Bicycle Technique: Bunny Hop. How not to jump on a bike

Not all cyclists think about jumping. For example, fans of fast road races do not need to jump at all. In reality, even when riding in the city most suitable for bikes, you have to overcome various obstacles - curbs, steps, uncomfortable edges of paths and highways. To do this, you have to learn how to jump on a bike.

Historically, jumping was an excess, and a rare cyclist performed such a thing. Over time, the discipline of cross-country appeared, and people performed quite difficult jumps as part of the competition. As a result, “bicycle motocross” and other stunt disciplines appeared - BMX, trial, in which the jump became not a utilitarian element that speeds up the passage of the track, but an independent evaluated action.

Using jumps

Actually, there are three ways to use cycling jumps:

To overcome small obstacles. The simplest option is found in any ride, we jump on small curbs, steps, bumps, so as not to burden the bike and not lose momentum.
Carrying a bike is a rather complicated element when you need to climb stairs or “jump” onto a parallel sidewalk.
The jump is like a stunt. It is performed out of the blue, and the trick does not carry any purpose in terms of movement. Exists a large number of options for tricks, and the jump itself is often the initiating or component element for complex tricks and performances.

Each of these jumps requires separate training. Fortunately, few bikers have these interests intersect. Tricks are performed by very specific athletes who are interested in BMX, and the “transfer” is a feature rather for videos, and not for real use.

Professional tricks

Perhaps at least half of the "professional" tricks are jumps. In fact, almost everything. Jump tricks are called "hop" (from the English word "jump"), and the following "hops" are usually distinguished:

Touch-hop - a jump that tears off the rear wheel with a roll on the front;
Bunny hop - a classic trick, jumping on an obstacle after acceleration;
Side hop - from a place to an obstacle on the side;
Gap - long jump. Performed with different techniques;
Drop - jumping off an obstacle. Jumping off correctly is even more difficult than a normal jump;
Tos - jumping on rear wheel, a combination of hop and ride on the back (Willy);
Bronco - a gap for the length of the bike, quite difficult to balance (the rear wheel should be in place of the front).

Bicycles and Features

The previously listed professional tricks are performed, of course, on specialized bicycles. Usually this is BMX, in fact, many tricks are simply impossible to perform with shock absorbers.

mountain bike

Nevertheless, MTB remains the most popular, which, most likely, we will have to practice and learn. On a mountain bike, you should not master complex tricks. This is not only inconvenient, but downright dangerous.

The presence of a front, ato and rear shock absorber reduces the controllability of the bike in flight, and big weight and large dimensions make the whole structure very uncomfortable for the cyclist.

On a mountain bike, jumping is used to overcome obstacles (option 1) and should be built from this. Overcoming obstacles is a normal front wheel jump, very rarely a side hop. Proper preparation and understanding of the limitations of your bike is very important in preparation and execution.

bmx

BMX is fundamentally different from MTB in many ways. The main ones are:

small frame size - for good handling;
greater reliability to the load of both the frame and other components (steering wheel, pedals);
gears - allow you to control the bike in any situation.

A specialized bike was created for tricks, and it is much more convenient to perform them on it. IN general view all the preparation recommendations in the next chapter apply to BMX, but they are an order of magnitude faster and easier to perform.

Pedals

Particular attention should be paid to the pedals. There is a very big difference between contact and regular ones. In the contact jump, the jump is done with the whole body, the cyclist's legs actually "pull" the bike behind them, and the frame is very easy to lift.

In the case of "toptalks" everything is somewhat more complicated. The jump is made not by the movement of the body, but by the elastic response of the frame and tires after hitting the pedals. Many long-term riders do not notice this, but it will be very difficult for a beginner to readjust. The main thing is to understand that we are waiting for a response from the design of the bike, and not jumping on it ourselves. After a few hours of focused training, there are usually no problems.

Learning and training

Only training will help you learn how to jump on a bike. This is the key to good performance, because it must be dealt with separately, before real skating and real curbs.

Subsequence

So, to jump over an obstacle, repeat the following steps:

We pick up a small speed to an obstacle (if we drive fast, we slow down, it is unrealistic to learn at high speed).
Raise the steering wheel outstretched arms we rest against the steering wheel and help it in the springy movement back, as if we were “jumping” on it.
The movement of the bicycle continues, and the raised wheel is over the obstacle.
We shift the weight of the body forward, leaning on the landing wheel.
We remove the load from the pedals or help the rear wheel to rise, you can jump a little.

