Bunny Hop (sk8ers call them ollies)

[manual63]

Okay, I have to tell you right now that in order to properly learn to bunny hop, you must remove the clipless pedals and use regular shoes and platforms. If you learn to hop without them, you will just be that much better with them on.

The bunny hop is very odd because people always ask me how I get the back wheel off the ground. I don’t fully know how it works, but I’d like to say it is compression that helps. Hans Rey explained the bunny hop as pushing into the ground and not pulling up. This logic works very well. Start with a slow roll and make sure your pedals are level with your most comfortable foot in front, like when you are jumping. I have my right foot forward. Then bend your knees and elbows lowering your whole body close to the bike in a crouch. Now push both your legs and your arms into the ground (as Hans Rey says) allowing your body to spring up (as if you are standing and jumping). As you uncompress your body and your arms and legs straighten, start to compress again allowing your knees and elbows to bend. As your elbows bend, pull up hard with your arms. Make sure you pull up your legs at the same time; the pedals and rear wheel will follow if done correctly. By making sure you keep pulling with the arms as you catch air, you can prevent landing on the front wheel first. If you land on the front wheel first, pull harder with your arms and shift your weight back more.

The advanced bunny hop requires a bit more skill. First you should be able to pull the front wheel pretty high or even be able to do little manuals for the advanced version. Now what you do is lean back and pull up on the bars so the front wheel comes off the ground a ways. At the same time, bend your knees and push into the ground with your legs. You are now in a crouched wheelie or manual position with the front wheel off the ground. Now push you legs into the ground and pull up hard with your arms. As your legs straighten, start to bend the knees and allow the bike and rear wheel to come up underneath you. You need to keep pulling up on bars to keep the front wheel from coming down and once your rear wheel has reached it’s max height, push it back down with your legs and keep the front end up with your arms. Then allow the rear wheel to come down and the front one to follow. The best way to gauge height is to pull your front wheel up about 3 inches above the object you want to clear (like the chain in the parking lot at Lebanon). Then if you allow your rear wheel to be fully absorbed into your body after you pull it up off the ground, you will have no problems clearing the object. If you watch someone from the side doing this type of bunny hop, instead of seeing both wheels come off the ground at the same time, you will see the front wheel come up first, then the rear wheel. The hard part when learning this is to keep the front wheel up longer than the rear. This requires you to pull on the bars keeping them up while you allow your legs to control the up and down motion of the rear wheel.

The reason you want to eventually learn the advanced bunny hop is obvious. If you hop both wheels at the same time and you are trying to clear an object, you have to hop high enough and long enough to clear the wheelbase of your bike and the object you are trying to clear. If you do the advanced bunny hop, all you need to do is hop the distance of the object and not the whole wheelbase plus the distance of the object. The motion used in the advanced bunny hop is also very similar to what you would do when you speed roll a mound or log pile. Front wheel first, then rear wheel.

If I keep this up(giving technical pointers), all you lung masters will have skill to go along with your power and I will never catch up to you on the trail.

[s1ngletracker]

hey now, maybe us "lung masters" should give you pointers on how to get in shape, just to be fair? ;)

not all of us 'lung masters' are completely devoid of handling skill. I spent all spring riding insanely technical trails in golden, CO such as Dakota ridge, Mathew winters, and Apex.

not to mention i ripped off one entire lap at lebanon (including beginner loop) in 22:25 at the lebanon TT :etard:

[gopherhockey]

Originally posted by s1ngletracker

not to mention i ripped off one entire lap at lebanon (including beginner loop) in 22:25 at the lebanon TT :etard:

22:25? NICE!

That deserves at least 2 dancing bananas...

:banana: :banana:

[manual63]

Then write a thread on how to get in shape. I could use some pointers. I may be technical, but I get wupped by the Lung masters out there.

Is 22:25 fast? I've never timed myself.

[s1ngletracker]

ok here's a tip i will give you:

Im sure you hammer through really technical singletrack, cause thats your thing, but when you get on the uphill gravel roads and straight smooth singletrack up hills, do you show the same excitement and work hard on those?

A good way to work on fitness is when you get on that stuff, bust your @$$ up it. Work hard and it will pay off.

Especially at Lebanon, besides the first long hill, I full out sprinted the rest.

Oh and to let you know, the reason you most likely still get beat by lung busters is because, unfortunately more time is made up on the climbs than on the technical stuff, :cryin:

[Kingbozo]

Then write a thread on how to get in shape.

