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Post by Mark Dandridge on Oct 5, 2009 22:10:49 GMT -5
Whoooo I got to make the Thread this month...Awesome. Today was AMAZING!! Did I say AMAZING?!? I ment to say today was A Freak of Nature! I comitted to doing 2 in a row. 2 Steam Rollers 2 Hang 5 to Steam Rollers. 2 Hang 5 Steamrollers to Karl. 2 Half Hikers and 2 Hitchhikers.
I got time all...infact I did so many Hitchikers today trying to get 2 in a row I was trully amazed. I thought back to what jim said that one day the will just start popping off and today was that day. I wasn't perfect but I was riding like I ment buissness. I got more tricks in my first part of my session than I ever have.Working on my ground root tricks has really helpped me with my consitantcy. I am so stoked!!
Keep on Riding!!
Mark
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Post by jim on Oct 6, 2009 15:45:35 GMT -5
Awesome! You're really taking it up a notch this year!
I had a much needed good ride yesterday too. I was riding and doing a switch handed steam and had like this moment of clarity; dork wheelies and steam rollers are almost the same trick. I started really pumping them, finally! Then I thought "hey, I should try to turbine this thing like a dork wheelie-without kicking it" It worked! At the end of my ride I was able to do it a handful of times! I'm getting ready to go back out and make sure it wasn't a dream ;D
ride strong!
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Post by Mark Dandridge on Oct 7, 2009 22:06:43 GMT -5
Today was another Amazing Day I did some filming and I was ON FIRE!!! I pulled so many tricks today I lost total count. I was doing stuff that should have bailed on but some how I pulled out. On and off camera. It has been so much fun the past few days. I think its the GRIPS...I got some soft grips and it doesn't hurt to hold the bars. hahaha
Keep on Riding!
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Post by Mark Dandridge on Oct 11, 2009 23:17:50 GMT -5
Today was a BLAST. Spent the whole day with Jake Jackson and We rode like crazy even though my body was sore and didn't want to move or work..hahah. Tony aka H20towntony was at the O.G. with the rest of the Wisconson Crew and he had his camera on. I pulled some hard links for him on his Camera. I was really shocked. Things were feeling good again and my balance was back. I even pulled my dream link again!!! I am getting more consistant and I am looking forward to what happens next.
Keep on Riding!
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Post by verticalsmile on Oct 14, 2009 7:07:16 GMT -5
Figured this is a good thread to introduce myself. My name is Mark McGrade and I just got back into Flatland 2 weeks ago since leaving the sport some time in 1989 or so. Recently I bought an OG Balance bike and it's been somewhat of a struggle learning the tricks I used to do back in the day, the size and new geometry and the fact that I'm almost 40 years old has a lot to do with this. But just about 2 hours every night I'm out in front of my house riding and mostly enjoying it! When I first started in the sport it was all balance tricks (Sometime in '82) then it turned into hopping tricks like Cherry pickers. Near the end of my riding days I was pulling off 1 handed hang 5's, Sideglide to Steamroller links, elbow glides, Flail Boomerangs, Rolling Decades, Funky Chickens, ect...
I decided to begin with the basics like Infinity Rolls, Firehydrants, Flail Boomerangs, Backwards & Forward Steamrollers & Funky Chickens. So far I'm getting pretty good at those and just started practicing Hang 5's last night. I went over the bars over a dozen times but after an hour I was rolling them about 12 feet!!
Hopefully in the next few weeks I'll get Hang 5's back consistently and try linking them into a Steamroller...........just glad to be back!
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Post by Mark Dandridge on Oct 16, 2009 8:06:42 GMT -5
Right on Welcome Back to Flat!!!
Keep on Riding and Posting!
Mark
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amahl
New Freestyler
Posts: 22
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Post by amahl on Oct 16, 2009 8:33:33 GMT -5
Did you post up the pictures from the contest yet Mark?
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Post by verticalsmile on Oct 17, 2009 16:44:39 GMT -5
Thanks bud!
Had a GREAT day today! I pretty much have Hang 5's dialed in, I can coast them pretty much until I run out of room or speed. lol! I can't believe how quick I re-learned this trick. I also pulled off a few dozen Wiplashes, I just can't yet do them every time. I tried for a double and landed on my back and tweaked my wrist a bit. lol! Steamrollers are also pretty much dialed now and I've been turning them into small circles, my goal is to someday turbine them.
Happy riding!!
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Post by Mark Dandridge on Oct 19, 2009 16:04:32 GMT -5
No Photos yet for Comp. Just super super busy with work and family. If I have some time tonight that might work but I am still trying to get out a video...just no time and I am headed to Corpus for the rest of the week. It will be Satruday Session before you know it again.
I am headed out in a bit to do some riding before I pack everything up for the week.
Keep on Riding!
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Post by verticalsmile on Oct 20, 2009 21:02:53 GMT -5
Well not such a good night tonight. First off this riding in the dark is starting to suck, I hate that it gets dark so early now. Tonight I thought I might try and work on Megaspins....not a good idea. This would be a new trick for me, I never did these years ago when I used to ride. I can swing my leg and get the bike to spin with one maybe two kicks but that's it.
How long did it take for you guys to learn this trick? I so want to learn it because I always thought it looks so cool, it also looks pretty d**n easy.
Anyway I worked on it for about an hour and decided to put the bike away to clear my mind, I'll try again later this week.
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Post by verticalsmile on Oct 22, 2009 17:23:08 GMT -5
Ok I had to make up for the other day so I left work early today just to ride. I had a much better day!! Steamrollers in a pretty smooth complete circle are really getting dialed. I'm going to keep working them and then try and switch hands. I'm also feeling really comfortable with my hang 5's, I even did a few one handed. I tried turning the frame back into a Steamroller but so far it's a no go......I'll get there. Finally I can consistantly ride into a Funky Chicken, one handed too!! I didn't even try Megaspins, I guess I didn't want to ruin a perfect day. lol!
Amazing what a few days can change......later.
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Post by Mark Dandridge on Oct 22, 2009 19:43:14 GMT -5
Mega Spin for me is still Elusive...Clint had some good tips about them yesterday. Maybe I can get him to chime in. Learning a new trick takes me a life time...hahaha. No seriously it all just depends on the other tricks that I am working on. If they are close then maybe about 1-6 months if way out of my comfort zone 1-2 years...
Today during my session I hit all my basic tricks in less than 30 min 3 times a piece. I was stoked. I have also decide to ride like I want to win my next online battle. I have been going into each battle not trying to win just trying to pull some tricks. This time up against my good friend Brad. I am going to try my best to win this battle. Brad usually out rides me on any occassion. I have some ideas of what it will take and it will take a Mirical...Got to get RAD!!
Keep on Riding!
Mark
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Post by jim on Oct 22, 2009 22:55:42 GMT -5
It's good to hear about all this riding, guys!
I'm starting to feel better now, so I went out and thought I'd see if I could ride. It was pretty good. I got in the zone and pulled quite a few jugglers. I figured out one thing I've been doing inadvertantly that's been making jugglers so hard lately, so that was cool. I had fun.
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Post by Mark Dandridge on Oct 23, 2009 20:45:06 GMT -5
Today I fell on a Karl Kruiser Ride in...It only motivated me to get back on. I was getting tired and sore but I kept trying. I did however almost link my hitch to Crackpacker!! Thats my new dream link. Dreams do come true!
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Post by Mark Dandridge on Oct 25, 2009 15:48:33 GMT -5
Just posted video from Saturday Session. Check it out and leave a comment. It was a good time. Congrats to Diego to making into Cream Magazine....SUPER STAR!!!
Keep on Riding!
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