[Closed] Son wants to learn to jump his bike, where what how?

Riding recklessly fast off a plank precariously propped onto a couple of bricks is the traditional method. Technique and safety be damned!

Boring answer - practise practise practise. You can't learn to jump through YouTube, but it might help later on if he has a particular problem you're trying to correct. Find a nice set of jumps somewhere and session them over and over.

BMX tuition would definitely help his overall skills but it's not normally about jumping per se more on getting around a track the fastest e.g. gate starts, squashing jumps, manualling etc.

A plank of wood and two bricks in the back street has worked for aeons. Add in jumping your mates for that added 'must not fail' pressure.

edit- if he's ok with generally being in charge of the bike and chucking it around he'll be fine. They have rubber bones at that age.

edit again- 

Build it together

Uk bike skills

Uk bike skills

Oh ffS!

Phew, calmed down and realised you were taking the piss.

We are not a million miles from Leeds Urban Bike Park so I wondered if some bmx tuition might be a good starting point….

If you do go down this route and want proper tuition, hook up with Jez Hayes, who is the main man there - he's a cracking coach, for both BMX and MTB. I did my BC L2 MTB with him and he was an excellent tutor.

Tip top tip I learnt the hard way as a kid.. Don't lean a bit of old plasterboard up against a tipped over washing machine then ride at it flat out hoping to jump. The plasterboard will break and he will hit the washing machie very hard.  It will hurt.

Another top tip;

Three bricks when the wood's too short will result in a back wheel landing and accidental manual into Mr Charlton's Allegro.

@rockhopper70

Am I correct in thinking that you are near Sowerby Bridge?

The jumps in Midgley Woods have recently been rebuilt

I've seen the jumps at Brearley, and I wouldn't fancy learning how to jump on them! Aren't there some in Brighouse, near Tesco?

In the spirit of adding what not to do, don't saw 2 legs off an old table and use it as a ramp close to your parents washing line

For the 2 brick and a plank method it's generally accepted that 10 of your mates should have done it in formation before your approach leaving it delicately balanced. Approach should be fast downhill with no hands. Again, in close formation, a bit like the red arrows. Progression is on to 4 bricks and a landing ramp.

or it sounds like a good excuse to take him to glentress and do the bottom of the blue lots

I’ve seen the jumps at Brearley, and I wouldn’t fancy learning how to jump on them!

I didn't mean the big ones

Good call with Brighouse

Ha, this is turning into a thread of reminiscence, I was going to warn him off propping a piece of wood against a 200litre barrell (laid on its side!!). Think of that scene from Wee Day Out, but without the skill and not riding on the top of the barrell.  Turns out that barrels laid on their side roll away from a force imparted on them......

I am in Calderdale so the local spots might be worth a look. Usually mess around in Elland Woods if “airtime” is on the cards!

If you do go down this route and want proper tuition, hook up with Jez Hayes, who is the main man there – he’s a cracking coach, for both BMX and MTB. I did my BC L2 MTB with him and he was an excellent tutor.

This is interesting as I have been thinking about mtb tuition for my lad as well amd we're only 10 minutes away from Leeds urban bike park.

Do you know if he has a website, or is it best just dropping down there and seeing if he's about?

I would try and find some rollable jumps that can be ridden over, front wheel lifted over, small jump to flat in the middle and then finally jumping clear over onto the lander. Nice clear progression you can help him through, and relatively safe.

If he's going to jump over his friends - suggest they do it width ways, not length ways to begin with...

We just built some out of reclaimed timber in sections so they could carry them into the field. The biggest one was a three foot drop and left them to it. Fetched them back when they had finished and put them at the top of the garden till next time.

I did sneak out on a few occasions to try them

Bugger it. We're off to B&Q tonight to buy the extra bits we need to build a ramp

One of my creations, 11 years back:

I guess I have the same problem ....except I'm hours from Leeds.

I'm most definitely not the worlds best jumper.... and probably in a fairly common way.

I have little problem with tech trails with jumps and drops... until anything is obviously man made.

My thoughts are I just did bigger and bigger natural stuff... and I don't really know what I do....

In my head I liken this to my skiing/boarding.... I'm a better skier than boarder but to be fair I used to be a pretty good skier by UK standards... (when I lived in Calgary especially :D) but partly I thin its also because I learned skiing vs just went out and fell over until I could board...

I can board quite well... but I have bugger all idea HOW.... if I had to teach someone whereas I know HOW to teach skiing and have taught loads of people.  I can do pretty tricks on ski's but boarding I avoid park stuff...

Jumping feels like boarding to me ... I know way better jumpers who are way slower than me on a "natural" course (one of them is only 7 though he does live at 417) ... yet somehow I'm trying to tell my 8yr old how to do something I don't really know what to do.... my basic issue is just pointing the bike in the air to match landings...

