Cyclocross - Why get off the bike at all?

Is he actually jumping the barrier? Is that common?

http://images.velonews.com/images/cyc/9234.13308.t.jpg
Todd Wells (if I copied correctly from velonews.com)

Because bunny-hopping the barriers is very difficult. If I could do it, I would, but to me bunny hopping a cross bike seems much harder than a mountain bike, probably because of where your hands are in relation to the rest of the bike (drops vs. straight bars).

It isn't that common, usually barriers are placed in pairs, so you would have enough speed to bunny hop the first one, but then that kills your momentum and you would not make it over the second one. When they are one at a time, there are usually a handful of guys in the elite race who bunny hop it each lap. It seems that if you have good dismount and remount technique, you don't lose that much time over those who bunny hop it.

Another bunny hop pic:

http://www.pbase.com/stlbiking/image/36069664

To successfully bunny hop a barrier you have to have quite a bit of speed. This is generally discouraged by placing barriers too close together to gain speed from hopping the first barrier. If you pogo the three barriers it takes more time than dismounting and carrying.

All of this stuff is pretty plain if you go out and watch the races. The really fast guys can sometimes bunny hop barriers but as soon as you start getting the least bit tired you run the risk of hanging up half way across.

I watched a guy bunny hop all the barriers in a race once. The fastest guys went faster by dismounting and getting back on.

Wells is an expert at hopping barriers, probably due to his mtn bike racing background. But, he has to have a clear run at the barriers with some speed, on a hardpack surface. In sand or mud, it is pretty tough to hop barriers. Also, other racers may give someone, like Wells, a little bump or crowd him by riding on his shoulder to ensure that he doesn't get a clear run at the barriers.

You can actually ride the barriers too when you can't get enough speed to hop. You lift your front tire onto the top of the barrier then roll over and at the right time lift the rear onto the top and roll through. I've seen it done, it's impressive. I've also seen guys run right by bunny hoppers and I've seen hoppers face plant too. I still think dismounting is the best option.

sidenote: Being able to bunnyhop is still really good to know even if you can't
hop an entire 3-pack. Sometimes course designers put logs, mud pits, and small creeks in the middle of the route. too bad I still can't do 'em

I saw a guy get off his bike and then dig a tunnel underneath the barrier once. He lost a little time, but not much.

Another bunny hop pic:

http://www.pbase.com/stlbiking/image/36069664

It looks nice when they make it, but the price is high when it doesn't work. Remember, how Chris H of Big Shark broke his collarbone a couple years back, trying to bunnyhop a barrier in the local St Louis series.

Another bunny hop pic:

http://www.pbase.com/stlbiking/image/36069664

Thats pretty impressive, it looks like the barier is at the top of a slight incline, very impressive...

I'd be more impressed if he had a jetpack and launched himself over the barrier.

We've got a few guys who can bunny-hop the 40cm barriers but those guys are rare. If the race is close most will dismount, if they're way off the front they'll do it but it's really all about style points then.

For the record - I've tried with practice barriers and can't do it.
Also around here you can only bunny-hop barriers, natural or man made, in the A race.

I watched Adam Craig bunny hop every barrier in a race by Salem, OR. Two of them were on an up incline. First time I had seen it, really impressive. Don't know if it was because of the hopping but he easily won the race.

ok, i've never done cyclocross, but hopping those barriers doesn't look that difficult. They are no higher than some parking blocks and curbs i've jumped over, and yes the blocks were in the grass (so not on hard pavement), and some were after an incline. I'm probably incredibly wrong, but I just don't see this as that impressive. Well, in a race when the guy next to you just needs to crowd you or "bump" you in the air... yeah, that's pretty cool, but by yourself.... I don't know. Maybe those pictures just aren't doing the barriers justice.

ok, i've never done cyclocross, but hopping those barriers doesn't look that difficult. They are no higher than some parking blocks and curbs i've jumped over

LOL
No you haven't done cyclocross have you.

ok, i've never done cyclocross, but hopping those barriers doesn't look that difficult. They are no higher than some parking blocks and curbs i've jumped over, and yes the blocks were in the grass (so not on hard pavement), and some were after an incline. I'm probably incredibly wrong, but I just don't see this as that impressive. Well, in a race when the guy next to you just needs to crowd you or "bump" you in the air... yeah, that's pretty cool, but by yourself.... I don't know. Maybe those pictures just aren't doing the barriers justice.

heh, good one!

please post some video of yourself attempting to bunnyhop 40 cm barriers.

and then try to imagine having the finesse and endurance to bunny hop 2 in a row in a race situation, when you're about to puke and you're cross-eyed from being at the redline for 45+ minutes. throw in some rain, mud, uneven ground, other racers, and 180 degree turns that kill your speed....

nah, you're right, its not that hard.

ok, i've never done cyclocross, but hopping those barriers doesn't look that difficult. They are no higher than some parking blocks and curbs i've jumped over, and yes the blocks were in the grass (so not on hard pavement), and some were after an incline. I'm probably incredibly wrong, but I just don't see this as that impressive. Well, in a race when the guy next to you just needs to crowd you or "bump" you in the air... yeah, that's pretty cool, but by yourself.... I don't know. Maybe those pictures just aren't doing the barriers justice.

You have to be joking.
Alternatively, I would guess you are quite used to being incredibly wrong.

ok, i've never done cyclocross, but hopping those barriers doesn't look that difficult. They are no higher than some parking blocks and curbs i've jumped over, and yes the blocks were in the grass (so not on hard pavement), and some were after an incline. I'm probably incredibly wrong, but I just don't see this as that impressive. Well, in a race when the guy next to you just needs to crowd you or "bump" you in the air... yeah, that's pretty cool, but by yourself.... I don't know. Maybe those pictures just aren't doing the barriers justice.

I've done races where, on the last lap, I had pushed it so hard that I could barely step over the barriers let alone bunny hop. Not that I've been able to master a bunny hop with a fixed gear yet.

now that's some skillz

Danny De Bie brought the bunnyhop to prominence in the late 80s.

Very impressive seeing riders still able to do it after racing for an hour at World Cup pace...