Simple. Go to Duluth. Ride from canal park to UMD three times a day for two weeks. The hills in the metro will look like speed bumps.;)

[jitterjepp]

That is a monster hill ride compared to anything down here! Good idea. hmmmm......now...how to sneak away for a while and go try it?

[SickBoy]

Fastest lap out at Lebanon for the time trials this year, as far as I know, was 21:10-ish.

[manual63]

Last night I had a few people wonder how I can bunny hop without having clipless pedals. Being from a BMX background and knowing no one, except some crazy BMX racers, is clipped in while doing all the crazy stuff you see (like the X-Games), I thought this was a strange question.

So when we got out to the lot at Lebanon, I bunny hopped the chain in the parking lot to show it can be done and done just as well as with clipless. I actually feel safer and more control without clipless. Like I suggested before, it is a good idea to learn how to bunny hop without clipless so you get the technique right. Then go back to clipless and you will have much better control.

You may want to resist this idea, but I suggest you learn it the correct way and be open to the idea.

[SilverAthlon]

Originally posted by Kingbozo
Simple. Go to Duluth. Ride from canal park to UMD three times a day for two weeks. The hills in the metro will look like speed bumps.;)
HAHAHAH that's NO Joke. Beautiful place too, that canal park...

[noise_is_life]

While Shad's Bunny Hop instructions have already been very helpful to me, now that I have tried it on platforms I realize that there has to be more to it, so being the geek that I am I hit the internet. Here's what I found so far.
Commentary?

http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~lukem/mtb/bunnyhop.txt
http://www.webmountainbike.com/howtobunnyhop.html
http://www.downhill-board.com/proc/downhill_364780.html

There are two techniques that come up in these links: Pivoting your grips forward, and keeping tension between your bars and your pedals in order to lift the bike.

Everyone seems to back up the advise that the best way to do a bunny hop is out of a manual instead of flat, so I guess that's another skill to struggle over.

...and just so everyone has a goal, here is Ryan Leech doing a hop over a 103cm bar (with platforms of course).

Ryan Leech Video (http://www.ryanleech.com/multimedia/films/sidehop2.mov)

[zerpy]

Originally posted by noise_is_life
While Shad's Bunny Hop instructions have already been very helpful to me, now that I have tried it on platforms I realize that there has to be more to it, so being the geek that I am I hit the internet. Here's what I found so far.
Commentary?

http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~lukem/mtb/bunnyhop.txt
http://www.webmountainbike.com/howtobunnyhop.html
http://www.downhill-board.com/proc/downhill_364780.html

There are two techniques that come up in these links: Pivoting your grips forward, and keeping tension between your bars and your pedals in order to lift the bike.

Everyone seems to back up the advise that the best way to do a bunny hop is out of a manual instead of flat, so I guess that's another skill to struggle over.

...and just so everyone has a goal, here is Ryan Leech doing a hop over a 103cm bar (with platforms of course).

Ryan Leech Video (http://www.ryanleech.com/multimedia/films/sidehop2.mov)


I don't know if it is really from a manual, because in a manual you already have so much of your weight back over the rear wheel, but yes you do yank up the front wheel first. Then, before your front wheel is at it's apex, I start pushing the bars forward and rotating the bar forward with my wrists too to use the use some of the upward momentum of the front wheel to pull the rear wheel up and level the bike out some. All this while trying to keep my body out of the way of the bike.

Obviously it's much easier on paper than in reality. When I do get a lot of air (on very rare occasions), I've been able to get about a foot, I tend to over do it and send the front wheel pounding into the ground before the rear wheel lands. Once I actually endoed because I pushed down on the front wheel while the back was still coming up and I went right over the bars. I would still like to do that again (except for the part where I eat asphalt) actually because I got some major air. Haven't been able to repeat it. The guy is right, you start to do it subconsciously. If I try to bunnyhop without really thinking about it, I get several inches, maybe even the very rare foot. But it I think too much (which is most of the time), then the timing is off and it sucks.

I'm not trying to be an expert here (that's shad's job in this dept :geek: ), I don't even successfully get both wheels off the ground half the time. But from my practicing my method has been evolving to be pretty much what was written up in those links you posted. I think it is getting my timing right and maximizing my momentum.

