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BMX General => BMX Chat => Topic started by: Trev on April 02, 2008, 11:12 AM

Title: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: Trev on April 02, 2008, 11:12 AM
I was just having a chat with Nick (Gashead) about my riding and how often i get to go out on my bike.

i've now been back into riding about 18 months. in that time i would ride maybe once a week. usually charlton on a wednesday. if it was dry and i wasn't too tired on a sunday morning, i might have occasionally gone to Rom. In that 18 months I have only learnt a few new tricks. things were going very slowly. too slowly for my liking. i was always finding an excuse not to ride more than just charlton & rom. whether it be going out to the pub or just tiredness.

anyway, over the last month or so, i've had leave to burn, so been up Corby a few times. We've also had a few sessions at Creation and more recently me & Rarman have been going up to Skaterham once a week.  getting all this extra riding in has made a huge difference. i am now getting my fitness levels up. no longer do i feel really knackered after riding and feel fine the day after. i'm getting more and more comfortable on a bike again. i've started hitting ramps just holding the grips and not having my fingers hoverring over the brake levers. all of a sudden things are starting to fall into place. in the last week or so, i've gone from landing on top of the jump box to getting my front wheel clear. a couple of weeks and i reckon i might start clearing it. i went over the spine at skaterham. something that i've bottled ever since i got back into riding. and last week i even managed to pop out of the vert ramp at skaterham. i probably achieved as much in the last couple of weeks as i have done in the 12 months prior to that.

now i'm at the stage where i'm really enjoying being on a bike. sure i was enjoying it before, but i'd be at charlton on a wednesday and enjoying it and looking forward to riding there again the following week. now after riding somewhere, i want to ride again the next day. putting the hours in is starting to pay off.

so to everyone else who like me, have been struggling this time round, stick with it. it will come good in the end. as long as you get some riding hours under your belt, you'll be fine. the key is riding constantly. i was finding everytime i got on a bike, i was near enough starting from scratch and it would take a good hour to get back to where i was the last time i rode.  now days it doesn't take as long.

So stick with it. Get on your bike as much as you can, even if it is just riding around the block and you'll get there in the end. I hope I do.

Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: evamedia on April 02, 2008, 11:16 AM
Good news Trev.

Time in the saddle, time in the saddle, it's the only way you can progress.
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: SaMAlex on April 02, 2008, 11:16 AM
Nice one Trev. Really cool  :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: jimwise68 on April 02, 2008, 11:21 AM
Nice one Trev.

The hardest part is not the riding it is finding the time to do the riding.
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: Trev on April 02, 2008, 11:34 AM
Nice one Trev.

The hardest part is not the riding it is finding the time to do the riding.

Tell you what Jim, I used to struggle to find the time to ride. But now i'm finding it more comfortable to ride, it's amazing how much easier it is to find the time. I think everyone could find the time if they really wanted to.
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: jimwise68 on April 02, 2008, 11:38 AM
That's very true Trev.

that is what i found. My confidence went when i broke my hand. Then it seemed everytime i rode afterwards i was getting worse and worse. So decided to jack it in and take up the racing. Still miss the ramps and the fun though. But know I'm never gonna be as good as i would like to be.


Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: pickle on April 02, 2008, 11:40 AM
nice one Trev!  i think you and Rob riding together is a great idea  :daumenhoch:  i also think Robs riding has improved 100%

i'll be honest......i find it so hard to juggle my riding between, Kids, The Mrs getting the hump, not having ANYWHERE at home to store my bike, work and generally feeling fooked!  
i also need about an hour before i feel happy enough to be anywhere near as confident as i did the last time i rode............and last time we rode Creation i got so down about it on the night that i thought i will never get any better the way i'm going, the odd session once a month if i'm lucky is just not good enough!  but i simply cannot fit any other riding in due to the above reasons.........i felt so low about my riding that i did actually think of jacking it all in! THE only thing that stopped me was the fact that my Mrs bought me the Proper frame for Xmas, so out of shere kindness i couldn't sell it  :-\

i'm obviously glad i didn't sell up as i love BMX and even if my riding is Cr@p i will still try to get better even if i can only ride a couple of times a month.

Hats off to ya though mate  :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: SaMAlex on April 02, 2008, 11:45 AM
i'll be honest......i find it so hard to juggle my riding between, Kids, The Mrs, work.
once a month if i'm lucky, i simply cannot fit any other riding in due to the above reasons


I Heard that! I havent touched my bike since the last RAD session at Creation .... in February!  :tickedoff:

Oh well, almost Summer, and I wont have to drive hours to indoor parks to get to ride a bit. Evening sessions - ON
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: Trev on April 02, 2008, 11:47 AM
wife and kids huh.... they're taking too many good men down.

