Jumping a Hardtail
 

Just got a '12 Cannondale Flash Alloy 2 29er with the "Lefty" fork a few weeks ago and I wanna hit some trails.

As a kid I had a GT Pro Performer and jumped it quite a bit off some fairly nice jumps. I don't know if things have changed but could I still jump a hardtail? How much "air" could I safely manage without damaging a frame and/or myself? I'm sure weight is a factor and I weigh about 210 lbs.

Also, when jumping, how do I want to land? Do I want to land fairly flat or would I want my rear wheel making contact with the ground first? I used to land with the rear wheel first but that was on a BMX/Freestyle bike without a fork with travel. I'm assuming things are probably a little different with a fork that travels?

It's possible, but i wouldn't recommend it. You have a nice, light XC bike, that wont have the right geometry or components for jumping, but it should be fine for the odd mid trail drop or table.

I would keep your jumps to probaly under-14-foot gaps :D

Seriously, I presume you're just talking smaller obstacles like you'd find on a normal "fun" trail. Size is not so important as how 'flowy' the jumps are and smoothly you can boost them. With your bike, avoid ones that don't have a nice transition (down-slope landing). DON'T land rear-first (old-skool moto-style); instead, let the bike arc in the air to where your arced trajectory is in line with the slope of the transition. If the landing is a bit flat, still come in a bit nose-down so that your front suspension can absorb some of the landing and the rear follow. If you launch flat, the landing will be harsh; if you land nose-up on a hardtail, chances it will slap down, which then pitches you forward against a compressing fork - - which then unweights the rear end, threatening to send you OTB.

Yeah, that's kinda what I mean...downhill trail and there's a "step-off" or something like that where the wheels would lose contact with the ground for a few moments. While I'd love to hit table-tops and what-not, I understand that's really not what the bike's designed to do. :)

I always liked to, 'Pinch Back' or 'Poke The Bike forward' at the bars and pedals when I go airborne,
I Look out over the front, about six to ten feet out and land on both wheels, This cuts wheel load in half IF I get It right,,,,IF

My Body Is the Shock absorber.

But Its been a while,,I'll prolly crash XD