[manual63]

It is the same hopping out of a manual than it is hopping with the front wheel first, then the rear. The body is essentially in the same place. As for the pushing the bars forward, do this, but make sure you are pulling up and pushing forward as you allow the rear wheel to come up with your legs. If you don't maintain upward pull on the bars, you will endo, as described by zerpy. The trick is to keep the front wheel up in the air while your back wheel comes up, clears the object being bunny hopped, then pushed down to land before the front wheel. It sounds impossible, but it's not. Your arms do a lot of work and most of a bunny hop is in your upper body.

The key is to always start off small. Bunny hop a 2X4 to learn. The key.......make sure your body motions are correct and make sure you pull front wheel first, then rear wheel. Then land rear wheel first after you clear object. Once you do it over 1 2X4, stack them and do 2.........then 3......you know........build up to it. Sure, it's fun to go big, but by not starting off small and building your way up, you don't get the techniques right. Remember, use platforms and take off those clipless. Lower your seat when you practice to get extra room and clearance. Oh, and have fun.

[noise_is_life]

This page is about bunny hopping BMX, but it is well written and should translate well.

BMX Basics (http://victoriabmx.com/Articles/articles010803.htm)

[manual63]

I remember reading a mountain bike magazine in the late 90's about MTB skills. The guy writing was a vertern MTB racer and went to a MTB national where Specialized sponsored the event alongside a major BMX national. The writer mentioned how it was the first time an event combined the two sports in one weekend. He said it was a real eye opener for a lot of vetern MTB racers when they saw young kids (5 years old and up) and girls jumping doubles and bunnyhopping. He actaully made fun of the fact he or most other mountain bikers would be scared to death to jump the doubles at this BMX track. He stated how it was an eye opener for the MTB world and ever since, things have changed, for the better in my opinion, in the MTB world. The sport has definitely gotten a lot more aggresive.......that's for sure.

If you look at these bunny hop how-to's, notice how it's a BMX chick doing the dirty work.......eye opener....maybe.....but then again, you may not care.......:p.

[manual63]

Originally posted by noise_is_life
This page is about bunny hopping BMX, but it is well written and should translate well.

BMX Basics (http://victoriabmx.com/Articles/articles010803.htm)

Nice surfin' Pat!!!! That's a good article.

These pictures and videos are very good for learning purposes. The only complaint I had was how the guy stated landing on your rear wheel first was very important. All the riders showed good control, but they all landed both wheels at about the same time. It is important to learn how to use your legs to compress the bike into your body, while getting max height, then extend to push the rear wheel down so it lands first. I know I am being picky here, but the guy should have had at least one rider over exagerate this point so people can see how the legs compress and extend better. Good how-to and very well worth the viewing if you want to learn or improve your bunny hop. Notice how the front wheel is lifted first and then the rear wheel. This is the more advanced technique I explained at the beginning of this thread.

Keep in mind, I am excited to teach this summer, so if you want, keep coming back here to see when lessons will be taught.

[fasterfoster]

When you say "lessons" does that mean you're going to formally do a clinic type of thing? I would be very interested and I would also bring my son.

As I've said before, I recently took up BMX racing as a 43 year old and beat the people I do only because of my fitness level, certainly not because of my technical skills. I try to lift the front end over some close bumps, but I definately can't manual or bunny hop. ...and double...I wish! What's ironic, is that it's the colmplete opposite for mountain biking, where my skills help me keep up with the more fit cyclists!

[manual63]

If you want BMX help, that would probably be something I can do on the side.

As for mountain bike lessons, I've talked with MORC about doing official ones and am waiting for some sort of official word, but I did some with some help from other just by planning to meet for a group ride and stopping along the trail to show how to take certain sections. Bunny hopping is a more advanced lesson along with bigger drops, jumping, higher speed cornering and such. If you are on the BMX track, that will greatly increase you MTB skills.

[fasterfoster]

Thanks for the response. I'll keep in touch and plan something more definate when the weather's a little nicer.

Thanks again!

[noise_is_life]

I'm definitely going to need some pointers on this, I can't quite translate the instructions into what I'm supposed to be doing on the bike. I'm just trying to start with a manual, but not getting very far.

I do get the idea that the geometry of a BMX bike vs. a mountain bike makes a difference, but I know it can be done anyway (I've seen Shad do it :))

[zerpy]

I'm definitely going to need some pointers on this, I can't quite translate the instructions into what I'm supposed to be doing on the bike. I'm just trying to start with a manual, but not getting very far.