Hooray, we made the first jump!

bunny hop

Actually, the classic "bunny hop" trick. The technique of jumping is absolutely similar to jumping over the curb, although it is performed more sportily and is divided into two tricks.

To start, select the “front” leg, from which the execution will begin, and we will perform all the elements from it.

The first part of the trick is the jump:

We shift the weight back so that the center of mass (usually the butt) is behind the rear wheel.
We bend our knees and elbows, pressing into the bike.
We pull the steering wheel with straight hands towards ourselves.

The second part is compression:

Shift your weight forward, resting on the handlebars.
Bend your knees, releasing the pedals from the load.

To jump higher, we make the jump and preload higher, playing on the inertia and feel of the whole bike structure. Simple, but takes practice. All elements are performed smoothly, real professionals "play" with inertia very effectively, and spectacular jumps are performed.

dangers

With any jumping, you should not forget about safety precautions. First of all, it is worth doing a trick only when you can be 100% sure in the end: the surface is not slippery, the height of the obstacle is clear, the trick has already been trained and previously performed correctly. The most common problem is underestimating the height or distance of an obstacle, which results in the front wheel hitting the edge, losing momentum and causing the cyclist to fall, and sometimes damaging the wheel and tube.

Also, don't forget about protection. When riding a bicycle, you should always wear a helmet, and even better, a set of leg and hand protection.

Conclusion

Bicycle jumping is not only an entertainment for athletes and boys in the yards, but also a very useful skill that makes it easier to move around the city and rough terrain. Like all tricks, they require caution and practice, but are available to any cyclist.

Probably, every novice cyclist, having seen a two-wheeled transport galloping a saiga, wants to learn how to jump on a bicycle. To wake up the desire to learn how to jump, it is enough to drive through the streets of our cities several times and understand that numerous curbs, blockages, curbs and clumsily laid tiles are not an obstacle. The ability to jump in practice is useful to every cyclist, regardless of riding style and type of bike.

What are bicycles

Modern bicycles, depending on the scope and design features, can be divided into several categories:

Road bikes are designed to ride on level ground. They have a light frame and a low handlebar for better aerodynamics.
City bikes allow you to move comfortably from point A to point B on relatively flat roads. They are equipped with a high handlebar and a medium-weight frame.
Mountain models are adapted to more severe operating conditions. Their powerful frame is able to withstand both descents on rocky slopes and riding over rough terrain. They are equipped with a fairly wide steering wheel, which allows you to quickly deploy the front wheel.
Trick bikes. They are distinguished by a very strong frame, often equipped with auxiliary supports. The steering wheel of these models is usually located above the level of the saddle. Due to their design, they allow complex acrobatic stunts, which are not always within the power of other bicycles.

However, a common jump called Bunny Hop can be performed by almost anyone, regardless of physical training, age or features of the bike. The main thing is perseverance, patience and, of course, desire.

Beautiful and tall Bunny Hops can be seen in MacAskill's video:

Bicycle jumping

Note that if an experienced instructor was present at the training, the process of mastering the trick would be much easier and faster. However, you can learn everything on your own. To do this, it is enough to know the theory and watch several videos with a visual performance of this trick.

So, for training it is better to choose a straight road with a smooth surface without slopes. In order not to damage the bike during the first workouts, it is better to use small unbreakable objects as an obstacle: plastic bottles or cardboard box.

To perform the Bunny Hop jump, you first need to master two basic techniques, of which it consists - Front Pool (English Front Pull) and Back Hop (English Back Hop)

Front Pool - front wheel lift

Step by step execution of this basic movement:

Pedals must be horizontal. You have to get on the bike. We bend the legs slightly at the knees, while the body should lean forward slightly without contact with the saddle.
Squatting slightly, you should carefully move your body weight slightly forward.
We transfer the center of gravity behind the saddle, while straightening the arms and legs. Do not be afraid to fall, because at such a height the risk of injury is minimal.
When the center of gravity is already completely shifted behind the saddle, it is necessary, straightening the body and without bending the arms, to pull the steering wheel to the abdomen. As a result, if everything is done correctly, the front wheel will begin to rise into the air. All this happens not due to the strength of the hands, but due to the center of gravity shifted back. When the body is fully extended, the maximum possible wheel lift will be achieved. It is very important not to pedal while performing this movement, as they only serve as a support here.
To return to the starting position, you need to smoothly release the wheel to the ground, moving the center of gravity back again. Moving the body forward is the last movement of this exercise.

