Bunny hop (cycling)
Encyclopedia
The bunny hop, or bunnyhop, is a bicycle
trick that allows the rider to launch their bike into the air as if jumping off a ramp. The pedals on the bicycle seem to stick to the rider's feet as the bike becomes airborne very much like the way the skateboard seems to stick to the feet of the skater performing the Ollie
. Also, much like the Ollie, the bunny hop is one of the first and most basic tricks a bicycle rider typically learns. While the bunny hop can be quite challenging to learn, once mastered it opens up a whole new level of riding opportunities for both bicycle motocross
(BMX) and mountain bike
rider alike.
The bunny hop is also a useful skill for an urban cyclist/commuter, allowing the avoidance of potholes and other hazards, and allowing for quick mounting of curbs
.
More often, bunny hops are done on BMX bikes, which are lighter and smaller than mountain bikes and lend themselves to be lifted far more easily.
Other terms for bunnyhop have been around for years and include the J-hop, bronco, californian, hop-walk, and others. Local areas have been coming up with their own name for the bunnyhop for decades. The characteristic of the bunnyhop where the front wheel is lifted first, then the back wheel is lifted is the technique which these terms are supposed to convey. Another method to do a bunnyhop is to lift both wheels at the same time instead of front wheel then back wheel. There are undoubtedly many other terms for the bunnyhop used in different locales, but bunnyhop is still the most widely used term for the technique.
. Simultaneously, as the rider pedals, they explosively push down on the bike pedals, and continue the push in a circular motion allowing them to 'pull' the rear wheel up by applying force to the pedals towards the rear of the bike, in what may be thought of as the three-o-clock position of the cranks. The combination of these two motions gives the impression that the rider directly rises into the air. Note that in the BMX usage, the term 'bunny hop' is commonly denoted to refer to a jump that causes both wheels to rise into the air at the same time, and a 'pro hop' refers to a jump during which the front wheel rises before the rear.
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
trick that allows the rider to launch their bike into the air as if jumping off a ramp. The pedals on the bicycle seem to stick to the rider's feet as the bike becomes airborne very much like the way the skateboard seems to stick to the feet of the skater performing the Ollie
Ollie (skateboarding trick)
The ollie is a skateboarding trick where the rider and board leap into the air without the use of the rider's hands. Particularly on flat ground, it is not intuitively obvious how the liftoff is achieved, making the trick visually striking....
. Also, much like the Ollie, the bunny hop is one of the first and most basic tricks a bicycle rider typically learns. While the bunny hop can be quite challenging to learn, once mastered it opens up a whole new level of riding opportunities for both bicycle motocross
Bicycle motocross
Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started...
(BMX) and mountain bike
Mountain bike
A mountain bike or mountain bicycle is a bicycle created for off-road cycling. This activity includes traversing of rocks and washouts, and steep declines,...
rider alike.
The bunny hop is also a useful skill for an urban cyclist/commuter, allowing the avoidance of potholes and other hazards, and allowing for quick mounting of curbs
Curb (road)
A curb, or kerb , is the edge where a raised pavement/sidewalk/footpath, road median, or road shoulder meets an unraised street or other roadway.-Function:...
.
More often, bunny hops are done on BMX bikes, which are lighter and smaller than mountain bikes and lend themselves to be lifted far more easily.
Other terms for bunnyhop have been around for years and include the J-hop, bronco, californian, hop-walk, and others. Local areas have been coming up with their own name for the bunnyhop for decades. The characteristic of the bunnyhop where the front wheel is lifted first, then the back wheel is lifted is the technique which these terms are supposed to convey. Another method to do a bunnyhop is to lift both wheels at the same time instead of front wheel then back wheel. There are undoubtedly many other terms for the bunnyhop used in different locales, but bunnyhop is still the most widely used term for the technique.
Technique
The bunny hop is executed by approaching an obstacle with a medium rolling speed, arms and legs slightly bent. Upon reaching the obstacle, the rider needs to shift their center of gravity towards the rear wheel of the bike and pull back on the handlebars, causing the front wheel to lift in a wheelieWheelie
In vehicle acrobatics, a wheelie is a vehicle maneuver in which the front wheel or wheels come off the ground due to extreme torque being applied to the rear wheel or wheels. Wheelies are usually associated with bicycles and motorcycles, but can be done with other vehicles such as cars, especially...
. Simultaneously, as the rider pedals, they explosively push down on the bike pedals, and continue the push in a circular motion allowing them to 'pull' the rear wheel up by applying force to the pedals towards the rear of the bike, in what may be thought of as the three-o-clock position of the cranks. The combination of these two motions gives the impression that the rider directly rises into the air. Note that in the BMX usage, the term 'bunny hop' is commonly denoted to refer to a jump that causes both wheels to rise into the air at the same time, and a 'pro hop' refers to a jump during which the front wheel rises before the rear.
External links
- MTBR Forum Bunnyhop Discussion thread - A very detailed discussion on the bunnyhop in relation to mountain bikes, complete with video and pictures.