JahRo225

Just wondering lol. Around my campus, there are tons of curbs, but I've never actually tried jumping over one. I have a mountain bike, but it doesn't have a huge amount of front suspension, enough though. I just don't want to embarass myself

blue9

Did you never do bunny-hops on a BMX as a kid? Same thing. You don't need front suspension. As you approach the curb kinda squat down on your bike, then straighten your legs, pull up on the handle bars and push down on both pedals so that you're transferring your weight into the rear wheel and just as all of your weight pushes down through your legs/pedals/wheel then you kinda jump - your feet don't leave the pedals though...when you jump your bike comes up with you and stays in contact with your feet. Pretend your rear wheel is your feet, and you're pushing off the ground with your rear wheel. You can practice on the street in case you're worried you won't clear the curb. Jump manhole covers or sticks.

SouthFLpix

Just as a side note, I would not try to hop a curb with a bike that is loaded down with panniers. You probably won't make it and it could cause a spill.

neotheone

You're on a mountain bike so really you could probably just run it over but blue9 hit the nail on the head

JahRo225

Well they've got a few that are about 6 inches or so, so I don't wanna just roll over that haha, just single-walled rims. And no, I didn't do any BMX stuff as a kid, but I did ride on trails lol

MilitantPotato

I jump them one wheel at a time, bit easier on the bike, and my body. Catching the curb with the rear at speed HURTS.

ollyisk

I jump curbs all the time with panniers. You just need to make sure they're secure.

Curb jumping also depends on your bike, tires, and wheels. I ride a Salsa La Cruz (cyclocross bike) with 700x32c tires...I keep the front around 90 PSI and the rear around 75-80 PSI (just so it's a little more squishy). Although most road wheels (if properly tensioned) can take tons of curbs, I have 29er MTB wheels (Stan's Arches) because I'm bigger--about 240ish with my panniers/gear--and don't want to worry about bending a rim out of shape.

To hop a curb, I slow down, do a wheelie with my front wheel and roll over with my rear wheel. I wouldn't suggest hitting a curb at a speed though.

If you're on a MTB with front suspension, curbs should be no problem. I wouldn't worry at all about hopping curbs, especially with such high volume tires. If the curbs are as big as you say though, just make sure that your bike can clear them without bashing your chainrings on concrete.

contango 

The way I go up a kerb is to slow on the approach and keep the crank arms horizontal (I keep the right pedal forward but that's just preference), then step on the pedal and pull the handlebars up to lift the front wheel over the kerb. Then as the rear wheel approaches just move your weight forward and give the pedals a push to keep the forward momentum. Round my way they aren't 6", so make sure you've got clearance so you don't catch your chainrings (as someone already said) and be prepared to jump off the saddle in a hurry if you're not familiar with how the bike will react. If you can, practise on smaller steps.

Going down is easier, again I slow on approach (probably not necessary for lighter riders), shift my weight back as the front wheel drops down, then shift my weight forward as the rear wheel drops down. Here the idea is to minimise the impact as the wheels go over the step.

Chances are my bike would cope with treating it much more roughly than this, but the rider might not.

MichaelW

I have hopped curbs on narrow tyres with loaded panniers. You pop the front wheel up as usual then brake, then un-weight the pedals and ride the rear up the curb.
When coming down off a curb, beware of cambered road surfaces.

chasm54

This is how.