Rob, you know TwoBob has invited you many times to Charlton. I'm sure you could manage that once a week or even once a fortnight.  Surely your missus can't deny you that. She even bought you a £220 frame....<cough> i mean a £60 frame ;)
You need to tell her that she got you such a great Xmas present, it would be a shame not to be able to use it.

Jim, I'm sure TwoBob wouldn't mind you riding at Charlton too. It's the perfect environment to build up your confidence again. it has helped me no end over the last 12-18 months.
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: pickle on April 02, 2008, 11:47 AM
 :LolLolLolLol:  Alex the slight diference being your riding is The Dogs!  where as mine resembles the stuff Dogs leave behind  :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: pickle on April 02, 2008, 11:51 AM
wife and kids huh.... they're taking too many good men down.

Rob, you know TwoBob has invited you many times to Charlton. I'm sure you could manage that once a week or even once a fortnight.  Surely your missus can't deny you that. She even bought you a £220 frame....<cough> i mean a £60 frame ;)
You need to tell her that she got you such a great Xmas present, it would be a shame not to be able to use it.

Jim, I'm sure TwoBob wouldn't mind you riding at Charlton too. It's the perfect environment to build up your confidence again. it has helped me no end over the last 12-18 months.

I hear what your saying Trev, i really do..........but (and i know it's the same old but) we only have one car now, we get home from work about 5 to 5:30, it's then an hours drive to Charlton in rush hour on the M25 (sorry it may not be rush hour, remind me again what time you start?) but i have to admit the prospect of doing that drive really puts me off doing it.....and yes with an attitude like that i'm never going to get better i know! 

I'm going to be bringing the Proclaimer home every other weekend and ride the local park with my lad and his mates, so hopefully that will help me a little.....that's if i can ride after the kids have stopped asking me if i can backflip or tailwhip!   :LolLolLolLol:
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: jimwise68 on April 02, 2008, 11:54 AM
Jim, I'm sure TwoBob wouldn't mind you riding at Charlton too. It's the perfect environment to build up your confidence again. it has helped me no end over the last 12-18 months.

Rob has already said that to me. But i have no bike anymore for one and I am in exactly the same boat as Rob (Pickle) except the kids and the missus. Just really fooked when i get in from work and was also really down about how bad my riding was. The last time i "rode" at Legacy i hardly rode at all.

Gonna be heading down to Braintree track this week though to dust the cobwebs off and also to take the Floval for a blast. Ineed the race practice more than the ramp practice  :LolLolLolLol:
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: superbikedan on April 02, 2008, 11:57 AM
so you ready for your challenge again ;D

(http://www.radbmx.co.uk/archive/albums/aa37/billybmxpurcell/PotNoodle-ChowMeinFlavour.jpg)
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: Trev on April 02, 2008, 11:58 AM
I hear what your saying Trev, i really do..........but (and i know it's the same old but) we only have one car now, we get home from work about 5 to 5:30, it's then an hours drive to Charlton in rush hour on the M25 (sorry it may not be rush hour, remind me again what time you start?) but i have to admit the prospect of doing that drive really puts me off doing it.....and yes with an attitude like that i'm never going to get better i know! 

People usually get there around 7.30-8pm. So you have plenty of time to get there. You should at least try it once to see what the journey is like. If it really is a nightmare, then fair enough. But leaving at 7, it shouldn't be too bad.

Also, with an "attitude like that", I think TwoBob is gonna have to have words here....  ;D
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: pickle on April 02, 2008, 12:03 PM
as of next weekend i will be riding my local park every other weekend with my lad and his mates..........so i should start to improve a little bit more........like you say i should at least try the journey and see how bad it really is??  but doesn't Charlton just have the two quarters at each end with a spine in the middle?  if so i don't think i could ride that anyways!!   :shocked:
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: Trev on April 02, 2008, 12:06 PM
but doesn't Charlton just have the two quarters at each end with a spine in the middle?  if so i don't think i could ride that anyways!!   :shocked:

i think uncle TwoBob is going to have some serious words with you....
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: pickle on April 02, 2008, 12:11 PM
but doesn't Charlton just have the two quarters at each end with a spine in the middle?  if so i don't think i could ride that anyways!!   :shocked:

i think uncle TwoBob is going to have some serious words with you....

