Mountain Biking - Riding help

I want to learn how to get over logs and stuff in my way without having to go over it slowly (sometimes causing me to fall). I would really like to bunny-hop or j-hop them instead. I might be using a wierd word j-hop....This is how I grew up: bunny-hop is when you get both the wheels off the ground at the same time, and j-hop is when you pull up the front first then bring the back up after. That being said.... I can't seem to time anything right. When I try to jump the log, my rear tire hits causing me to go wildly out of control. So I basically stick with the slow approach. I want to learn how to avoid that. Any suggestions???

Thanks

Traditionally bunny hop IS the j-hop. The parellel bunny hop I guess started being called a bunnyhop when clipless became prominent (I dont know that part for sure, just guessing)...look at OLD bmx mags. Bunny hop is front wheel first, thrust and lift rear wheel...In england they call the traditional one a bunny hop and the crappy one and english bunny hop (just learned that the other day)...anyways the point is moot...

Practice. A real bunny hop is not easy. I have been working at it for 2 years. Eventually the move just clicks...lift front, throw bike forward and compress legs...oh and don't practice on trails...try hopping short boxes...or even a bunny hop bar. Things where the consequences are nill. This will allow you to keep trying without fear of getting seriously hurt. Also if you can, video tape yourself. You will see mistakes (commonly not putting the bike forward OR lifting legs enough, thats what it sounds like with your description...)

Good luck

I want to learn how to get over logs and stuff in my way without having to go over it slowly (sometimes causing me to fall). I would really like to bunny-hop or j-hop them instead. I might be using a wierd word j-hop....This is how I grew up: bunny-hop is when you get both the wheels off the ground at the same time, and j-hop is when you pull up the front first then bring the back up after. That being said.... I can't seem to time anything right. When I try to jump the log, my rear tire hits causing me to go wildly out of control. So I basically stick with the slow approach. I want to learn how to avoid that. Any suggestions???

Thanks

Its gonna be hard to explain how to bunny or J hop. Its all about practice. I had trouble for the longest time. I don't know how to bunny, but i can J hop curbs pretty easily.

To J hop, I pull the front up, when the front is at its peak, I shift my body weight up. Thats how I do it. Maybe other people can elaborate.

Sorry to sidetrack, but I was jsut wondering what you guys learned first. Bunny or J hopping. I hear that J hopping is harder and bunny hopping is easier.

I learned how to parellel lift first. It was easy. Had it down within a day.

Bunny hop is still coming. Finally getting technique down, now I am working on height. (it has been a long road...)

hmm... ive never heard the term 'j-hop' aside from in this forum... we call the Front wheel first thing a bunny hop... and both wheels a bunnyhop... and back wheel frist is a Nollie (but thats my skater side showing :p)

hmm... ive never heard the term 'j-hop' aside from in this forum...

It is an old school term from the 70's, not used much anymore.

:beer:

hmm... ive never heard the term 'j-hop' aside from in this forum... we call the Front wheel first thing a bunny hop... and both wheels a bunnyhop... and back wheel frist is a Nollie (but thats my skater side showing :p)

I thought a nollie was basically a nose wheelie (at least thats what I call a nose wheelie :D)

i call Nose wheelies endos...sort of.

i guess a moving endo would be a nose wheelie.. but that would be NEARLY impossible, well, to sustain at least.

but a nollie is a back wheel first bunny hop.. pretty difficult to get any real height with that one.

AHHHHH...ok I get it...yeah I do those periodically for show off of skinnies (small drops)...definately hard to do and you need some speed

I know a number of guys who can do moving nose wheelies...heck I know a couple of guys who do them down stairs :) (I can't ;))

the term j-hop is still widely used in the sport of trials. check out www.trials-online.com an endo is stopping on the front wheel, a stoppie or nose-wheelie is rolling on the front wheel, usually with the brake applied.

i think that bunnyhopping over logs isnt always the best way over, bc landing on a trail at speed can be very unpredicable. if you ride with clipless a very quick and easy way over obstacles is to lift the front wheel onto the obstancle, then lunge the bike so the front wheel is then on the ground and the rear is on top of the obstacle, then just roll off it. its hard to explain without a diagram. if you dont ride with clipless you can still do this, but not knowing how to bunnyhop makes it difficult.

learning to bunnyhop is easiest on a BMX, so get one, then try it on your MTB. :) keep working at bunnyhopping though, its a very handy skill to have.

I want to learn how to get over logs and stuff in my way without having to go over it slowly (sometimes causing me to fall). I would really like to bunny-hop or j-hop them instead. I might be using a wierd word j-hop....This is how I grew up: bunny-hop is when you get both the wheels off the ground at the same time, and j-hop is when you pull up the front first then bring the back up after. That being said.... I can't seem to time anything right. When I try to jump the log, my rear tire hits causing me to go wildly out of control. So I basically stick with the slow approach. I want to learn how to avoid that. Any suggestions??? Thanks

The bunny hop where both wheels come off the ground and return to terra firma at the same time is actually very easy. The trick is to have your balance over you pedals and your cranks parallel to the ground. This means that your hands on the bars shouldn't be pressing down or pulling up. If they are, you're not perfectly balanced over your bottom bracket. The next step is to lift from the feet while you (very important) keep a quiet upperbody. The quiet upper body will keep your bike in control while you're in the air and ensure a safe landing. In fact, you might have the sensation from keeping a quiet upper body that your head stayed at the same height from the ground as you draw your feet straight up. This manuever is usually better accomplished with some speed so that you'll clear the object you're hopping over with both wheels.

The "J-Hop" or lifting the front wheel up first then the rear wheel up next is a completely different manuever. It's a slower move for larger obstacles that you can't clear with a bunny hop. First pull up on the bars to get some lift with the front end. It doesn't need to lift up as high as the object ...just high enough to get that front wheel rolling over the object. Then almost immediately after your front has cleard the object, thrust forward on the bars to create enough momentum and front end force to take weight off the rear wheel while pushing forward so facilitate clearing the object with the rear wheel. I sometimes do a little lift with both feet if the obstacle is so big that that a little vertical assistance would help complete a successful hop. If the chain ring is going to hit, then pedal over it instead of lifting with the feet.