Bunny Hopping Road Bikes?

[Julibird]

Never thought about my rims, and I'm glad you mentioned it - because that would bum me out to bend my rims. The cost-benefit analysis including the safety in my group matters a lot. That being said - I'll practice on my clunker and try to go around the potholes on the MNR. Thanks again.

[alpinerabbit]

AlpineRabbit, sometimes elite racers know how to ride their bikes. Sometimes they just have big fitness. In either case, if she's a pro, she's probably getting her equipment free and not too worried about trashing her rims.

nope, it was most certainly her bike that she paid herself, plus it was a Klein that you can't even replace these days...

[Kalidurga]

Kalidurga, are you comfortable riding on the grass? Are you able to get some speed on the grass? If so, you could try it on the grass. I would personally suggest you just try it in a safe parking lot somewhere. I teach this skill on pavement -- have never thought to teach it on the grass.

I ride my 'cross bike on grass, gravel, dirt, pavement... Not necessarily more comfortable on any particular one, just figured I should perhaps try it out on a softer surface the first time or two if there's a chance of landing funky and crashing.

In reality, a typical rider might use this skill a couple of times a year.

That makes total sense. I can't actually think of a situation in which I would have used a bunny-hop any time in the past, but I'm to the point that I'd like to begin learning things like this just for the extra confidence it would give me on the bike.

[Andrea]

There's an angled set of train tracks near my house that most people will take a curved path over in order to cross perpendicular to the tracks, but I usually just bunny hop twice (@ about 18-20 mph) to get the front wheel into the middle then over the 2nd rail.
It's mainly because I'm too lazy to swerve, and I also don't like swerving with other riders also trying to swerve at the same time...

I usually use a hop if I come upon a stick, rock, hole, etc. too quickly to react by going around it. It's also a bad idea to swerve in a group because someone could run into you (or you into someone else).

[boy in a kilt]

Being able to bunny hop is a useful skill. Once in a while you just don't have the time or the space to go around something. Once in a great while, your best evasive maneuver involves going over something.

The comments about tacoing your wheel are well taken. Never straighten your legs when you bunny hop; let them absorb some of the impact on landing. Done properly, the landing should be very smooth.

Unfortunately, it's not really something you can't practice on grass if you have a road bike.

[aicabsolut]

speed? pretty much everything is better on the bike with a bit of speed. momentum is what keeps the bike upright. I'd say 8-10mph minimum.

now, even though I teach bunny hops in my clinics, I don't recommend them for group rides or racing, especially if you're in a tight pack or paceline. timing is difficult and unless you really perfect the skill the chance of landing off-line (ie to one side or the other) or directly on the obstacle you're trying to avoid, is pretty high. I don't think this is a safe skill for group riding.

just my opinion.

+1 I've seen the aftermath of a NASTY crash in a race (and heard of a few others in races and group rides) from a bunny hop gone bad. Also, it can really suck for the person behind you who runs into the obstacle you just hopped over.

[Zelda_K]

think of your body as a spring.

try this:

stand up rigid (not on the bike) and try to jump. not much vertical, eh?

now, bend at the ankles, knees, and hips, and think of yourself as a coiled spring. now jump. what happens? much more vertical.

you need to do the same thing on the bike. coil down to bunny hop. keep your center of gravity over the bottom bracket. make adjustments if needed (ie front or rear lifts or lands more).

and, of course, don't look down at your bike -- look ahead where you want to go.

Thanks a lot for these explanations. They helped me to do my first bunny hop (on the mtb though) and now I am extremely proud and happy. Before this I had really resigned and thought I would never learn it (being too old and too mellow etc ....).

[SpinSpinSugar]

I wish I could bunny hop, but no matter how hard I try, I just can't get the front wheel off the ground. I end up springing up OFF the pedals instead of picking up the bike. Like a little kid going over a jump on a horse without a good grip.

