The Extreme sport of parkour is becoming more and more popular a young cousin of mine living in Cornwall is becoming very good at this recently. I have also noticed it is becoming increasingly popular at schools among young people. I think it Rocks!

At the beginning of March I travelled up to Colchester with my friend Lewis to ride with Sam Pilgrim at his house and his foam pit! We arrived at Sam's house at around 10.30 and rode his foam pit until about 2.

After about 20 minutes of riding we made a start on shooting pictures for the Mbuk article. Sam was helping me improve my tricks and teaching me others as well! I was surprised how riding with someone of that level actually helps a lot with your riding.

Sam had an old bike of his with no wheels taped up with bubble wrap and card board to make a bike that can be used on a trampoline. With no wheels, cranks, brakes or pedals it was very small and flighty and the perfect thing to learn on. I took the chance to perfect my technique for tail whips.

I then used jump on my bike and with a bit more effort, landed to the pedals in the foam pit. He also helped me with my superman’s and I was giving some superman seat grabs ago as well. In the afternoon we drove out to Dedham to ride Sam's jumps. I started off slowly as I hadn't ridden dirt in quite a while but got used to them fairly quickly.

After doing some no-footed cans, back flips, superman’s, and a back flip x-up, Robin (Mbuk photographer) was waiting for me to try a tail whip. I'd never attempted a tail whip over dirt before and I’d only just learnt the proper technique about 2 hours before in the foam. But I went for it anyway. I had about five goes and managed to ride away with 1 foot dragging!

Overall a great days riding and pretty cool article.

To see the pictures from this day of riding and the full article grab a copy of Mbuk issue 224 and check it out.

About me: My name is Jack Gear, I'm 18 years old and have been riding mountain bikes for about four years now. As most of us do, I started off riding street using curbs and small kickers and over these couple of years I've slowly progressed through park riding and am now riding dirt most of the time. I ride for 24seven bikes using the 24seven slacker ST.

A lot of my progression with tricks has happened over the past six months as I've been riding a lot more than I used to. I ride mostly at the-track in Portreath, Cornwall. It's the best place for learning as it has the foam pit and resi ramp for learning and the dirt jumps of all sizes. I go all around the UK competing in Competitions, Jams and just riding new places.

My Style: I like the feel of hitting a big gap with lots of speed. My style of tricks is mostly upside down variations.
Backflip x-up and Backflip No-hander: The flip x-up was the first backflip variation I learnt and have done it so many times I find it effortless. I feel that I just makes the backflip a little bit less boring and more controlled. Now i can do it on anything.

The flip no-hander I have only been doing again recently just because I love the look of the trick. I learnt it last year but broke my back in November doing it on a mellow jump box, filming for a dvd. That put me off the trick for a while and have only recently started doing them again, but they are defiantly a trick for dirt!

Barrel roll x-up: This trick I really learnt my accident or with out wanting to. I was riding a foam pit with a friend and already had straight barrel rolls down. I got the idea from John Cowan to put variations into the trick. I gave a barrel roll one hander a few goes but could quite keep the bike under control so couldn't get it right. After about seven or eight tries rolled in for another go and pulled a pretty clicked x-up with it. I done a few more and had it pretty dialled with a couple of goes. Done it first go on the resi ramp first time and later on the same day pulled it off on a dirt jump. I really enjoy the feel of doing them over big gaps as it feels like your flying.

Backflip Superman and Backflip Tailwhip: These tricks I have only just this week started trying them into foam but think I have the all round feel. Just a few more sessions in the foam and I will giving them a go on the resi. Watch out for these.

My Bike, 24seven Slacker ST: This bike is an all round great bike, as you can use it for different disciplines. I have used it to ride street, park and dirt and it has handled all of them brilliantly. It runs a SANKO steel frame set with marzocchi dirt jumper 2 forks. It has a 28t by 12t drive chain set up giving you no hassle with gears and good all round gearing. 3 piece superfat cranks and 24seven star pedals. 24seven dirt vinyl embossed saddle and an Avid Juicy 3 rear brake. As well as looking slick with the matt black paint job and 24seven orange hubs, its also a great all round bike that fits and works to my style of riding!

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