Originally Posted by
PatrickGSR94
I didn't say potholes. Ride around those. I cross tracks on 25mm tires, alum. frame and carbon fork all day long. But I know many people who run 23's and cross them, as well. Have never, ever seen anyone ever bunny hop tracks. You still have to (and should) slow down somewhat when crossing tracks, but that's still going to be faster than hopping over them.
I agree that bunnyhopping is not, in the strictest sense of the word, necessary. Neither is riding no-handed or trackstanding. But all of these things are useful bike handling skills that riders can use in safe and efficient riding.
Sometimes I have come across road hazards that are too wide to ride around or traffic conditions were such that a lateral swerve would be impossible or unsafe. Sometimes I have come across road hazards that I saw too late to brake or to change my line. In those cases, the quickest, safest, most efficient move was to bunnyhop.
As I said, bunnyhopping is not strictly speaking necessary, but there is almost no downside to it and it's become such a useful part of my skillset that I can't imagine not doing it.