How to J-Hop on a Mountain Bike

The bunny hop and the j-hop are the two main techniques mountain bikers use to jump over obstacles. Although more people seem to know about the bunny hop, the j-hop gives you more control over your bike during the jump and reduces the wear on your bike associated with hard landings.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Approach the obstacle at a moderate speed. You'll need some momentum to clear the obstacle, but you've also got to have control over the bike during take-off. Speeds around 5 mph work well for beginners.
2. Lift your front wheel off of the ground as you approach the obstacle. This is different from the bunny hop, during which you lift both wheels at once.
3. Continue to raise your tire until it's high enough to clear the obstacle.
4. Raise your body and pull the back tire off the ground.
5. Push the handlebars down a bit to level your tires out when you're over the obstacle. This is important because it prevents your back tire from hitting the object and causing a crash.
6. Land with both wheels touching down at the same time. Avoid landing on your front tire, which can throw you into an endo and cause you to wreck.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a hand on the rear break during the jump, just in case you need to slow down or bail.
• Performing the j-hop on a bike with pedal clips is easier than on one without them.