I do get the idea that the geometry of a BMX bike vs. a mountain bike makes a difference, but I know it can be done anyway (I've seen Shad do it :))
I wouldn't worry about trying to hop from a manual until you can do a basic hop. First of all I can't manual worth a darn anyway, more than about 5 feet and I lose it. But now I can finally hop (or maybe I should say as of last fall) after bringing the front wheel up. But I'd get so that you are hopping pretty reliably from both wheels down. Then it seems to come natual that I bring the front wheel up first then do the hop. Now, that seems to be a lot "easier" for me. But it isn't like I'm riding along with my wheel up and then decide to get some air, it's more like all one move, but the front wheel comes up first. So it might be easier just to get the basic hopping action down, then work on pulling up the front wheel first.

[noise_is_life]

Well, I'm not having much success with that either, and we are talking with flat pedals, I can hop just fine with the clipless pedals.

My feet inevitably come off the pedals every time. I imagine I just need to keep working on it until my body figures out what to do, but it is frustrating.

[zerpy]

Well, I'm not having much success with that either, and we are talking with flat pedals, I can hop just fine with the clipless pedals.

My feet inevitably come off the pedals every time. I imagine I just need to keep working on it until my body figures out what to do, but it is frustrating.

I do have the same prob with feet slipping off if I try to lift with my calves. I just don't get those pedals rotated around enough. So I cheat, I've got 300lbs of pizza eating mass to plow down into that rear wheel:) I squat really low and jump. If I were on the ground and not on a bike, I'd be jumping with all fours, and then as I come up, I yank on the handle bars while continuing to push up with my legs. Then I start to lift my legs, letting the bike come up under my feet, I'm pulling the bike up with the bars and I've got energy stored in the compressed rear tire. At this point, I'm also trying to roll the handle bars forward, twisting with my wrists. This helps level the bike out.

A common problem I have, as mentioned in the article, is bringing the front wheel down first. Which promptly twists to the side, sending me crashing into the ground with the bike on top of me. This tends to force unpleasant sounds out of my mouth as well. I get so much into trying to level the bike out that I send the front end down and I forget to push the rear back down with my legs.

I think my absolute max hop has been prob 12 inches. That was one of those times I face planted on the way down too. But I usually don't seem to have a problem hopping curbs, pop bottles, etc...

If you are thinking about it, you prob won't be fast enough as I've found out. I found the same thing sk8ing, I did OK at ollieing when I wasn't thinking too hard about it, but if I was demonstrating to someone or tying to take note of what I did to explain it, I couldn't do it.

[manual63]

You guys seems to be on the right track. Keep this in mind. Don't try so hard at first to get real high. Start with a 2X4 laying flat. Learn to clear that, then put it on it's side and try that. Keep working on it at the lower heights until you get really consistant. The front wheel should come up first, but you don't really have to manual, you just have to pop it up first, then do the rear.

zerpy, it seems like you are on the right track. 12 inches on a mountain bike is pretty high, but if you are landing front wheel first, try at a lower height until you can learn to push the rear wheel down so you land rear first or at least at the same time as the front. Remember, don't let your arms relax and stop pulling on the front end until after you start to push the rear wheel down with your legs. I bet if I run into you at the trails, I could get you to do a perfect bunny hop in a matter of minutes. You seem really close. Rockin'!!!!

[Shickdawg]

I hate to perform thread resurrection, but this was some great instruction. I went out with all this in mind, and was able to start doing some small hops. Thanks!! :cool:

[berrywise]

What's easier to learn on? Bmx bike or a mountain bike?

[manual63]

What's easier to learn on? Bmx bike or a mountain bike?
I would say a BMX bike. Mostly because it is going to be smaller and not front end heavy. I suppose, if your mountain bike is set up similar to how mine is, it won't be too hard to learn on, but a typical long stem low handlebar mountain bike is going to hard to bunnyhop correctly on. That is by lifting the front wheel first and then the rear second like I have discussed. When I do lessons, I will bring my BMX bike or Trials Mod bike so people can try it and see what they think.

[soupboy]

I think that is more gooder than a bunny hop. I think of a bunny hop, technically, as both wheels more or less leaving the ground simultaneously.

May be semantics, but the j-hop, as I think of it, allows you to pull the front wheel up to clear the object and then bring the rear up secondarily. Looks smoother too.

