Learning BMX, week 5

Getting Air....take 2

After thinking I got a little bit of air out the miniramp at corby I went to Bay66 and realised I was still terrified and not really doing it right. I've got to a nice point in the skatepark now where some people know who I am and are friendly and encouraging and understand what I'm trying to do and give tips and advice. I was still struggling and got frustrated.

Mongoose fixed me up a little meeting with my new teamie, James Ivett. I was a bit like "woah, I'm gonna have to ride in front of a proper rider" But when he turned up with a big grin and even bigger high-5 I was chilled. James is very cool, fun and funny and took me away from the little quarter to the big section of the bowl "yeah, its scarier, but it's easier" He gave me some tips, and, keen to reward my new tutor I tried to absorb what he said and put it into action. When I head little "yay"'s coming from the boys on either side of the bowl I knew I was getting it. I grinned whilst I was riding. Here's what he said:

- don't jump with both wheels at the same time, it's like a vertical bunny hop, front then back
- don't jump too early, wait to feel the bump of the coping with your front wheel and bounce off it
- don't jump too late or you'll travel forward onto the deck and that's when bad things happen
- Muscle memory will eventually kick in so you won't have to think of these things in the future

Here's what I thought of myself:

- if I did it about twice in a row I would suddenly remember what I was doing, panic and put my foot down the next time
- I looked at the coping to make sure my front wheel went over it, and as soon as it did, turned my head back down looking at the ramp. That meant I didn't see how high (or in my case not high) I went. This is weird, it's good because you don't get to be scared but it's strange because you don't feel that you go in the air so you have to rely on people telling you.
- Once I'd had a few good and bad go's I didn't want anyone giving me more advice, I just wanted to be left alone to practice

Skills and stunts course

Somewhere in the South of London we (Ana Nichoola) were asked to do a skills and stunts course using some ramps. It sounded like fun, so of course we said yes. It turned out to be one of the least fun things I have ever done!
Arranging the tranpost of these massive ramps was a 2-day palaver, resulting in paying two dodgy geezers with a van, who insisted on 2 hours pay despite making me half an hour late. Once the ramps had arrived and were set up, me and 2 other Ana Nichoola instructors started the session just as the heavens opened. The kids were told not to use the ramps. They disobeyed. The youth worker who was supposed to be controlling the behaviour of the kids whilst we taught thought this was fine. One kid slipped off the ramp and badly grazed his knee and elbow. I thought that would prove my point- that the ramps were too slippy, but was told to f*** off!
Eventually the bahviour got so bad that we had to turn the ramps upside down and ban the kids. We were called all the names under the sun, Ed was even called a f***ing p***y by a cute looking 7 year old girl!

There must have been around £500 spent on that event, specifically asked for by the kids. They showed absolutely no gratitude for it. I work in a different primary school every week in and around London, NEVER have I had to deal with such rude, spoilt brats! Its unbelievable that they are allowed to continue with that behaviour and still have events put on for them every single day in half term.

...However, if you are looking for a skills course in your area, and have/allow a discipline structure then please get in touch :-)

BMX day 1

On Wednesday I took my first trip to the skate park. Deke and I finished work early, so I grabbed my bro's BMX and asked Deke for a lesson.
The experience got me buzzing!
First I was practising manuals and american bunny hops. I was getting there towards the end, holding a manual for a couple of metres and hopping 2-3 inches, well, you gotta start somewhere! Next I went to the top of a baby ramp, and Deke (now my coach) talked me through how to drop-in. The ramp was about a metre high, but I was still terrified. I went for it...and slid my front wheel and jumped over the handle bars and landed on my hands and knees! Undeterred I gave it another go. On my third attempt I rode down and away without falling.

After a 2 hour session i could ride up the middle ramp and drop-in without stopping and was just about mastering a fakie!

It has been a long time since any type of cycling has got me so excited! I took up surfing when cycling just wasnt doing it for me anymore. But since Wednesday I have decided to stick at the BMXing. I simply loved it! I love practicing something over and over, and the satisfaction of noticing a small improvement. I love being scared and conquering The Fear. I love falling off and getting back on and I love the chronic aching in my arms and back from using new muscles!

After my little BMX session I spent the next two days bouncing off the walls. Its so good to get that feeling from just going down the road. From now on, if I need an adrenoline fix I no longer have to drive an hour to the sea, hope that other people are there, wait for waves and drive back again. Not that Im going to stop doing that, its just that I wont have adrenoline withdrawl sypmtoms and lows!

So now Im on the look-out for a light BMX.