Redbullet

I never understood the physics of the “English bunny hop”, thus, I was always afraid to try it. I assume that I must count on the cleat tension to lift the full weight of the bike (say around 9 kg). But since I set cleat tension to a minimum, I am afraid of losing contact with the pedals while lifting the bike, which would lead to a crash.
Or… how does it work?

TMonk

The torque you put on the pedals when performing a sprint is way higher than what you will do from lifting the bike. Try it a few times at low speed in a parking lot to get confidence.

Iride01 

I didn't know there was a different bunny hop. However it seems I've always been doing the English version. I'm in SPD's and not tight on the tension. So I don't think you have a worry. Perhaps if you need some reassurance, then pull up with your leg on the upstroke when doing a hard climb or hard acceleration. If your shoe comes free of the pedal then, you might should be somewhat careful.

But I've never even considered that my feet might come undone. There isn't much force on the pedals other than lifting some of the weight of your bike.

Bald Paul

First, you need an English bunny...

unterhausen

I knew there were two kinds of bunny hop, but I don't think I've heard it called "American" vs. "English". "American bunny hop" involves starting with a wheelie (or is it a manual, I can't do either).

spelger

You mean like to get up a curb? I do that.

tomato coupe

Would a Welsh rabbit suffice?

chaadster

Release tension is only applicable in the release direction and should not be— ideally— a factor when pulling straight up. However, even if your technique is imperfect and involves a little “heel out” motion that causes releases, just because your foot comes off the pedal does not mean you will crash.

big john

spelger

yeah, that's not something i'll be doing on my road bike. although might have saved my wheel today, crashed hard, wheel is toast. damn curb.

mstateglfr 

First off, the Freedom Bunny Hop is vastly superior to its antiquated Victorian cousin.

An American bunny hop really is better for like 90% of obstacle jumping.
The English bunny hop is helpful when wanting reposition yourself on the trail and a few very specific and limited other instances. An English hop takes more energy and you can't get as high.

As for needing to be clipped in for an English bunny hop to work, you don't need to be clipped in. You just need to push down to load, then pull up evenly between both wheels. Core muscles are your friend. The loading is critical.

choddo

Many’s the time a hastily organised bunny hop (not sure of nationality) has saved me from something nasty on the road. I cleared an unexpected 2 foot long, inch+ deep trench a few months back. Was next to a buddy and near centre line so nowhere else to go. Proudest moment on a bike. 😄

eduskator

Try it in an empty parking lot. The pedals are what lifts the bike. You need to pull on the handlebars a little as well to make sure the bike stays parallel to the ground. If your pedals are too loose, and depending on your feet moment, your shoes might unclip.

Never tried an american bunny hop on a road bike - it's kind of odd I think.

Jughed

I learned to bunny hop riding BMX/Mountain bikes - no clips needed, no pulling up with the feet at all. Both styles of hop...

Great skill for a roadie to have, you never know when something may pop up on the road in front of you. The last thing I had to hop was the dreaded loose water bottle from another rider.

All roadies could benefit from riding BMX, Mountain, cyclocross bikes... many bike handling skills required for these types of riding can translate to better bike handling while on the road.

spelger

i can bunny hop. do it on a regular basis because of some of the cracks in the roads i ride on. they are like canyons sometimes. there was no way i was going to bunny hop the obstacle last night. my fault last night was i came into a round-about way too hot. over confident dummy i was.

Iride01 

OP.... Take notice that the guy in the video posted by big john recommended that you might want to use flat pedals. Apparently he believes clipless pedals will not show you the common mistakes one makes. Though he is apparently doing the American version of the bunny-hop.

eduskator

Yeah, looks like a wheelie and pop to me. The more refined english one is classier!

big john

He specifically says in the video that it is wrong to start with a manual (wheelie). What he is doing is an extreme example and most of us are never going to get that high off the ground.

79pmooney

More than a few road racers have English bunny hopped to the side and popped up onto the sidewalk to avoid crashes. I doubt I have the skill to pull that off and thankfully never needed it.

The English bunny hop seems to be the one universally used in cyclo cross.