As of a coupe of weeks ago I figured I'd just let the 7yr old teach the 8yr old when they are together... but I kinda feel that's bypassing the issue of me learning...

Like this,

[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5700/22462390770_826eb4f490_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5700/22462390770_826eb4f490_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/AdVCcu ]098[/url]

& on to this..

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1748/41909198924_cf560c3d65_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1748/41909198924_cf560c3d65_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/26RnAKf ]Mark, Hamsterley[/url]

OK, so he's not really 'jumping' in the 2nd shot, but you get the idea.

Dat's ma boy!

no idea how to embed videos anymore!! Gggrrr

This is what we made, all in sections, Abigale was 5, Katie was 7 and I was a big kid

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

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Jumping properly requires much more technique than it seems.

(I've always been taught to just unweight the bike, but I've never felt in control when doing that, sometimes it went ok, sometimes it didn't)

Have him learn to bunny hop properly.

Then translate the bunny hop technique to a small lip, don't go fast, you need to focus on technique, compress the bike before the lip, once it starts going up the lip push with arms and legs on the lip, this will throw the bike forward and your body a bit backwards, it will also accelerate the bike through the lip, the front wheel will leave the ground first, then start moving hips forward and extending the legs like you would do in a bunny hop.

A couple of videos that might help:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLutgpYeec8

Gareth #alinecoaching is your man, based in Sheffield uses Wharncliffe/Grenoside/farmer John's/revs/Parkwood/bolehills etc for his coaching

He teaches the correct technique for jumping and drops unlike one skills coach regulary  mentioned on this forum.

what is this correct technique?

and how is it different to the regularly mentioned coach`s technique?

do you mean this guy?

his technique does seem a bit shabby

We (well, OH mainly) built these this morning-

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

They're really good fun. I can clear about 1.7m so far

[img] [/img]

8th gear, steady away, approach ramp, close eyes, grit teeth...

Nice job, landing look a bit ... short I'd put a flat top section on the back as well to minimise any damage when casing.

Being able to jump a bit and having the ability to teach the correct technique to others aren't the same thing.

When you've been to both coaches  you'll understand.

yes i think we are talking at cross purposes

your first post was about whether the technique was correct, not the ability to teach the correct technique.

i was querying what was incorrect about the technique, not the coaching ability of the two coaches!

dont you also have to factor in the person being coached ability to process information and put it in to action?

i dont need to go to either coach to ask what is wrong with the technique being coached or the quality of the coaching.

i was asking you to explain, as you have been to both, im presuming you can.

do you understand that ?

Lester

I can't be arsed explaining to a sarcastic tit such as yourself, just pay your money and it'll become apparent pretty quickly.

@Tracey Loving the home-made constructions there - they look great fun. You've gone and got my fingers itching for the handle of my hammer now...

cycle life get a life, i doubt you could explain if you cant even get the statement right in the first place.

i reckon BOO, would make you jump better

Gotta love some posters! Guy turns up with chip on shoulder shouting "you're doing it wrong" and when asked to explain why, they have a hissy and flounce!  lolz!

Jumping is not a science.  One way is no more wrong that yellow being "better" than blue! Different coaches teach different techniques in different ways, as long as they get their pupils jumping and without excessive risk of injury, who cares which is "right" or "wrong" eh??

My suggestion for building ramps is to make the landing a bit lower and a lot longer than the take off! certainly at first, to avoid too many un-intentional OTBs!

My suggestion for building ramps is to make the landing a bit lower and a lot longer than the take off! certainly at first, to avoid too many un-intentional OTBs!

Theres been enough 'debate' on what is better on this thread already, I hope we haven't put the op off. But ... I'd like to make the case for having the landing higher than the take-off.

First of all it means you can see it when approaching / leaving the take-off allowing you to judge speed a bit better. It also makes it easier to make a smooth landing, and if you do case it's easier to ride out of.

Most importantly it forces you to use an exaggerated jump technique, pulling up to get the front end over then levelling out / pushing the nose down to get the rear wheel over and pump the landing. If the landing is lower than the take-off then it's easy for a novice to just ride it like a drop off which is teaching nothing about jumping and will mean they don't learn the techniques to properly clear a step up or normal double, relying of speed instead of technique.

As an old biffer who couldn't jump I got a chap I knew who could jump to give me some basic pointers.  It helped a lot.  Bunny hop first IIRC then bunny hop over jumps.

Its not just riding off a ramp is it?  there is technique involved.

Mind you I am still carp - just older now

Mind you I am still carp – just older now

Don't be koi, I reckon you're dolphinately betta than you fin(k)...