Could be shades of grey. I'd suggest learning either on flats and on a hardtail as different FS designs, specifically the rear shock type/settings, can make this either easier or more difficult to learn. Also takes a slightly different technique and timing to loft a FS. Master on a hardtail with flats first and you are golden.

I can definitely get higher off a hardtail w/ or w/o clipless than my porky FS bike. Like Shad says, there is a lot of upper body involved. A good bike workout is upright rows and pull ups to get that Popeye-like bar yanking strength. You also got to remember that you are "jumping" while on the bike and you need to explode from the hips/arse/thighs like you jumping up for a rebound.

Got nathan to say re manuals - can't do one - very cool, but I don't have even the slighest idea as to how to work up to them other than to say it would easier to learn on a HT since you don't have to deal with suspension compression.

Sean

[berrywise]

Some video links to show technique:


J-Hop
http://www.trials-online.com/video/bunnyhop.mov

Static Bunny Hop
http://www.trials-online.com/video/bunnyhop_static.mov

must have quicktime to view.

[manual63]

Some video links to show technique:


J-Hop
http://www.trials-online.com/video/bunnyhop.mov

Static Bunny Hop
http://www.trials-online.com/video/bunnyhop_static.mov

must have quicktime to view.
In the second video, the rider is still pulling up the front wheel first...then the rear. The only difference is the rider is not rolling forward and actually hopping backwards. If you can't balance in one place, this one would be tough.

I have never heard of J-Hop or American Bunnyhop. We used to call them broncos, which would seem more like pulling the front and then the rear kind of like a horse would do to eject your arse from the saddle.....:).

[whitt_travis]

My two cents...

Depending on your size, a BMX bike may be akward to learn a bunny hop on. Due to my height (6'3) and 185 pounds I kinda feel I'm too big for my BMX bike. Granted, there are larger riders in the BMX world, I just don't feel comfortable on it. I think it would be easier personally to learn how to hop on a Mtn. Bike, it's usually lighter then a chro-mo BMX bike, and has a bigger area of balance.

Dunno, I'm working my way to attaining some clipless pedals, but on platforms, I'd say I can hop about 10-12 inches at a slow pace on a Hard Rock Comp (hardtail, beefy frame.) I guess I've never measured, but a 3 log pyramid is cake for the most part...

Anywho, biggest thing is practice, and the best way is small 2 by 4's, or even better are cardboard boxes. Personally, I pump in a preload type of a fashion before I start my pull, then you just move the body with the bike. If you can do a rear wheel wheelie (pull up the back wheel while traveling), which is kinda a similar motion, you should be able to put it together pretty easily... I'll get some vids up in a few days.

[whitt_travis]

Ohh, and who do I contact about getting my MORC thingy under my name, I paid the man! The man owes me :-)

[manual63]

Ohh, and who do I contact about getting my MORC thingy under my name, I paid the man! The man owes me :-)
http://www.morcmtb.org/forums/sendmessage.php?do=mailmember&u=1

Send to this dude.....he is the man and he can tell you what's up.

[Trevize1138]

I think I can officially call myself an intermediate bunny-hopper! I've ridden a lot on my single speed with platforms and can bunny hop regularly on that thing. It's not been easy, particularly with all my years of clipped-in bunny hopping, but I'm finally getting there. When I can clear some of the log rolls at Lebanon a smooth and easily as Shad does, then I'll know I've made it.

What I've learned in these past several months about bunny hopping, though, seems to come down to one simple, yet hard-to-learn little trick: latteral front wheel control.

That's what it's all about! I still can't really manual for very long at all before getting nervous, but that seems to be the key to it all: if you can hold your front wheel off the ground and roll more-or-less indefinitely, the bunny-hop seems like it should come second nature. Not only that but doing dropps and landing them smoothly requires a LOT of front wheel control.

So: bunny hopping. Simple in theory, but takes quite a lot of practice to really nail down properly.

[SprocketHead]

... When I do lessons, I will bring my BMX bike or Trials Mod bike so people can try it and see what they think.

Lessons? That would be cool! When, Where?

[manual63]

Lessons? That would be cool! When, Where?
I did 2 rides this last summer. One Lesson one and one Group ride where everyone teaches everyone.

I plan to do more in the spring. If you want private lessons you can IM or Email me. I will set something up with you.

[manual63]

This is a thread push or whatever you want to call it. Some people have been asking about bunnyhopping with platforms. There is a lot of good info here.