Note that in the process of training, you must learn to evenly distribute the pulling force, which is transmitted from the back through straightened arms to the steering wheel. If you can’t fully straighten your arms, you need to lean back harder. It is important to apply the same force with both hands while lifting the wheel, otherwise, as a result of the exercise, the bicycle may change the trajectory of movement.

Back Hop - Raising the rear wheel

Step-by-step instructions for performing this movement:

The starting position is the same as when performing the Front Pool: a little bent legs stand on horizontal pedals, while the body is slightly tilted forward.
Smoothly, that is, without a jerk, but at the same time, you need to move the center of gravity forward as quickly as possible. In this case, the arms and legs should straighten.
With your arms and legs fully extended, you need to turn your feet toe down at an angle of approximately 45 degrees.
Bending the legs at the knees and resting them on the pedals, we raise back bike. In this case, only the strength of the legs is used, we do not help ourselves with the body and hands. With the correct execution of the movement, the rear wheel will rise into the air.
To return to the starting position, simply straighten your legs. It is advisable to do this smoothly, without falling with all your weight on the bike.

By practicing this movement, you will learn how to confidently lift the rear wheel. Important! If in the process of raising the wheel your feet still slip off the pedals, you need to increase the angle of inclination of the feet.

Bunny Hop

Now that you have successfully completed each of the basic movements (Front Pool and Back Flip) of this trick, all that remains is to connect them together.

Jumping is an integral part of MTV and all "gravity disciplines". With practice comes experience and understanding of how and what to do. But it is not necessary to fill bumps and abrasions on jumps yourself, although you can’t do without it. The main thing is to take care of the correct reading and clearly follow the instructions. Once you learn the basics on the small hills, don't stop, keep progressing as you improve your technique. Here are a couple of tips on how to prepare for your first jumps.

Protection and preparation of the bike

Knee pads, gloves and a helmet are the minimum gentleman's set for any cyclist. Falling hurts, and falling at speed hurts even more. The same applies to, which we have already talked about. It is extremely unpleasant to find a wheel that has fallen off right in flight.

Rate the jumpand choose a path

You don't have to jump blindly. Even world-class riders do training descents, and initially walk along the track to evaluate all the trajectories and departures. Estimate the width of the departure and landing, whether there is a “table” between them, on which you can land in case of undershoot. The departure shape will give you an idea of how the bike will behave on it. A departure with a constant angle throws forward, and a radius throws it up.

Roots and stones, which are found in abundance on the tracks, can make their own adjustments to your trajectories. It would be reasonable to go around the boulder before the flight, than to flop on the flight from it and already jump like that. Think over your route.

Visualize the jump

Sensibly evaluate your strengths and mentally compare the springboard with what you have already jumped. Of course, each flight is unique in its own way, but if you calmly jump five-meter flights, then there should be no problems with the same three-meter flight. Estimate your chances sensibly!

Rate the speed

The correct estimate of speed is one of key points in jumps. A departure with a “table” between it and a landing can forgive you for short flight, but such departures are not always and not everywhere. If you feel that you have gone too far with speed, then do not brake right on the takeoff. Firstly, it destroys the reach itself, and secondly, it transfers weight forward and loads the front wheel and this is a direct path to the steering wheel. Slow down 3 meters before departure! The same goes for the completion of the acceleration, jumping and landing on pedals that are not parallel to the ground is a bad idea.

Things to do in flight

The main thing is to keep looking at the place where you want to end up, that is, at the landing. You need to relax and not freeze in flight like a “bag”, it is at this moment that many people have problems. Tricks work well here, and you don't have to be a Berndon Semenuk-level slop-styler. A banal turn of the steering wheel by 90 degrees (bar-turn) is within the power of anyone and you just need to decide to do it. It is fear that does not allow you to decide on a trick, the very fear that fetters you in flight. As soon as you overcome fear, flights will become stable and will bring a bunch pleasure.

How to land

Try to land on both wheels at the same time, like a cat on 4 legs. And don't forget to help the suspension absorb the impact of the landing with the knuckles of the arms and legs, gradually bending them. This will not only help you avoid hard hit, but will also extend the life of the wheels and actually your joints.

Practice

As one famous uncle said - Study, study and study again! And in addition to knowledge, skills are also needed. Look at derters or BMX racers, how easy and natural they behave in flight. They jump on the same ski jumps day after day, practicing and getting "an hour's flight time", just like airplane pilots. The more practice you have, the easier it will be for you to jump any sorties.

jumping is not only a way to get an adrenaline rush, but also a fundamental skill that every mountain biker should master. And it's not that hard once you learn all kinds of methods involved.

