diff -r 580cd247511e -r 5d0704f23a2a hedgewars/uGearsHedgehog.pas
--- a/hedgewars/uGearsHedgehog.pas	Tue Jun 05 22:37:36 2012 +0200
+++ b/hedgewars/uGearsHedgehog.pas	Mon Jun 25 10:44:27 2012 +0200
@@ -395,6 +395,7 @@
             newGear^.Target.X:= TargetPoint.X;
             newGear^.Target.Y:= TargetPoint.Y
             end;
+        if newGear <> nil then newGear^.CollisionMask:= $FF7F;
 
         // Clear FollowGear if using on a rope/parachute/saucer etc so focus stays with the hog's movement
         if altUse then
@@ -707,12 +708,10 @@
     if (Gear^.Message and gmLeft  )<>0 then
         Gear^.dX:= -cLittle else
     if (Gear^.Message and gmRight )<>0 then
-        Gear^.dX:=  cLittle else exit;
+        Gear^.dX:=  cLittle 
+        else exit;
 
-    if (Gear^.Message and (gmLeft or gmRight)) <> 0 then
-        begin
-        StepSoundTimer:= cHHStepTicks;
-        end;
+    StepSoundTimer:= cHHStepTicks;
    
     GHStepTicks:= cHHStepTicks;
     if PrevdX <> hwSign(Gear^.dX) then
@@ -837,6 +836,7 @@
     if (CurrentHedgehog^.Gear = Gear)
         and (hwSqr(Gear^.dX) + hwSqr(Gear^.dY) > _0_003) then 
         begin
+        // TODO: why so aggressive at setting FollowGear when falling?
         FollowGear:= Gear;
         end;
     if isUnderwater then