Learning how to bunny hop is a hugely useful skill that can get you out of trouble, keep you moving forwards at speed, and help you clear big jumps better. The approach we’ll look at here is the smoothest, highest and most controlled hop, which can be performed on any bike with flat or SPD pedals.
Sometimes called the "American bunny hop", it 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'll take plenty of practice, but is definitely worth it for mountain bikers and roadies alike.
There's also something called an "English bunny hop", which relies on clipless SPD pedals, and sees both front and rear wheels spring up simultaneously. While it's also a useful technique for jumping small obstacles on the trail, we're going to focus here on learning to bunny hop with flat pedals. While it takes a little extra practice, it's much more effective.
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1. Practise the pumped manual
The first thing to master is the pumped manual. This is a way of getting the front wheel into the air using the natural rebound of the tyre – not the rebound of the forks, and not throwing your weight backwards or pulling back on the bars.
You simply roll along at a steady pace, not pedalling, cranks level and with your forearms low. It also helps if your heels are dipped. The lift comes from a thrust forwards through the hands, and possibly feet too. It’s a sharp, short burst of energy that’s mostly forwards and a little down, but not directly into the forks or they’ll soak up all the force. The tyre will immediately rebound and the front of the bike will lift.
2. Stand tall
3. Throw the bars forwards
4. Scoop upwards with your feet
5. Learn to control which wheel lands first
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