How to Catch Air With Bmx Bikes

Catching air on your BMX bike is a fun, transitional trick that goes one step further than a simple carve. Hitting the quarter pipe (or whatever ramp you ride) and then grabbing some air, or airing, allows you to perform the well known BMX trick and increase speed on the way back down. Follow these steps to catch air on your BMX bike.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Pedal to a moderate speed as you approach the ramp. Stand up on the bike with your knees and elbows slightly bent. As your front wheel reaches the lip of the ramp stop pedaling and push down on the bike by bending your elbows and knees a little more.
2. Hop the bike before you get to the lip by pulling up on the handlebars and straightening out your stance. Turn your shoulder and your head into the direction that you want to turn the bike. Raise your outside leg (the one farthest from the center of your turn) to help your hips bring the bike's tail around.
3. Turn into the landing with the handlebars, putting more of a downward than sideways focus on the handlebar pressure. Stay loose as you land the air so you can let your body ease the bike into the bottom half of the trick. Pedal down the rest of the ramp.

Tips & Warnings

• Start learning the trick with minimal height on the air. Increase the height as you become more comfortable with the trick.