 :LolLolLolLol: :LolLolLolLol:  and he's one scary fooking Uncle i tell ya!  you got the post code or map to this secret place? pm me with it so i can see where it is mate  :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: evamedia on April 02, 2008, 12:12 PM
You'd have to, it's got an 8ft section that's a bit smaller to get over the middle.

Jumping spines/volcano's is a bit of a bitch to start with, more mental than anything. Just jump it to flat for the first few times
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: pickle on April 02, 2008, 12:16 PM
Trev, i just looked on the old Goolgemap thingy to see where Charlton is...........and i think i'd rather drag my genitals across barbed wire than do that drive!  looks like i'd have to use both the M25 and the south circular!

that's part of the whole problem, from where i live in Hertfordshire you HAVE to use the M25 to get to either Skaterham or Charlton.......either way, for Charlton you have to go over that poxy bridge! or for Skaterham i'd have to go the other wat round past Heathrow........and it begs the question....why the fook would you actually want to drive through that!!  :LolLolLolLol:

but PM me the addy and i'll have a butchers
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: Sean 2000 on April 02, 2008, 12:20 PM
Rob
North Circular>A13>Blackwall Tunnel and 2bobs ya uncle. Its just the other side of the tunnel mate.

I dont know, excuses excuses eh!

The "R"  :daumenhoch:
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: spicybob on April 02, 2008, 01:07 PM
Trev

You riding Charlton tonight?

See you ride that spine at Skaterham so the Charlton Volcano should no longer be a problem.
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: Trev on April 02, 2008, 01:10 PM
Trev

You riding Charlton tonight?

See you ride that spine at Skaterham so the Charlton Volcano should no longer be a problem.

I would like to if I can get a lift. I am so desperate to try the volcano (and even possibly, dare i say it,  the spine)
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: spicybob on April 02, 2008, 02:35 PM
If you try the spine then Im gonna try it.
MIght just have a session getting my confidence back on the volcano.
I can only fit me a spencer in my car otherwise you would be welcome to a lift
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: priv on April 02, 2008, 02:38 PM
nice work men :daumenhoch:


priv
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: QUADROPHENIA on April 02, 2008, 02:49 PM


i ride every 4 - 5 weeks and thats way to regular for me
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: lodge on April 02, 2008, 02:58 PM
Good on ya Trev.

Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: zed4130 on April 02, 2008, 03:09 PM
thats great trev, im going to try and ride more this year, its hard with the kids and me and angie working opposite each other, but im well up for it this year, i need the get the general out  :LolLolLolLol: plus its hard down here with not many riders , but im going to work on my manuels and kick turns  :daumenhoch: keep it up trev  :4_17_5:
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: southern andy on April 02, 2008, 05:55 PM
I wish i could get back to riding again.  :'( :'( :'( :'(


Took my Mountain bike out in the New Forest last weekend, its the first time i had ridden a bike since the break and dislocation and i took it very slowly and i mean slowly.
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: welsh denny on April 02, 2008, 07:20 PM
i've only ridden once since november. :shocked:
just can't be arsed riding indoors in wales in the winter- packed with skaters, ramp riders and as i only ride flat nowadays i ain't gonna have the room to ride properly.
knee gives me more jip than usual during the winter so i hibernate. hopefully its the start of the summer coming so i can start riding my mtb to work to build up my knee strength and start riding a few times a week. always end up doing more pics than riding though. plus i  can't seem to ride on my own in a car park no more- did about 15 years of that already. seems many are setting their personal goals so mine is a triple decade. still got to get used to the suelo which although the headangle is steeper and seems fine to ride the toptube is quarter of a an inch shorter which on a flat bike does make a difference.
good luck to all on their goals for 08. ;)
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: subversion on April 02, 2008, 10:22 PM
I think most of us wish we could ride more! I know I do! good on yer Trev for putting in the effort mate, as Dave Mirra once said "you don't get good sittin' around thinking about it!" From what I've seen of the RAD guys I've ridden with so far we are all improving :daumenhoch: here's to the 08 >:D
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: TwoBobRob on April 02, 2008, 10:59 PM
 :knuppel2: :knuppel2: :knuppel2: :knuppel2: :knuppel2:


Look chaps, if you want to ride - really ride - then you've got to get out and do it.  I've seen Paul Meacher turn up at Skaterham at 10pm nearly, just so he can get half hour in. Hell, I've done it myself on occasion.  Charlton sessions run into the late hours, I'm never there before 8.30pm but often there at 11.30 or later.  If the journey is a problem then accept you're getting there late, you're riding late and you're going to work knackered the following day. That's the lifestyle chaps...