Enjoy....:)

[manual63]

Thread bump.......or should I call it a thread bunny hop.....:scream:

[sportel]

I found this how-to article. Check it out.

http://www.bmxbasics.org/new/bmx0703.html

[crux]

I found this how-to article. Check it out.

http://www.bmxbasics.org/new/bmx0703.html

LOL, I have riding for some time now and jumping the bike with mixed results depending upon the FS or SS, time of day, phase of moon, regardless you get the idea.

I have always attempted to learn how to manual the bike (loft the front w/o a power stroke) and never figured it out. Recently ran across this site after a session of practicing this in the soccer field disappointed once again. Watched the clips a few times then gave it one more go out in the field, first few times nothing then all of a sudden lofted the front wheel and landed on my rear with little to no effort. Jumped right back on and gave it a few more attempts and finally figured it out, not just need to link the two to bunny hop higher that I ever thought possible.

Had to back to step one to get it right, but this site was very helpful. Watch the video then go practice. You will know when you get it right when the front end lofts with almost no effort.

[BKocka]

I feel it is necissary to explain this (sorry for the terrible spelling) for the sake of learning to bunny hop.

Shad is right in saying it is best to learn it on platforms, however for some people it is just really hard to do. An example is me. I have been bmxing for quite a few years and while i can do some semi-techinical bmx tricks I still can't bunny hop without being clipped in.

For years I was trying to do it by just jumping up, but the trick is not to just get your front wheel up and that was always my sore spot, just being able to get my front wheel up.

I was riding my mountain bike around in a field the first day it was built, out in bloomington, and my boyfriend seth was watching my form.

he said to me, "don't jump up, jump forward."

for some reason it just registered with me, and all of a sudden I could do it.

for a while i would pinch my seat with my thighes and that seemed to help. and most of the time my back wheel is in the air before my front now.

Bunny hopping is a strange, fluid motion, and if you look at how a skateboarer ollies I think people understand it better. It's like "front wheel in the air- and as it comes down, the rear wheel goes up."

maybe im not doing the bunnyhop justice, but that's how it made sense to me.

It is easier tho, on a mountain bike that you are clipped in on because you are automaticly carrying the whole bike with you, where as platforms you have to work a bit harder because it's almost like a backward motion to get up in the air.

word.:banana:

[soupboy]

C'mon, it's called a j-hop.

[BKocka]

C'mon, it's called a j-hop.

what?? I have never heard that before..... :)

[manual63]

You will know when you get it right when the front end lofts with almost no effort.
The key here is to have your weight back. If your weight is too far forward, you have to lift the front wheel, plus your own weight. There is a pivot point at your rear axle......you could call it the fulcrum if you like. If you get off the bike and lift the front wheel to the point where the bike wants to fall backwards on it's own, then that is the balance point of your bike. If your weight is behind that point, the front wheel will keep coming up, with little to not pull on the bars. If your weight is forward of that point, then your front wheel will fall down. As the bike gets bigger, the balance point is higher. This includes length of the bike too, and stem length. A BMX bike is really easy to get the front end up on. But a 26" mountain bike takes a lot more effort, or rearward weight transfer. A 29" mountain bike takes even more effort.

So once you have the rear wheel up in the air, you can transfer your weight towards the front, with both your body and arms, which will unweight the rear wheel (this is what Brianna what describing) and if you do that and bend your knees (lift your feet) the rear wheel will come up. You want to push forward with your arms, but also keep pulling up with your arms, or keep your elbows bent, so the front wheel stays in the air. If you don't keep pulling up on the front wheel, the front end will come down first, and you don't want that.

The physics behind the bunny hop is simple, if you know physics that is. Same with an ollie on a skateboard. Push the tail down with your rear foot while you front foot is about 1/2 way back on the board (about the middle). Then once the front end of the board is up in the air, you push your front foot forward and up while also jumping up with your rear foot. The upward and forward motion of your front foot will lift the rear of the board......but only if you jump up with your rear foot.....which you are not actually lifting the board with, you are getting the foot out of the way of the board that wants to come off the ground. Same concept in biking. You are not lifting with your pedals, you are jumping up so the back of the bike can come off the ground because of the forward and upward push on the front end of the bike.

