Bunnyhop smoothly
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Written by stumpy_dan
June 30, 2007
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The Bunnyhop. It can take a lot of practice but with lots of it and some helpful hints it can be done. Then getting over all objects out on the trails comfortably will feel great. If you currently hop with both wheels at the same time then stop now and get it right.
Step 1
Firstly as you approach the object (start with something small) have your body perched off the saddle and your weight central to forward. When you are a foot away lean your body forward then back (on your legs) to create a spring to lift your front wheel. Sometimes it helps to pre load (push down) the suspension at the front a bit. As your body weight has shifted back and the front lifts you complete the lift by raising your arms up slightly and in towards you (If you hover over the back brake this can avoid you tipping too far back and over)
Step 2
Move your weight forward pulling hard on the handlebars and down really hard on the pedals. Feel the tyres flatten into the ground this is where the hop bit comes from. As you release up and forwards keep pulling with your arms and move forward with your weight on the pedals. As you start to raise up and forward lift the back wheel with your feet at a slight angle tight into the pedals.
Recommend you break this into two parts for practice… i.e. do step 1 over and over completing with just letting your body come forward and your front wheel down. Then practice step 2 over and over by starting off riding back and up.
A bit of speed helps and try practising with different sizes of obstacles. If you are lifting one wheel then the next your are doing well. Height takes time and comes from the force in the hop and the extend and speed of standing and lifting that back pedal up.
Firstly as you approach the object (start with something small) have your body perched off the saddle and your weight central to forward. When you are a foot away lean your body forward then back (on your legs) to create a spring to lift your front wheel. Sometimes it helps to pre load (push down) the suspension at the front a bit. As your body weight has shifted back and the front lifts you complete the lift by raising your arms up slightly and in towards you (If you hover over the back brake this can avoid you tipping too far back and over)
Step 2
Move your weight forward pulling hard on the handlebars and down really hard on the pedals. Feel the tyres flatten into the ground this is where the hop bit comes from. As you release up and forwards keep pulling with your arms and move forward with your weight on the pedals. As you start to raise up and forward lift the back wheel with your feet at a slight angle tight into the pedals.
Recommend you break this into two parts for practice… i.e. do step 1 over and over completing with just letting your body come forward and your front wheel down. Then practice step 2 over and over by starting off riding back and up.
A bit of speed helps and try practising with different sizes of obstacles. If you are lifting one wheel then the next your are doing well. Height takes time and comes from the force in the hop and the extend and speed of standing and lifting that back pedal up.
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Comments
a bunny hop is 2 techniques in one. a front wheel unweight and a rear wheel unweight.
simples
Splendid!
One thing I find helps is to stop pedalling just before the manouvere, this will help to steady the bike.
Also it may be in how you are lifting your front wheel off the groung that is unsteadying you. I know 2 ways to do this so it may be worth trying both to see which helps.
1) as you aproach the object get to the centre of the bike then swiftly in a spring like motion move your body forwards then back pulling up on the handlebars as you go back
2) as you approach the object push down and go forwards on your front forks compessing them. As you lean / pull back the force of the rebounding forks will push up the front wheel.
There is a pull out from this months WMB that offers this advice and some other little gems as well. Nice site by the way and welcome
In English, basically pump the suspension to give you more bounce and overcome the sag.
Practice bouncing on the suspension as you ride along, you should be able to pogo it by putting in more energy with each bounce. Be careful though as you can suddenly ping off to one side (I've done this and it's not only painful it's extremely embarressing!).
Any tips/ideas?
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