Learn how to bunny hop in 5 simple steps
From BikeRadar.com
A step-by-step guide to getting your bike into the air
By Nick Clark
The bunny hop is a useful mountain biking skill that can get you out of trouble, keep you moving forwards at speed and help you clear big jumps better.
The technique is also the foundation of learning how to jump, and will enable you to get airborne from features along the trail.
In this guide, we’ll explain how to pull off the smoothest, highest and most controlled hop.
Sometimes called the ‘American bunny hop’, bunny hopping involves getting the front wheel up first, then springing up and ‘scooping’ the rear wheel behind you (similar to an ollie on a skateboard).
It takes plenty of practice to perfect, but is a skill that all riders will benefit from learning.
The so-called ‘English bunny hop’ relies on using your clipless pedals to pull up both front and rear wheels simultaneously.
While this is a useful technique for jumping small obstacles on the trail, we’re going to focus here on learning the former, which can be done with either clipless or flat pedals. While it takes a little extra practice, it’s much more effective.
1. Practise the pumped manual
The first and most important thing to master is the pumped manual.
To start, coast at a steady pace with your cranks level and your forearms low. This position is usually referred to as the attack position.
Compress your suspension by quickly sinking your body and hips into the bike. This short burst of energy will prime your suspension, ready for it to spring the front end into the air.
Photo by Ashley de Lotz on Unsplash