Probably too much detail, but I hope it makes some sense.....:)

[BKocka]

also, it's good to think of it almost like going in a circle in the air (and i am not talking spinning, im talking actual circle.)

i made a diagram in paint to show what i am talking about (and this is proof to why being a receptionist is SO boring) but it was really bad so ill try and explain it the best i can.

its like a backward motion. You get low on your bike (bent knees, bent elbows) start moving at a slow to meduim speed (i find the faster i move, the easier it is for me, but not for everyone) Then instead of jumping UP, use your weight that is BACK and push down and back allowing you to lift your back tire, then your front tire in a FORWARD motion (that is where the circle comes into play.

With your finger in the air, from bottom to top draw a circle going clockwise.

that is the initial motion you want to make with your bicycle in the air.

yep.

[TrailSquirell]

try rideing montulac for training, its pretty easy single track but the hills are leg burners that help alot. I've been told its the best race course for the mnscs races but i duno about that.

[TrailSquirell]

i found it easyest to start with the standard bunny hop with both wheels at one time to growing into the j hops. j hops are pretty much manual to pullin up on the rear hard, kinda like how you pull back and pop off a jump, i'm clearing just over 2 feet from j hops. I used it alot during cross country to, helps to get over ruts sometimes.

[BKocka]

I dont think it is possible to do both wheels at one time? or maybe I am just craaaaaaaazy.

i can't lift them at the same time, i start the rear in the air- then both- then the front hits the ground.

[dopey048]

I think that was a pretty good site. I can hop with both tires at once. I think with some more practice I can get the bunny hop down. I had most of my neighbors looking at me while I was working on the front part of it.

[manual63]

I dont think it is possible to do both wheels at one time? or maybe I am just craaaaaaaazy.

i can't lift them at the same time, i start the rear in the air- then both- then the front hits the ground.
Oh....that's explains your circle thing. You lift the rear wheel first.....huh???

You had me so baffled. Each person needs to learn their own method, but eventually you want to get to a point where you wheelie, or manual, first then lift the rear wheel. It's the most controlled way, especially when you want to bunnyhop (what's this j hop thing) over something.

I like the website that was posted. When I teach the bunny hop in my skill sessions, I teach riders how to pop a wheelie first. Then I teach them how to pop up the rear wheel by itself. It shows how you have to do the weight transfer from rear to front. Once you can pop up the front wheel, then the rear wheel on their own.....start riding over a 2x4, pop up the front wheel to get it over the 2x4 and then pop up the rear wheel to get over it. Start out slow and when you can clear it with both wheels, speed up some. You will have to transfer your weight faster. Now to bunnyhop (not called a j hop), go a little faster and pop up the front wheel, as soon as the front wheel is at it's max height, do the same motion you did to pop up the rear wheel on its own, just don't wait for the front wheel to come down first. The first few times you do this, your front end will come down as your rear wheel comes off the ground and you will land front wheel first. This is part of the progression. Once you have that dialed, and can hopefully clear the 2x4, then work on pulling harder with the arms to keep the front wheel up longer. Taking the time to do these steps and lots of practice it what it will take for you to get it dialed, but it is worth it to learn this skill. It will make your mountain biking improve a lot.

[TrailSquirell]

(what's this j hop thing)

its a local term that we use around here for a bunny hop.

i started with 2x4's like he said and went to cinder blocks, to pileing 4x4's on top of eachother for more height. i use to, and still do, see how many sidewalk squares i can hop over or the farthest i can hop, made myself wanna get farther and farther and now i'm up to clearing alley ways. Its takein me most the spring and so far this summer to learn this.

[manual63]

its a local term that we use around here for a bunny hop.

Well, quit it. It's not what a bunny hop is called....and it doesn't even sound cool. I did a j hop dude....yeah....whatever.....:). Of course, I don't really care what you call it, that's just my personal opinion. I used to hear bunnyhops called broncos, but where j hop came from, I have no idea.

[TrailSquirell]

broncos?? lol, thats worse then j-hops, cuz with a pro hop, or manual to hop, its sortof a j motion if you think of it, turn the j sideways and look! thats where it came from. i'm still wonderin how a bunnyhop is called a bronco, been thinkin about it now for a few minutes, you don't get bucked off from a bunny hop...

[manual63]

broncos??
I didn't like the name bronco either. But it makes some since, the way a bucking bronco moves is similar to how you bunnyhop.......if you always land on your front wheel first that is......:D

[TrailSquirell]

i'm startin to get the rockin motion like that, from front to rear and back to front, still gota start learnin to bounce on the rear tire and thats it, gettin into trials muhahahaha