Hop Ups..can Someone Please Analyse My Technique

[Shez.sheridan]

Okay boys & girls..

Can someone please help me...I've been stuck for ages on hopping up things, I'm not really getting any higher & it's bugging the hell out of me..

First, I used to ride a t-mag...that had quite a high rise on the stem & was easy to hop up..I can now get higher on my monty but not by much..

Here's a quick set of stills to explain..

As the monty has a lower rise on the stem, I find that I have to put a lot more energy into the bike which is fine, but I find that even when I tuck as far as I can (my legs are'nt as supple as the used to be), I still don't end up very far over the rear wheel as I have to stretch further to reach the bars because of the stem. I also don't reallt take any real speed on the run up, as I find I can hop nearly the same height with a 10 bike length run up, as a three..

Let me see...I squat, pedal & lean back & tuck - recently I've been trying to incorporate throwing all of my weight up towards the bars as I lift off (as if I'm trying to throw myself over them) as I see that my front wheel is quite high mid jump & I feel I should be trying to make the rear wheel pivot upwards in the air to reach the same height?

Any ideas guys?

[MasterOfGussets]

Haven't done these in years so I would suggest taking someone elses advice over mine, but from the stills I would suggest...

1. On your preload, shift your arse further back and lower down which'll put you further off-balance to the back when you lift the front wheel.

2. Jump as normal, then when you reach the end of the kick...

3. Throw your hips into the bars/stem ("humping the bars") rather than throwing all of your weight over them.

4. Finally, think of those executive desk toys with the metal balls that clink together... as your hips get as far as they can go, throw the bike up and forwards like it's one fluent motion.

Atleast, that's the technique I was told to use when I was learning years ago on my old MTB... might be a bit different now.

[Ash-Kennard]

I don't have a clue, your definately going quick enough and going a reasonable height, maybe you should just learn to bunnyhop super high first then just go slower with pedaling.

[ScotchDave]

There was a topic like this a while back, I suggest searching for it as I think it had a few clips in it.

[Tomm]

Looks to me like you might be starting the jump a bit late, and you're kinda hitting the wall on the way up. You'd be surprised how early you can start the hop and still get up onto the wall. I'd try that first

Also just try and jump up, not forwards towards the bars. Just rely on your speed to get the distance, and concentrate on jumping upwards.

Do that and you'll end up nicely on the wall, with the front wheel in the air. Hopefully

[adamtrials]

Also it looks like you have your pedals in the middle of your feet.

Read the thing in nmc about foot position, its good stuff and does make a difference.

[King C]

I'm not sure why but going at it at an angle (A) helps me get up higher things abit easier. Another tip I got from someone is to lower your front just before you hop. It doesn't feel natural to me but thats what tips I've been given