Step by step guide to jumping

Jumping is the knowledge of applying pressure and the ability to control it through each wheel, apart from each other. The first thing to do before a trick is to make sure the tires are inflated to zero. Be prepared to build speed without using pedals, just by using intermittent movements of the legs, arms and feet, as well as leaning forward with the body. This is the basic knowledge of how to control a bicycle in the air.

Takeoff

The jump must be made in such a way that you feel comfortable enough, and also that it is convenient to take off from the bicycle seat. Keep your weight centered on both wheels, chest down. Start grouping and feel the force against the tires.

Each wheel is perceived separately from each other - coordinate the front with the back one by one, but in no case at the same time. Slowly start shifting your weight from your arms to your legs - the point is for the front wheel to reach the frame with pressure on it.

Pushing down, release your own weight with each of the wheels. The execution technique is similar to when you perform " bunny hop". In this case, the beginning of the jump will provide all the lift, it is necessary to control the wheels, forming the trajectory of the jump.

It means that this species jump less sharp than " bunny hop". The idea is to keep the pressure in the center and smoothly guide the frames using the elbows, knees, shins, making pushing movements with them.

Timely weight transfer

The moment when you transfer your own weight from your hands to your feet is very important. Mentally imagine the trajectory of the jump, its middle is the place when you need to change the pressure from the hands to the feet to the full stop.

If you apply pressure after passing the center of the trajectory, you will get a forward jump that will throw you out of the line of motion. Correctly observing the technique, the jump is more, the presence of the bike in the air increases.

Landing

In the moments of being in the air, relax, because the most difficult part of the trick is already done. At the landing point, tighten and firmly use your arms and legs to take the impact.

Try to land with both wheels at the same time. Touching the ground initially with only the rear or only the front wheel will result in a fuzzy, blurry landing, and too blurry movement can ultimately throw you out of motion.

Care must be taken to stop during landing without applying the brakes.

The ability to jump on a bike is an extremely useful skill. This skill can get you out of trouble, keep you from worrying about curbs and curbs, and prepare you for big jumps. Today we are going to tell you about the bunny hop technique, which will allow you to achieve a high, controlled jump on any pedals.

Beginning cyclists often learn the wrong jumping technique, colloquially called Hop'om ( from English.Hop - jump). With the help of this technique, both wheels are immediately off the ground. The technique, although easy to learn, is ineffective in terms of flight altitude and control over the bike. Standing on a bike, you bend your arms and legs, and then with all your strength you push the bike off the ground. It turns out something like this:

Bunny Hop ( from English.Bunny-Hop - hare jump), or "bannik" allows you to control the height of the jump and the moment of separation of the rear wheel, which is extremely useful. It is much easier to do it in, but we recommend learning from ordinary toptals, then you will have correct technique(in contacts, it's easier to pull the back of the pedals) and you can do it in any conditions.

1. We try to manual

The first thing you should do is a little ride on the rear wheel, that is (from the English. Manual). The purpose of the exercise is to lift the front wheel into the air, but not to use the banal rebound of the fork, but also the correct technique.

In the basic stance we talked about in, you ride in a straight line. Heels down, knees and elbows slightly bent. First you load the front and rear wheel:

Then, without unbending your legs, you begin to shift back, simultaneously straightening your arms. At some point, the front wheel will come off the ground. If you are afraid of falling on your back, then keep your finger on the rear brake, so you can react in time and prevent a fall by simply pressing the brake lever. Never pull the steering wheel towards you by bending your arms, this is the wrong technique.!

2. Straighten your legs

Once the front wheel is high enough in the air, you should spread your legs and "stand up" on the pedals. When you get up, your hands and steering wheel will be down, this will be the beginning of the next stage.

3. We push the steering wheel, we tighten our legs

At the top point, when you are almost vertically standing on the pedals, you need to simultaneously begin to draw in your legs and push the handlebars forward and up. This is where contact pedals help, people start pulling the bike with their feet instead of pushing them, this is the wrong technique.

At first you may be able to make small jumps, but over time your bannik will grow to a decent size, you will learn how to combine manual and bunny hop, jump over obstacles in the form of benches, pedestrians and curbs, and also use this technique on jumps.

Pro Tip: Look at your friend's face during his bannic and try not to die of laughter.

The guys from GMBN have a great video where Neil breaks down all the steps. Serge Raspade kindly translated it: