GRASSHOPPERS & CRICKETS

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Wow- this is the only section of this list that two different tricks are listed together.  It probably has something to do with the fact that these two tricks are VERY similar in appearance and how they are done.

It helps to be able to do a pretty decent bunnyhop as well as be comfortable with pogos before attempting these, as well as being confident with doing endos.  Either one of these qualify as a REALLY cool looking trick!  When you get better you will be able to do either of them forever- and grasshoppers will be able to be rolled forever on the front wheel...  Down hill and such.

While grasshoppers are the easier of the two tricks in my opinion you should try BOTH ways just in case crickets end up being easier for you.  NOTE:  In the video Grasshoppers are presented first.

GRASSHOPPERS...

• Begin by rolling at a fairly slow pace standing on the rear pegs and holding the handlebars normally.
• Do a small endo- about one inch.  Do NOT hold the REAR brakes!
• As soon as your back wheel touches the ground release the front brakes and throw jump...
• JUMPING:  Do not jump straight up- Jump up so that you are trying to FLATTEN your body out... (lay it horizontal in the air.
• This is like doing a endo- without brakes.  So you have to throw your upper body forward very hard while kicking your heels up.  It's kind of like a bucking bronco.
• BUT- As with pogos do NOT jump off the pegs.  Use your feet to grip the side of the rear dropouts and to press against the pegs.
• This is the HARDEST part because it is totally new...  It may take several weeks to get used to keeping your feet on the pegs while lifting the back of the bike into the air.
• As you have kicked up into an endo you should grab your FRONT brakes before you hit the peak of your endo.
• This will send you back down onto the rear wheel to REPEAT the process....  Do it as many times as you can.
• To ride out- as soon as you hit the front brakes put one foot onto a pedal- when the rear wheel hits the ground begin to pedal forward and ride away.

VARIATIONS:  Instead of grabbing the front brakes HARD at the peak of one of your endos- Gently squeeze the brakes and try to roll backward on the front wheel.  While you are rolling take a foot off the rear peg and roll on one foot.

CRICKETS:

• Begin as you would for a grasshopper...
• When you land on the rear tire DO NOT let go of the front brakes.
• As you would for grasshoppers lift the back wheel into the air...  But here's the hard part...
• SNAP your body up hard enough so that the front wheel comes off the ground and put it under you so that you land in an endo...  This is kind of a cross between a bunnyhop and a pogo...  It is harder than either of them though.
• As you will land in a endo- the higher the endo the better!- just let the rear wheel fall to the ground and do it again.
• To ride out- as soon as you hit the front brakes put one foot onto a pedal- when the rear wheel hits the ground begin to pedal forward and ride away.

Another way to ride out is to go into pogos on the back wheel and ride out of them.

If you have a question about this trick please feel free to e-mail it in...