newby bunnyhopping - help wanted! (video enclosed!) Options

[ant0]

hi there ive been riding for many years and have an aggressive riding style but ive never properly learned to bunnyhop objects, im now kicking myself i didnt learn this as a kid, so ive been trying it recently with a peice of wood over a speedbump where i often go riding. I also hop as many kerbs as possible these days but my technique is lacking, i just do the same thing everytime. I was filming a video diary on my phone of it and attached is how i was doing at the last time of trying.

the folllowing link show the video; can anyone give me some advice on what i need to do or other exercises i could be doing to improve my technique??? Thanks muchly!!

Bunnyhop Video

[Jarl]

Err, what's the problem exactly? Althoguh the camera could be more zoomed out and a slow-mo would be useful, it looks pretty good. Get the front up, rock backwards and get the back up, then land on both wheels at the same time (or back first by a tiny bit). You seem to be getting them up at different times, though, which is good....

As for hopping higher, get some mates round and have a hopping competition

[Gareth]

A competition is certainly a good idea, set up a bamboo cane and keep moving it up a little at a time.

Riders who get really high stand right up as they jump as this raises their centre of gravity. They first manual the bike up by leaning back and pulling up on the bar then spring up and stand up moving way forward. For the body that's the highest point; next the bar is pushed forwards and DOWN which rotates the bike about it's centre of gravity and in an instant the back wheel can be as high as the front was. Of course you need to 'tuck up' your legs underneath you or the back end will be held down.

Imagine the bike floating in space (like on the space station, you've been there surely?). If you push down on the bars the whole bike will just rotate around it's centre of mass, so the rear end will go up (wherever that is when you're in zero G!). Well for an instant as your body gets to the top of the move, the bike is 'weightless' so when you push down on the bars the back end will go up, simple physics. OK so only science majors will be enlightened by this explanation but there have to be some geeks out there right?

To help with the rotating bike thing you can actually try and twist the grips forwards but it's not really needed. Remember it's not so hard to rotate the bike once it's 'weightless' at the top of the move though so twisting could help.

Your problem is either that you are not getting your legs up under you enough or that you are not pushing forwards and down enough.

Did I mention I'm not a great bunny hopper! I'm working on it though...

[Jarl]

OK so only science majors will be enlightened by this explanation but there have to be some geeks out there right?

I understood

[SammyC]

I understood

Geek.

[ant0]

thanks for the reply, i understood your explanation... as i suspected, it probably just needs more practise. I think i'm maybe scared to throw my weight forward. I'll take a ride to my local BMX track when the kids arent there soon and get some air! Wish i'd done BMX as a kid or something. I often see kids of 15 bunnyhopping their heavy apollo full susers round here lol

[:: Xiphon ::]

Have a read of this article

http://www.bmxbasics.org/new/bmx0703.html

[addict]

I've never had a problem with bunny hops myself, and seemed to impress greatly a group of new friends the other week with a bunny hop tho I myself thought it was nothing special, maybe I just have a knack.

Gareths repsonse seems to have everything pretty much covered, but I just visualise it in a different way.

once i have chosen an object to bunny hop, usully up kerbs when cruising around all urban making sure I have enough speed so not to prang the back tyre on the kerb, it kinda goes as follows. ( extract taken from addicts 3rd eye)

nearing the kerb in one fluid motion, i compress pushing my body downward and forward toward the bars, before then jerking upwards, reaching full extension before bringing bringing the bars upwards and inwards towards myself, elbows out. - this will bring the front wheel up from the ground, as high as possible is always best!!

as the bars reach the top of the pull, I allow myself to pull the bars past the centre of gravity that is where my feet are and bring my feet upwards with the motion of the bike, by bringing my knees upwards and slightly outwards. this will bring the back tyre up from the floor,

(it is then a case of how tucked up into yourself you can get the seat area. I have cut my seat post so it is completely down, with all of about 1cm showing - this helpds for shifting your weight around on downhill sections)

as I reach this 'tuck' position, I explosivley extend my arms outwards - as if reaching the bike over the top of something, allowing my feet to follw the arc. your feet should play no part in weight distribution at this point, whilst keeping the centre of gravity with my body - meaning the bike is pushed forward, and you should be now hanging your ass off the back of your bike.

the momentum will have moved you at the speed you were travelling but the shift in gravity of your body from front to back will add a full arms extension of length to the distance your bike has carried, making it a proper hop. you should land wit hbike tyre slightly before or with the front trye, not the front tyre first.

I cant watch the vid cos Im at work, but hopefully it will come to you. Try and visualise it, and get used to the bike moving alot beneath you. it sound as tho you are pulling your hands against the weight of your feet tho, in which case you tend to get a big front rise and very little back end rise, but keep trying. make sure you bring your feet up as you feel the push from the bike. It will come to you and it is a very very good move to help with faster downhill stuff.

[DrBike]

Get some friends over for a bunny hop competion



Practice some jumping too

[SammyC]

Hey Addict, that's a pretty good explanation there. So what you're saying is that you effectively use the suss to bounce the front wheel up and then push the bike over the object. In a way, kind of ...

[littlegirlbunny]

Heck Addict - I wish it was as easy as you make it sound

[addict]

Heck Addict - I wish it was as easy as you make it sound

wait till you here my explanation for a backflip tailwhip barspin one footed no hander. You wont be able to stop doin 'em!!

[Trek]

The problem is that BMX riders have it a hell of a lot easier, the bike is much smaller and lighter and to pop a manual takes so little effort so to pop a manual and then stretch your body and compress it by pushing forwards takes minimal effort.

Ofcourse hardtails are always the easiest because i find you don't lose any of your "bounce" to the rear absorbing it.

[_tom_]

I used to bmx a lot but was never good at big hops. The general rule though is that the higher you get the front, the higher you'll go. It was way easier on a bmx, on my mtb I can only do a few inches but I could do at least a foot on the bmx

[Titanium]

As those that have ridden with me will attest I am not that great at this myself - but I am improving so I am at least on the right side of the slope!

I think the explanations of how to lift the front are spot on - but the bunnyhop tip that has been most useful to me does not seem to have been covered:

Lifting the rear wheel...
With pedals horizontal. Push back oon the pedals and throught the magic of physics the rear raises - neat!
Check out this link:
Youtube-MBUK

Right, I have £100 says you can't teach me to manual....

[:: Xiphon ::]

As those that have ridden with me will attest I am not that great at this myself - but I am improving so I am at least on the right side of the slope!

I think the explanations of how to lift the front are spot on - but the bunnyhop tip that has been most useful to me does not seem to have been covered:

Lifting the rear wheel...
With pedals horizontal. Push back oon the pedals and throught the magic of physics the rear raises - neat!
Check out this link:
Youtube-MBUK

Right, I have £100 says you can't teach me to manual....

If we ever meet on a ride, give me 15 minutes of your undivided attention, and we'll see about that £100.....

Ali