How to jump with a mountain bike
Jumping a mountain bike is always so awesome and cool, at least for the onlookers. But it is also a thrilling experience when performing it. Bike riders are always attempting something new and with a charm of the freak in it and jumping a mountain bike should come up on that list if you are truly out to try some new amazing bike moves.
And the best part about learning how to jump a mountain bike for beginners is that it is one of the easiest steps to perform. All you need is to master a few steps, and you will be good to go. Below are the guidelines jump a mountain bike properly.
Steps at a glance on Jump a Mountain Bike for Beginners
- Getting Ready
- Performing the Jump
- Performing a Safe Landing
Phase 1: Getting Ready
The first step as with everything else will be to prepare of course. And to begin with, you will need to check on the condition of your bike. For a safe bike jump, you must have a bike that is working at its optimum or otherwise you could end with a nasty accident.
- In performing the safety check, check that the brakes are in good condition, scrutinize how well the bolts are screwed in place, make sure your frame is sturdy, the pedals are turning properly, and the handlebars are right.
- With the bicycle in top condition, the next step will be practicing biking so that you get the hang of it. Being inexperienced in biking will most likely lead to a failed bike jump. This step will also get your body in shape for the jump.
- You will then need to visualize your jump. Analyze your ramp, outline the route you will follow and estimate whether you will make that jump. If you don’t see yourself getting to the other end, then don’t attempt it and look for a place where your odds are higher.
- Start with small, gently sloped ramps. Preferable human-made ones. As you gain momentum and manage to gain more control of your jumps, then you can begin to attempt more challenging ones.
Phase 2: Performing the Jump
- Peddle your bike towards the ramp and while at it ride out of the saddle. Maintain a moderate speed as it will allow you more control and stability. Do not peddle too slowly as you will not be able to make the jump.
- As the front wheel approaches the end of the ramp, stop pedaling and compress your bike by pressing down on the front suspension using your hands and handlebars. Lean forward (but not beyond the handlebars) all this while not returning to your seat.
- Explode as the rear wheel near the end of the ramp. Explode refers to standing up straight while on your bike and shifting your weight from the hands to the feet. This will compress the back wheel and lift the front wheel.
- Finally, if you have performed the compression and explosion, watch yourself go airborne and savor the whole experience. Enjoy your flight.
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Phase 3: Performing a Safe Landing
- Start by returning to your ready position. This refers to the position you take whenever you want to ride a bicycle. Make sure your knees and elbows are bent.
- Let your bicycle land with both wheels simultaneously and parallel to the ground. Landing with both wheels helps reduce the shock of the impact when hitting the ground.
- Push the bike into the landing for better traction and continue cycling as you regain balance and control.
When you follow all these steps, you will have everything you need to know how to make a mountain bike jump correctly.
Tips
- Be confident when doing the bike jump. Tensing makes you stiff and limits your control of the bike which increases your chances of failing or falling from loss of balance.
- As a beginner, you should go for simple ramps. Do not be quick to perform higher jumps if you are not yet acquainted with the small ones.
- Learning how to bunny hop using your bike should be a great step to learning how to jump.
- Remember to put on protective gear. At least have a helmet, knee pads, shin guards, and gloves.
- Add some air to the wheels before performing a jump. This will help you gain a little more speed as you approach the ramp and also keep the wheel from coming off the rim if you land sideways.
Warnings
- Do not attempt bike jumps on ramps that do not seem stable.
- Make sure you get rocks and other obstacles if it’s a natural ramp before attempting the jump. Rocks could interfere with your balance as you ride on them.
Qsn: Which is the best bike to use in performing a bike jump?
Ans: Any bike can do a bicycle jump. However, the lighter a bike is, the easier it will be to jump with it.
If you went through the article you might find the technique on how to jump a mountain bike for beginners. Now you don’t have to fair to do this if you learn the mentioned steps accurately.
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Reference: Yahoo Answer
Last Updated: 04.10.2018