One of the trademarks of cyclocross courses are the barriers. Originally, barriers were in the form of fences or fallen trees, but on most of today’s loop-style racecourses, you’ll see 6–8-inch mini walls all racers must clear as quickly as possible.
While these obstacles can cause a lot of fear and worry among cyclists forced to clear them loop after loop, having a plan and using the right technique can make this part of the race less worrisome. Learn what you need to do to master this basic cyclocross skill and become more confident on the bike.
THE BUNNY HOP VERSUS THE DISMOUNT
For most barriers on a cyclocross course, you’ll have two options. You can either use a bunny hop technique to clear the barrier while staying on the bike or you can dismount and carry your bike over the barrier. The option you choose comes down to a few different factors.
The first thing you should consider when approaching any barrier on a cyclocross course is safety. If there is any chance you might not be able to clear the height of a barrier by hopping over it, you’ll have to get off your bike. It’s also important to determine your proximity to other riders and the terrain surrounding the barrier. If you’re in a pack of other riders, there may not be the space you need to bunny hop safely. Likewise, if there’s mud on either side of the barrier, you may not be able to maintain enough speed to complete the bunny hop. Attempting to do so when the conditions aren’t right can ultimately cause an avoidable accident.
The second biggest factor to consider is your momentum. There are times on a cyclocross course when dismounting your bike and running actually helps you maintain your momentum easier than staying on the bike. While some of this is determined by how good your dismounting/mounting technique is, looking to other riders in front of you can help, too. If everyone is dismounting and no one is attempting to bunny hop, it’s probably a safe bet this technique will help you carry the most momentum safely to the other side.
MAKE YOUR DECISION EARLY
One of the biggest mistakes you can make on a barrier is waiting too long to decide. Often, cyclists think they can bunny hop a barrier and change their mind once they get a little closer, deciding at the last minute to dismount and hop over the barrier instead. This kills your momentum and causes you to come to a complete stop.
Instead of letting this happen, you’ll need to learn how to anticipate upcoming barriers early and make a quick decision. If you are confident in your bunny hop technique and the height of the barrier, the terrain, and the number of cyclists around you allow you to attempt to clear it safely, this technique can save you time and help you start pedaling again on the other side much sooner. Keep in mind that often there will be a series of consecutive barriers, so you’ll need to determine whether or not there is enough space between barriers for you to bunny hop each of them.
If, however, you don’t feel like you can’t clear the barrier with a bunny hop for any of those reasons above, you’ll need to make the decision to dismount as early as possible. Don’t wait until you are right in front of the barrier to dismount. Just like the bunny hop, using the correct dismounting and mounting technique helps you carry more momentum over the barrier and get rolling again much quicker. We’ve got plenty of tips to help you practice the correct dismounting and mounting technique.
PRACTICING THE BUNNY HOP
The better you get at bunny hopping, the more often you’ll be able to use this technique to clear barriers instead of being forced to get off the bike. Practice this technique in a safe area before attempting it during a cyclocross event:
- With your hands on the hoods, shift your weight to the back of the bike just before you reach the barrier.
- Instead of just pulling up to lift your front wheel, pull back on the handlebars as you shift your weight backward.
- As the front wheel clears the barrier, shift your weight to the front of the bike as you lift your heels.
- Push the handlebars down to lower the front wheel and push the pedals down as well. The downward force along with your weight shifting to the front of the bike naturally lifts the rear wheel.
This technique is difficult and requires plenty of practice to master. Use soft barriers until you get the hang of it, then move to solid barriers once your confidence improves. Like anything else, the more you attempt the technique the better you’ll get.