When I'm riding, I ride three venues each week (or at least I try to), just to keep what few tricks I've got. It's a hard slog really, but the rewards are high as Trev is finding out now   :daumenhoch:

I fully accept and understand how life can get in the way. Especially if you're a family type. All I can say is that a little balance is in order I reckon  ;)

Make a decision.  Ride for fun and bugger learning any tricks  (nowt wrong with that), or make a committment and make it happen...

Trev - buy a car for fooks sake. You're not broke, you have no excuse. £500 worth of old fiesta, 3rd party only insurance. Job done.

Pickle - Hertfordshire?  It's not a bad trip round to Charlton. As Sean says, its literally just through the Blackwall Tunnel.

Summers coming fellas, now's the time to step up, before you know it it'll be the RAD xmas doo again and you'll want to have a new trick or two for that surely?   ;) :)






Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: Trev on April 03, 2008, 12:35 AM
Well said Rob.  :daumenhoch:

I went to Charlton tonight.  Got a lift of one of your old riding buddies who rode at your halfpipe in the 90s - Evamedia. Cheers mate.  :daumenhoch:


Didn't quite get the bottle to go for the spine yet, but done the volcano a lot more than i usually do and did it quite early in the session too, rather than poncing around for ages before getting the bottle to do it.  Despite it looking like i wasn't going to even try it, i was a lot closer to doing it than what the others thought. but that doesn't count for anything does it... i'm sure it's not far away though.

Anyway, Skaterham tomorrow...  ;)
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: TwoBobRob on April 03, 2008, 12:51 AM
Cool   :daumenhoch:

Once you're riding the volcano just as part of your run without really thinking about it, then thats the night you'll go over the spine.  In the meantime, I'd like to see you go over the volcano to pegstall, then a good pump and back over the volcano. From there it's tyretaps, disasters and maybe a grind. You've got tha makings of a decent run from that.

All well within your reach   ;)

Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: Trev on April 03, 2008, 01:01 AM
not quite got to the "not thinking about it" stage yet. still clunked the back wheel on the top the majority of times. i'm sure they will get smoother with time. i know in my mind i'm progressing with it, so another couple of sessions i think.

if i get a chance on the spine tomorrow at skaterham, i may try and get to charlton on friday (train if i have to) and have another bash.
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: evamedia on April 03, 2008, 09:16 AM
Trev, they were getting smoother as the night went on.

Maybe more riding and less bunnying ;)

Thanks for sorting out the frame, and the invite to ride, good session, good bunch.
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: zed4130 on April 03, 2008, 09:26 AM
 :LolLolLolLol:  there all a long way from dorset, and not too put a downer on it, as i really try to get out as much as i can, but being a family type does change things alot, for me personaly, i realy on the weather, as no indoor parks, plus with me and my partner working opposite each other and got the 2 babys in between , makes it very hard to get out, ive not been on my bmx for about 2 months, im out on sunday morning, but typicla we have a 18 party to go to in the afternoon  :-\ there is always something, not escuses but life, it would be great to be 13 again and just ride every day, christ there wasnt nothing i couldnt do bitd, but now i struggle, but i still love bmx as much as always, im speaking for the family guys, if i had no kids, i would live and eat bmx  :daumenhoch: but then i wouldnt trade my kids for that,  ;)
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: evamedia on April 03, 2008, 09:38 AM
I've got 2 special needs children, but fortunately my missus doesn't work.

She goes out on the razz a couple of nights a week, I go out on my bike a couple of times.

I didn't ride for 8 years because I thought I didn't have the time, seem to have found it now.
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: zed4130 on April 03, 2008, 09:44 AM
I've got 2 special needs children, but fortunately my missus doesn't work.

She goes out on the razz a couple of nights a week, I go out on my bike a couple of times.

I didn't ride for 8 years because I thought I didn't have the time, seem to have found it now.

not easy mate, i know, but we both work and do alot of juggling, i think it doesnt help down here being abit alone, ive nearly gave it up many times, plus the arthritis problem i have, i do get angelas sister to have them now and then, but you cant ask all the time  :-\
Title: Re: Stepping it up a gear...
Post by: DML on April 03, 2008, 06:51 PM
Well done Trev i can't wait until corby on 24th i wanna see you 360ing the jump box !!!!!!!!
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