As for making the landing the same height/higher than the take off, I totally agree. Someone posted on here not so long ago about mentally going up and over the jump, imagining it was a mound (pffft) of dirt you were riding over and making the bike follow the shape of the mound (stop it). I found it works really well for me, I'm definitely more comfortable over doubles and gaps now than I was just trying to dead sailor over stuff (pads and a lid help with that as well mind!) Thanks to whoever posted it Sticking a board across the gap takes away the fear of casing too, so you can practise jumping the distance and once you've got it down you can remove the board and do the double/gap comfortably. You don't actually need to be going very fast (steady away in 8th gear- 32/15 on my 26" bike) to clear a couple of metres from a pretty tame lip like the one we made.

We have three ramps made from pallets - half a pallet, full+ pallet and double pallet height. We can stack them up to make 3+ pallet height...

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1736/42668896901_3ca03b4411_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1736/42668896901_3ca03b4411_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/281vfue ]Pallet jumps[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr

Also, here is our eldest's progression...

[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7273/6872394004_600494d64a_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7273/6872394004_600494d64a_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/bthPiN ]What light evenings are for...[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8023/7003758152_9d73efc75b_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8023/7003758152_9d73efc75b_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/bEU6hU ]Grantown on Spey bike trails[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7263/7823784990_fabec6979d_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7263/7823784990_fabec6979d_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/cVmWGE ]Comrie Croft pump jump track[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1486/24211651629_ce3915f195_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1486/24211651629_ce3915f195_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/CTv3vt ]Innerleithen bike ride[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4561/38405808456_aaaeee3633_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4561/38405808456_aaaeee3633_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/21vMNPj ]Comrie Croft ride (again!)[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr

(yes he does clear it like a double)

[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4589/27206009809_e6d9f0ce38_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4589/27206009809_e6d9f0ce38_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Hs6USD ]Laggan Nov 2017[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr

We were out on a gravel ride when the boy spotted a derelict bike track at the side of the road. Few laps, few jumps and then a nice ride home again. 28mm tyres should be enough for anyone...

i was querying what was incorrect about the technique, not the coaching ability of the two coaches!

This is where I am before any who's the best coach stuff....

My point is I know it's not me....

What I seem to have picked up though

a) Just build some ramps they will work it out

b) Get them some coaching with proper technique (not wanting at this point to argue who)

c) Get them down a BMX track (though we don't really have one)

I'm not really any closer.... I guess a you can progress every day/week... whereas b is a bit of a quantum step then let em apply it.

Jumping a vehicle actually is a science Max. Physics to be precise.

There are definitely "wrong" ways to do it. but more importantly there are "ugly" ways. Jumping should be all about style. Style or GTFO is my opinion.

TJ That's not what I taught you at all. I taught you how to bunnyhop first so I could assess what skill you had and so you'd get an understand of how loading and un-loading your bike worked BEFORE you hit the jump. I was teaching you to pump the take off. (not bunnyhop off it). You'd have taken more in if you weren't such a bloody blether.

Hope yer well ol' man. give me a shout if you head out this way.

Controvercially. Without knowing anything about the coach he recommends I actually agree with cycllife. sometimes the very best motivational mtb coaches don't teach techniques I agree with either.

My suggestion for a lower landing than the take off was for total beginners!    Unless you are building a take off ramp that is higher than the riders eye level (which for a rider approaching stood up on the pedals would be pretty tall for a beginner!) then you can always see the landing because you are looking down on the ramps!

Sure, once they have the basic confidence, then i agree, a higher landing, maybe even a small step up type affair would definitely help push the necessary technique of moving the bike in the air to suit the stage of the jump, but for total beginners, just making it, safely and confidently over a jump having got their wheels off the ground is the first step!

(ok, some kids are natural, they just want to keep hitting the jumps, even after they fall off and land on their head (!!) but some can be easily put off by an early fall and that tends to spell the end of their interest....... )

What I seem to have picked up though

a) Just build some ramps they will work it out

b) Get them some coaching with proper technique (not wanting at this point to argue who)

c) Get them down a BMX track (though we don’t really have one)

Just to add, I learnt on a set of BMX trails on some wasteland, and then progressed onto building a set myself. Still digging now 20 years later. Digging trails is awesome. If you or your kid really want to learn how to jump, I mean really, then find a decent spot and start digging. You will learn everything you ever need to know about how different jump transitions work, how fast to hit jumps, your local prevailing weather conditions, how to work different kinds of dirt, how to dig frozen ground, how to create water run off channels, how to spend 3 months building something, see it get knocked down in one afternoon and then get back up again and start again.

Warning though - if you thought minecraft, or fortnite or whatever takes up your kids time, then be prepared if they get into it. Lads I knew slept at the trails in the summer and dug / rode pretty much 24/7.

Ta geex!  lolz
I shouldn't have tried to explain.  I knew it was a mistake

Point still stands- get someone who knows how to explain to show you how - clearly not me

nice

Rockhopper - we built the jumps in Wellholme Park for this reason. 5 tabletops but each has a low easy side and a higher, longer jumpier side for progression. Once he's mastered these he can go try the big uns at Leeds

Park at the ford end of the park and head straight up into the woods to find them.