Nash Masson is our BMX jump specialist but is also a mountain bike coach in the Cairngorms. Nash will be kicking off our skills section this month with how to bunny-hop. This is an advanced technique which Danny has perfected in our shows. Check out Danny bunny hopping a railing in the video below and then Nash will take you step by step through executing a great bunny hop...
Step 1
You have to judge your bunny hop. What you have to consider is how far away to start your bunny hop. The general rule is the higher the hop, the further away you have to start.
Step 2
Once you have decided where to start your bunny hop, you need to compress your arms and get ready to pull up on the front of the bike.
Step 3
When you reach the point where your going to start your hop, be fully committed and pull up on your bars lifting the front wheel. So its above the top of the object you desire to hop over but just a few inches back. Extend your legs and get ready to pull up the rear wheel.
Step 4
With your legs extended grip your pedals with your toes and scoop up and back allowing your back wheel to come off the ground*. This will pull your back wheel up underneath you.
*You can practice this on the flat while your front wheel is still on the ground.
Step 5
Once you have left the ground push forward (not down!!) and centre out your weight so the bike comes up with the back wheel underneath your bum.
Step 6
Right now the bike should be level underneath you with your arms extended and your body looking like you were almost sitting on the back wheel. At this point you should have cleared the object you were hopping over.
Step 7
Now that you have cleared whatever you were launching over, extend your arms and legs ready to take the impact from you landing.
Step 8
Let your legs and arms compress again on landing to absorb the impact of the ground.