I can do a tiny bunny hop if I'm going off a curb at a decent speed.. but no way can I hop back up a curb or over a pothole on the flat ground. All the while my DBF is hopping and bouncing up over every curb, hole, and just for fun. grrrrrrr - show off!

Any suggestions ladies? Thanks in advance!

SpinSpinSugar

[bmccasland]

I've only done small hops over rough railroad crossings and floodgate wall tracks. "Flush with the road surface" only exists as reality on the engineer's plans. Didn't actually plan on doing a hop, it was more like an evasive reaction to a bad road condition that I couldn't maneuver around otherwise.

[OakLeaf]

I wish I could bunny hop, but no matter how hard I try, I just can't get the front wheel off the ground. I end up springing up OFF the pedals instead of picking up the bike. Like a little kid going over a jump on a horse without a good grip.

I can do a tiny bunny hop if I'm going off a curb at a decent speed.. but no way can I hop back up a curb or over a pothole on the flat ground. All the while my DBF is hopping and bouncing up over every curb, hole, and just for fun. grrrrrrr - show off!

Any suggestions ladies? Thanks in advance!

SpinSpinSugar

Are you inadvertently pushing down with your arms?

I don't think I could jump a curb! And it seems risky enough that I don't plan to try. I just haven't got the whole soft landing thing down. Most of the time bunny hopping jars me as much as just running over whatever (usually a very uneven bridge expansion joint).

I certainly couldn't get enough horizontal distance to clear a set of railroad tracks! What's the secret to that? Just starting at high speed?

[alpinerabbit]

I wish I could bunny hop, but no matter how hard I try, I just can't get the front wheel off the ground. I end up springing up OFF the pedals instead of picking up the bike.

You are using clipless pedals, aren't you?

I'd love to be able to clear some tracks, at least the ones set into the pavement - we have that 2x on my favorite loop, and in town sometimes I need to get over tram tracks at a steep angle, freaks me out every time.

[SpinSpinSugar]

Hi ladies thanks for the replies. I didn't mean to thread-jack. No I do not use clipless pedals - they're BMX pedals - the spikey kind. And I don't think I'm pushing down on the handlebars... it's more like I can spring my body up, but the bike is too heavy to lift off the ground.

My BF can bunny hop the same bike all over the place - even standing in one place! so I know it can be done..... errrrrrrr... very frustrating indeed!

SpinSpinSugar

[JH-NV]

After reading this thread, I thought I would share my "bunny-hopping" onto the sidewalk, while instructing DH and children (10 & 12 at the time) to "WATCH MOM DO A NEAT TRICK!!!"story.

I accelerated across the street, aiming for the sidewalk, approaching at an angle on my new mtb. Apparently, I did not lift my front tire off the street and onto the curb as planned. I flew over the handlebars and landed on my chest (cracked a couple of ribs) had the wind knocked out of me and...my "evil" spawn were laughing their heads off. DH was sincerely concerned (he's my favorite.)
To this day, my kids almost cry with laughter when retelling the story of their mom showing off.
That was my last bunny-hop onto a sidwalk. I stick to 1-2" distance now.....

[indigoiis]

I ride clipless and used the hop to jump train tracks. I thought it was cool but wouldn't want to do it in a group.
I was drafting my husband once and rather than go around (and point out) dog shot in the road, he bunny hopped. I went right through it. Thanks, dude.

[moderncyclista]

I know I'm late to the party, but:

My LBS says "bunny hopping" isn't recommended for non-mountain bikes. I wouldn't bunny hop, as it is supposed to put undue stress on the wheels ($$$) and possibly the frame. If I had carbon anything on my bike I would never jump it off a curb, hit a pothole, bunny hop, etc. Carbon fractures and fails too easily. That is why you should ask if buying a frame on eBay - has it ever been wrecked?

I'm not so worried about "looking cool" as I am the cash-o-la that I'd have to spend to replace stuff.