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Steamrollers are perhaps the easiest rolling trick to learn how to do. Not only are
they easy to learn but there are some tricks that are fairly easy to link into and out of
steamrollers. Riders may want to know some of the basic balance skills (trackstands) before attempting this trick.
The Smoothie is the easiest way to ride out of this trick so
after learning to ride in and out you will want to know how to do a smoothie to ride out.
In the end you can take steamrollers to Funky Chickens as
well as E-Squeaks. It is also possible to do switch-handed
steamrollers as well as fire hydrants into spastic
steamrollers (tight circles). Switches and jumps into and out of different steamrollers,
especially cross-handed variations are becoming more popular in 1999 in the expert and pro
ranks!
- Begin by rolling at a medium speed. Your left foot will be on the left front peg and
your right foot will be on the left rear peg. Your hands will be on the grips as they
usually are.
- Push the frame around to the right. As with Hang-5's and Whiplashes it is important that you learn how to kick the frame
around correctly...
- Turn slightly to the right and then as you quickly turn to the left throw your upper
body forward while PULLING your left foot backward. This is the foot that is on the front
peg. If you PULL the peg under you as your upper body goes forward you will pivot at the
hips and get the back end of the bike up. If you just throw your weight forward then the
back end of the bike will stay firmly planted on the ground!
- As soon as the back wheel comes off the ground you should push the frame around to the
right with your right foot on the back peg. DON'T KICK IT! It should be a smooth gentle
motion that propels the frame around.
- As the seat passes your right grip take your right hand off of the grip and grab the
seat. This is probably the most difficult part of the trick. You will want to make sure
that you are leaned forward enough that your right foot doesn't touch the ground... But if
you lean to far forward then you will go over the bars. Be prepared to go over the bars a
few times before you learn this trick!
- You can hold EITHER the nose of the seat OR the rear of the seat. It is recommended that
you grab the rear of the seat.
- Continue to hold the rear of the seat as you roll forward. At NO point do you ever hit
your brakes. As well you NEVER let the rear tire touch the ground. You just roll forward
on the front wheel holding the back end of the bike out in front of you.
- NOTE: You can (and probably should) learn the balance of steamrollers without riding
into or out of them. Just grab the seat and push yourself along like a skateboard until
you are comfortable with balancing the trick!
- To ride out, lean forward slightly and put the back wheel on the ground. As soon as the
back wheel is down, or as you get better, whenever you want, take your right hand off the
seat and put it back on the grip.
- Let the bike continue to roll forward as the back end of the bike goes to the right and smoothies underneath of you.
- Step to the pedals and ride away!
This is a pretty detailed explanation of what is usually one of the first rolling
tricks that people learn. As soon as you have learned this trick and funky chickens you
should try to link them together. Also it is fun to try different ways to ride out. If you
are JUST learning to kick the bike around try to learn the trick while standing on either
side of the bike and with either hand catching the seat. This is a good trick for a
beginner contest... but is still seen quite often in one of its many variations in the pro
class!
If you have a question about this trick please feel free to