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Lateral jump over a gap

In situations where there isn't enough room for the rear wheel to face the gap or when it wouldn't be practical (on very slanted obstacles), you may have to launch a pedal hop sideways, either from a standing position or from a trackstand parallel to the gap.

Understanding the move

Loading up the pedal kick for a lateral impulse.

From a trackstand, crouch back and get ready for a jump impulse, load your driving pedal up with your strong foot about to kick. Before the pedal kick, lean sideways over the gap. This puts you off-balance and shifts your centre of gravity slightly over the gap to your advantage.

While performing the pedal kick, jump into a full extension sideways, thrusting your torso to face the gap, arms fully stretched to boost your jump with maximum tyre compression. Finish up the pedal kick by pulling the bike off the ground, transferring it to the other side. Pull on the handlebars across the gap.

During take-off, the bike naturally leans towards the gap, but then, you can pull it back beneath you. Correct the bike's tilt and guide the rear wheel so that it lands first. Upon landing, your momentum brings you back into balance, with the bike facing the edge.

Lock the rear brake and adjust your posture over the bike to damp the impact and secure your balance over the rear wheel. You land exactly as if you had launched a straight pedal hop, ready for your next move.

Click on any photo and use the scroll-wheel to animate the move.

Lateral jump over a gap

1° Align your wheels along the edge of the gap, and maintain a trackstand with your front wheel away from the gap.

2° Crouch back and load your driving pedal up with your strong foot, lean sideways with your hips over the gap.

3° Jump into a full extension sideways, swinging the handlebars and thrusting your torso to face the gap.

4° Finish up the pedal kick by pulling the bike off the ground, transferring it to the other side.

5° During take-off, the bike naturally leans towards the gap, but then, you can pull it back beneath you and correct the tilt .

6° Upon landing, your momentum brings you back into balance, with the bike facing the edge.

Biketrial video Watch this move in slow-motion

No need to balance over the rear wheel
This could be when you are riding too close to a rocky step to be able to turn on the rear wheel without bumping the tyre into a sidewall. If you can place the bike parallel to the gap, then you may as well start from there.

You can either launch a pedal hop sideways and land on the other side parallel to the gap, or initiate a rotation during the pedal kick and land as if you had started facing the gap on the back wheel.

At first, it is usually easier to cross a gap opposite your front foot side (that is, jumping over a gap on your left if you are right-foot and vice versa). This variation of the pedal hop is very convenient because you can often launch it from a trackstand without having to find your balance on the rear wheel, sometimes on awkward natural terrain.

Turning 90° to face a gap

An easy turn over narrow edges.

When riding along a narrow edge, you may want to position yourself on the rear wheel to face a gap. Rather than lift the front wheel straight in front of you and perform small hops on the rear wheel to turn progressively, it is safer to perform a small pedal kick to face the gap and land directly on your rear wheel, at 90° from your original position on that same edge.

How you should try

Pulling up the front wheel with a bar turn.

Initiate a rotation with your torso and push-up on the front wheel to swing the handlebars towards the gap. Most of the turn takes place during take-off, with the rear wheel still in contact with the ground.

After take-off, you only have to re-adjust the bike in line with your shoulders by swinging the handlebars in front of you. Turning 90 degrees guarantees you a stable landing with no hesitation as you face your next transition. It will be simpler to ride off the edge from that position.

Click on any photo and use the scroll-wheel to animate the move.

Turning 90° to face a gap

1° Initiate a rotation with your torso and push-up on the front wheel to swing the handlebars towards the gap.

2° Most of the turn takes place during take-off, with the rear wheel still in contact with the ground.

3° After take-off, re-adjust the bike in line with your shoulders by swinging the handlebars in front of you.

4° Land sharply over the rear wheel to stop the rotation and damp the impact to stabilize the bike in front of the gap.

Biketrial video Watch this move in slow-motion