Bunny Hops, how'd you learn?
03-02-08 | 08:56 PM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: Atascadero, CA
It seems like you could gain a bit of elevation if you pushed on your back foot once the back wheel is off the ground.
Must admit I have had a few close calls trying to hop on the fixed gear and I havent really figured out how just yet.
Must admit I have had a few close calls trying to hop on the fixed gear and I havent really figured out how just yet.
03-03-08 | 01:03 PM
#27
Stuck On Cruise Control
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: 305 to the 215
Bikes: IRO Jamie Roy 53cm
theres a few ways to practice this. goto a place that has a small step and going really slow, parallel to the lip, pull up your front tire and place it on the step, but close to the lip so your still almost parrallel. And then right afterwards try to follow with your rear tire and place it on the step. Initially you wont actually be jumping because youll move the front and rear seperately. To bunny hop you basically have to do this motion faster, pull up the bars and move them over, and while your front is still in the air, lift up the rear.
Its alot easier to jump up things successfully from the side. to practice this use a small step or line and practice jumping over it, at progressively faster speeds, and landing both wheels on the other side. I also found that using toe clips isnt really neccessary for this and its better to learn how to grip the pedals properly than rely on the clips. Once you get good at going side to side just start hitting bigger steps and eventually youll get it.
Id recommend getting a thicker tire or else youll ding your rim practicing.
Its alot easier to jump up things successfully from the side. to practice this use a small step or line and practice jumping over it, at progressively faster speeds, and landing both wheels on the other side. I also found that using toe clips isnt really neccessary for this and its better to learn how to grip the pedals properly than rely on the clips. Once you get good at going side to side just start hitting bigger steps and eventually youll get it.
Id recommend getting a thicker tire or else youll ding your rim practicing.
03-03-08 | 01:12 PM
#28
:)
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,391
Likes: 1
From: duluth
Bikes: '07 Pista, '09 Fantom Cross Uno, '8? Miyata, '67 Stingray, '0? Zoo mod trials, Tallbike, Chopper, '73 Schwinn Collegiate, '67 Triumph Chopper, '69 CB350, '58 BSA Spitfire, '73 CB450
Bunny Hops, how'd you learn?
03-03-08 | 02:38 PM
#29
Arizona Dessert
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 15,029
Likes: 2,170
From: AZ
Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix, Lemond Poprad. Retired: Jamis Sputnik, Centurion LeMans Fixed, Diamond Back ascent ex
Yeah, I can't hop curb high obstacles as I am riding toward them.
I can hop high enough when I want though, but only when I want is when my mind/body wants to, not when I need to to clear a curb.
I can also lift front wheel over a curb/bump and lighten rear, but hop over a curb high object while traveling at 20mph. Nope.
Al
I can hop high enough when I want though, but only when I want is when my mind/body wants to, not when I need to to clear a curb.
I can also lift front wheel over a curb/bump and lighten rear, but hop over a curb high object while traveling at 20mph. Nope.
Al
03-03-08 | 02:41 PM
#30
Banned.
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,694
Likes: 0
From: 40th, up in the 30th
I learned by going up curbs in two parts...front end, back end
the more I did that, the smoother it became...less of two parts, more of one motion
wheeling helped me be comfortable with getting the front end really high before the 'hop'
the more I did that, the smoother it became...less of two parts, more of one motion
wheeling helped me be comfortable with getting the front end really high before the 'hop'
03-03-08 | 02:44 PM
#31
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: NYC
I started riding a scooter (not the fold-up "Razor" scooter type - the kind with inflatable tires) when I was 14 and did some hopping on that. The motion translated into learning how to not only bunny-hop on my BMX, but I figured out really quickly how to "ollie" on a skateboard.
03-03-08 | 02:47 PM
#32
Lamb of God
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 447
Likes: 0
03-03-08 | 02:53 PM
#34
is as Gurgus does.
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 910
Likes: 0
From: Otisburg
Bikes: A whole bunch o' bikes.
I learned on my MTB bike after watching my cat jump up onto stuff. Also, watching squirells helped too. I try not to bunny hop on my fixed gear though. i don't wanna wreck my rims.
03-03-08 | 03:02 PM
#36
Arizona Dessert
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 15,029
Likes: 2,170
From: AZ
Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix, Lemond Poprad. Retired: Jamis Sputnik, Centurion LeMans Fixed, Diamond Back ascent ex
03-03-08 | 04:46 PM
#39
affix pistol bayonets!
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee
Bikes: Early-Mid 80's Peugeot Super Competition, 1981 Basso, Mid-80's Peugeot Course
This made me laugh.
I'm totally guilty of having that mindset sometimes though.
Bunnyhopping is definitely a good skill to have. It has probably saved me several trips to the E.R. because of my ability to avoid potholes and leap onto/off of curbs. Also, it I enjoy jumping straight up in the air like a surprised cat while I am drunkenly cruising town.
I'm totally guilty of having that mindset sometimes though.
Bunnyhopping is definitely a good skill to have. It has probably saved me several trips to the E.R. because of my ability to avoid potholes and leap onto/off of curbs. Also, it I enjoy jumping straight up in the air like a surprised cat while I am drunkenly cruising town.
03-04-08 | 06:37 AM
#42
free mallocs
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 520
Likes: 0
From: melbourne, australia
This is long, but worth a read even if you know how to hop, if only for the fantastically clear explanation of how it all works and the pretty pictures (and videos): https://www.bmxbasics.org/new/bmx0703.html
Doing it fixed I guess is an exercise for the reader
Doing it fixed I guess is an exercise for the reader
03-04-08 | 10:08 AM
#44
Middle-aged fogie
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: SoBo (south of Boston)
Being an old fogie who never really had much use for this skill, what kind of close calls would you have? The OP's example of wanting to hop a curb or a pothole seems like a reasonable reason to learn the skill... but whats the downside?
03-04-08 | 10:38 AM
#46
slot machine
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 482
Likes: 0
From: Richmond, Va
Bikes: fuji and a Meteor
The downside that I have seen is that your landings can become botched quickly depending on your pedal position upon impact.
