back on the case check these clips,Gnarly!!



I reckon he needs a good wash after that crash!!?



How fast does this guy get up???

Cold wet bmx

Hiya all who read,
i travelled to Bournemouth to set up Alansbmx.com/shimano dxr team area and unfortunately it got rained off. The first national since 1985!! It was damn wet on Sunday and Monday and i felt really sorry for the organisers. At least the Saturday night flat pedal racing got the spirits up with the elite guys proving there just as quick on clipless pedals.
Here's a pic of Charlotte Green (Alans team rider) summing up how we all felt on the day..
adios and talk soon Mike