Bunny Hopping Road Bikes?

[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.

[MartianDestiny]

O, ack, the misconceptions.

Carbon fiber can be made to be just as strong if not stronger than steel/aluminum/or whatever other material. Steel and aluminum can be made to be weak little "beer cans" as well.

It is all in the engineering and the priorities of the frame makers.

A popular boutique mtn. bike brand has been making full carbon 5 inch All mountain bikes designed to drop, catch moderate air, crash, etc. for years. I have YET to hear of one failing under ANY circumstances, and don't suspect I will any time soon either (and people are pushing these bikes beyond their design specifications, and have been for years).

If I can not bunny hop, pop on or off a curb, or preform a similar maneuver in an emergency I don't want the bike, frame, wheelset, component, whatever, PERIOD. I sure as heck wouldn't buy a roadbike that I couldn't hit a pothole on!!!!!!

That's not to say I do so regularly (intentionally) on my roadbikes, but I have done it. The carbon wonderbike has been on gravel, popped off a curb, and even popped onto a curb to get the heck out of dodge (avoiding a collision in progress). I expected it to take it flawlessly and it did. (Of course I realize you can land wrong and bend a rim, etc. especially if you aren't smart/careful about selecting your equipment, but the stuff isn't as fragile (carbon, aluminum, all of it) as it's made out to be IF it's designed properly.)

My mountain bike has a carbon rear triangle (if they made the full carbon bike in my size I'd have that). It's been crashed, laid down on rocks, the works. I do not even begin to worry about it failing on me within a reasonable lifespan (and no, I don't define reasonable as 2 or 3 years...). If I did, I'd have never purchased the bike. The company is well regarded, has a good track record, and cares about performance and reliability. The swingarm would NOT be carbon if they could do it better and safer with aluminum.

Try this with Aluminum or Steel...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDVpRSNtcPQ

[SadieKate]

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.

Oh man, there are a ton of cyclocross racers that are going to have to replace their frames, components, you name it, if that's true . . . .