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View Full Version : "How-To"- No Hand Catwalk


The Snitz
10th May 2004, 04:41 PM
The No Handed Catwalk (Or Sidewinder) is quite a technical trick, and one that requires alot of confidence to let go of the bike entirely when you're running beside it. Dayne Kinnaird makes this trick look so easy (and also considering the bloke invented the trick back in 2001).

To be able to do a No Handed Catwalk, you need to be able to do a standard Catwalk, and be able to control your body in the air during the entire trick, and also have the ability to let go of the bike entirely and be comfortable doing so. I'll explain how to do a One Handed Catwalk first, as this will give you kind of an idea how a No Handed Catwalk feels. I'll skip the Beginner explanations, as you will be able to find them here:
Double Can : http://www.fmxaustralia.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3312
Disco Can : http://www.fmxaustralia.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3369
Catwalk : http://www.fmxaustralia.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3435

One Handed Catwalk

1. When learning the One Handed Catwalk, it's best if you do it on your more favoured side that you'd do normal Catwalk's on. So when you approach the ramp, just like a normal Catwalk, you want to be putting a little more weight on the foot on the side that you will be doing the trick on. Keep your body nice and loose and get a sense of feeling free.

2. When you leave the ramp, go into the Double Can position. By this stage you should be fast enough to get to this position within a few bike lengths of leaving the ramp. *Note* You need to be able to get a Double Can done very quick to be able to have enough time!

3. Once you feel comfortable, you can start doing a Catwalk. It's best to get a feel for it, so do maybe 2 to 3 "walks". You want to keep your body relatively close to the bike when you want to let go of the bike. This way you will feel more comfortable in actually letting go, and it's much easier to grab back on. Also there's less chance of the bike dropping too far from your side. You can now begin to take off one hand when you're ready. Keep your legs running during the whole time that you're lifting your hand up and then putting it on. You can take off either hand, it's up to you. Generally it's easier to take off your closest hand rather than like a Disco one hand.

4. Grab back on quickly when learning this, and simply pull your body back on as per usual with the Catwalk. When you feel comfortable taking off the closest hand, you can start to take off the opposite hand instead. This will give you an idea on how either hand will feel when let go, and get you prepared for the No Handed Catwalk.

Pic - This is actually a one handed catwalk, done with the opposite hand in Disco fashion. Note I keep my body close to the bike whilst I'm running and when I let go. This makes it easier for you when you want to let go, you know where the bike is, and it won't drop from you as easily

The Snitz
10th May 2004, 04:47 PM
Video - Here's a small video of a One Handed Catwalk, taking off the closest hand. This is generally easier to do, just take it in little steps and see how you go. Notice I'm running beside the bike the entire jump and when I've actually let go and grabbed back on, taken one more step and then got back on for landing.

Video Format - MPEG (You need Windows Media Player 8 or 9 to view this)
File size - 292Kb (only tiny)
Video Length - 2 seconds

The Snitz
10th May 2004, 05:11 PM
No Handed Catwalk

Ok, so you've now mastered taking off both hands whilst doing a One Handed Catwalk. Now you want to link them together at the same time!

I'll start this part simply from the point of when you begin running in the air of a normal Catwalk.

You've began taking about 3 steps, and you're body is crunched down fairly close to the bike, and your arms are bent.

1. Now this is the time when you either "make it" or "break it". You need to pull hard on the bars whilst you're running. When you pull, you'll bring the bike up towards you which makes it safer for you and easier to grab. What you need to do when first taking hands off, lift your hands straight up above the handlebars. It's easier to pull your hands down, then push them forward when doing tricks, so if you take your hands and lift them up, you have a better chance of grabbing back on.

2. When you want to extend the no handed catwalk, you want to pull the bars in close to you, and as you do that, use the momentum to let go, and actually pull your arms beside you and then behind. This will give great extension for the trick and will look super sweet!

3. Grab back on, and take a few more steps of the catwalk before you swing your leg back over the bike for landing.

This trick is more about confidence than anything else. You just have to get the bike in the right spot and just let go.
If things don't go to plan, I suggest you let go of the bike all together and try push it away from you, otherwise you might land on the side of the bike on the downramp and that's only going to put footpegs where they shouldn't be or maybe handlebars.

Good Luck!

Copyright Steve Sommerfeld 2004. All Rights Reserved.

fast pace
21st April 2009, 06:09 PM
man this is a sick trick i will give it ago this weekend lol

dmack
19th December 2009, 12:07 AM
these are real helpful

mattrodgers
7th August 2010, 12:08 PM
nice man! good video .. keep it up

mattrodgers
7th August 2010, 12:09 PM
its insane what people are doing on bikes now a days!

Mitch_Man91
21st March 2011, 10:04 PM
Pretty keen to get this trick dialed got catty's clean now just a matter of throwing the hands this has been helpful, cheers.