Again with the Flatland

So we were doing really good with going out everyday for almost a week... but then that fell by the wayside later this past week, but we all got out again this Sunday. The Grrrlz actually started things off with a trip to the skatepark and I just slept in a bit... but then they came back to do some flatlanding and dragged me out to do some with them...



Not really sure what she's really trying to do here... but she's smiling... so, whatever...



The Grrrlz working on scuffing.





So I've been working on this spinning around thing - riding into this position and then spinning around on the front pegs so I'm coasting backwards... I just about had it a couple of times, but none of the times Amanda had the camera pointed my way.



an awesome picture of me not-quite-so-nailing it...






Amanda trying to balance (and pogo) on the rear pegs.



So I can sort of do something...



not sure what this is called... I should really learn some of the terminology... but it's a thing, right?



Teh Grrrlz trying something new.



Showing her how it's done.



nailed it... for a second or two at least...





Amanda trying some peg wheelies.



One more try at scuffing...



and then on our way home...

Flatland Fever Rages On...

Well what have we here…?

Yep, new bike.

I’m a big believer in “if you’re going to do something, you might as well have the right equipment…” and as The Girl is excited about flatlanding, I thought I’d see if I could find her an actual flatland BMX as the park-riding BMX she had was a little too unwieldy for the kinds of tricks she’s trying to do.

Out of the box.

I’m also going to point out I am usually a big believer in buying local and supporting local bike shops… but… Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a smallish-girl-sized flatland BMX!? There really aren’t many options. If fact, as far as I am aware, there is one - the Ares STN 16” and flatlandfuel.com was about to hook me up with one…

I have to say, if you're into flatland and the buying online sort - or need a part or bike that you just cannot pick up locally - I had absolutely fabulous service from Flatland Fuel - from speedy responses to emailed questions to having my order packaged and shipped the same day I placed it! I would highly recommend checking them out. 

On the stand.

Packing stuff off – Oh yeah, it’s purple. The Girl’s favourite colour. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a PURPLE smallish-girl-sized flatland BMX!? Never mind, we’ve been through this…

The Girl had been down the street at Grandma’s when the bike arrived, but she gothome while I was still adjusting it and insisted on “helping out”

Assembled, adjusted, and ready to go!

As with pretty much every BMX (ever!) the hubs and bottom bracket were cranked super tight at the factory – but with a little adjustment they spun freely. I swapped out the freewheel – because I had a few kicking around and the one I put on I actually have a freewheel removal tool for – the one that came on the bike I was able to get off without the proper removal tool because it hadn’t been cranked on super tight yet and I gave it a few taps with a flat screw driver and mallet and then able to twist it off with my fingers… Altogether though, I’d say it’s a pretty sweet little bike.

So then we went riding…

We were only able to head out for a short ride Wednesday evening when it arrived as I had to get ready for a book club I was hosting and Amanda was heading out to teach yoga…

But we were out again Thursday morning – after picking up The Girl’s new helmet.

While picking up The Girl’s helmet, I also picked up a big-kid-sized flatland bike for Amanda to tool around on.

Trying to figure out that first elementary… I don’t even know what it’s called…? Spinning from this position to facing backwards (toward the back of the bike) with the fork/handlbars reversed… anybody know what I’m talking about…? What’s that called…?

The Girl isn’t quite to spinning, just trying to get balance and standing on different pegs.

And scuffing…

The Grrrlz and their new bikes. 

Okay, I have to admit I’ve been messing around on it too… I can almost do that spinney thingie… and I can scuff or coast backwards more than either of the Grrlz… but what Amanda took a picture of was me making a fool of myself pogoing on the back pegs (I can also do this on the front pegs… sort of…)

Then Amanda - figuring if a fat oaf like me could do it… - tried pogoing on the back pegs herself and realized it’s trickier than it looks.

Now to get out and ride these beasts EVERYDAY…. (until it snows…) 

Flatland Fever - Part Two

...and then Amanda came home from work...

... with some new pegs...

(which, of course, I had to put on her bike for her...)



...and She and The Girl went out for a little mother-daughter session..



Showing mom how it's done.

Flatland Fever

Because The Girl (who is 8) is interested in dance (taking Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Irish dance lessons this past year...) and bikes - and BMX bikes! I started showing her some flatland videos - in particular a lot of videos of women doing flatland - that I mostly found over at Yeah Zine. I figured dance + bmx = flatland, right? The two could certainly complement each other - not to mention the fact that flatland would probably cause her mother considerably less anxiety that the though of her going face-first into the hard concrete of the bowl at the local skate/bike park. 

Yesterday I picked up some pegs I know would fit on her front fork - which wasn't really designed to accomodate pegs (maybe it's mroe of a dirt jumping bmx..? I don't know...). I wasn't sure of the size of the rear axel when I was at the bike shop... have to get some more pegs for that later - but the front was a start for us to start practicing scuffing and balancing over the front wheel. So this morning we went out and "sessioned" the sidewalk in the park near our house...



Despite offers to "help her out" she mostly wanted to try stuff on her own - which is a much better way to learn stuff anyway...



I can tell her to try and keep her weight balanced over top of the front wheel or whatever... but until she feels that on her own it won't mean anything...



I took a couple short video clips as well... but I thought I'd save those for when I can put them together with some clips of when she's actually getting better at it.



She spent over an hour out here working on pretty much one thing.... and didnt' get terribly far... but she has a lot of patience and if I can get her out doing this EVERY day (actually it won't be trouble getting HER out - it'll be getting ME out that'll be the trick) and she keeps the same focus and concentration, I don't doubt we'll see some definite improvement before the snow flies again...