The "Bunny Hop" technique allows you to hop over logs, rocks, ditches, curbs, cattle guards, and other similar objects. It is a useful maneuver, but can be difficult to learn and perform properly. Once you learn to do it, you can easily clear objects like a small log across the trail without decreasing your speed, and wtihout contacting the object with your tires. This trick can be performed with or without clipless pedals... just look at the BMX'ers with platform pedals hop onto a picnic table. Being clipped in or toe-clips may make it somewhat easier, however. It helps if you are lightweight, and your bike is too... This technique can takes months to learn, and many hours of practice. Anyone can lift the front wheel off of the ground - it's the rear wheel that is the difficult part of the bunny hop. Here's how to do it: *Use the flex and pivot technique. You must be able to flex the bike and compress it, and then try to pivot the handlebar forward. *First build a small log jump and ramp (or equivalent) and get used to jumping a bit and landing properly. Both wheels should come off the ground just a little after hitting the ramp. Learn how to get airborn & land smoothly. *Next, practice with just a small log. Ride straight at it, compress the front tire hard, and then lift the front wheel over the log so that it doesn't touch... Don't worry about the rear yet. Time the compression and the lift so that you can predictably hop the front wheel over the log without contacting it. *Then, practice getting the rear wheel off the ground. Here's how to start... while riding slowly on a level surface pull the front brake hard, pull up on the handlebars, and also on the pedals. Don't do a full endo!! Just get the rear wheel to go off the ground a bit. This is also called a front wheelie (front wheel on the ground, rear wheel off). Once you can master this, then it's time to try it without using the brake. Keep practicing until you get it, and you can get the rear wheel off the ground while moving. *Now you are ready to try the hop! Find a small log anchored in the trail. Ride at it with a comfortable speed. Stand up, compress the front end hard (a front shock helps a bit), then jump! Lift the bike from the pedals, and rotate the handlebar forward at the same time. It is important to twist the handlebar - you can do this easier if you drop your wrists low on the bar before starting. Try to pivot the bike around the handlebar - this part is the KEY to hopping!! Once you get this part, you can start to hop. Progress to larger objects as you are able.. *A few notes- It may be easier to hop when you can use momentum, so do it at speed. Also, you can use the spring technique and compression - like preload - to help you unweight. Remember that the front wheel comes off first, and then the rear wheel... not both at the same time!! Just pulling up the front wheel will not cut it. The crux is to pivot the bike, and rotate on the handlebars to transfer the upward energy to the rear wheel immediately after the front wheel goes up... To do this, you can get the front wheel off the ground, then bring the bike thru by pushing with your arms, rolling your wrists, and pulling up with your legs... Hop On ~~Stan~~ |
