Science Says I’ve Been Jumping My Bike Wrong For 30 Years | Berm Peak

The Gist

Delaying the upward push on a bike jump by just fractions of a second increases height by 7 centimeters, or 3.25 percent. Science and biomechanics data confirm that maximizing force later on the ramp produces a higher jump.

Quick Overview

Delaying the body movement on a bike jump increases total height by 7 centimeters, as proven by biomechanical testing in a motion lab. Host Seth Alvo visits Appalachian State University to test bike jumping physics with associate professor Herman van Werkhoven and mountain bike coach Kristian Jackson. By wearing a motion capture suit and using force plates, the team analyzes baseline jumping mechanics versus adjusted timing. Ultimately, pushing later against the ramp maximizes impulse and increases overall air time.

Key Points: Seth Alvo tests his bike jumping mechanics at the biomechanics lab at Appalachian State University. Associate professor Herman van Werkhoven analyzes motion capture data and force plate readings to measure jump height and force. Mountain bike coach Kristian Jackson contributes expert coaching perspective to evaluate jumping technique. An initial baseline jump from a portable kicker ramp reaches a height of 2.154 meters or 7.07 feet above the floor. Force plates under the ramp measure downward force and impulse, defined as force multiplied by time. Delaying the upward push and pressing later against the ramp increases jump height by 7 centimeters, or 3.25 percent. The final optimized jump reaches a height of 2.224 meters, proving that slight timing adjustments significantly improve performance.

Context: Mountain biking relies heavily on instinct and muscle memory acquired over decades of riding. However, elite coaching and motion capture laboratories can dissect the exact physics behind bicycle jumps to reveal inefficiencies that are invisible to the naked eye.

Detailed Analysis

Seth Alvo takes his bicycle and a portable kicker ramp into the biomechanics lab at Appalachian State University to discover if science can help him jump higher. Working with associate professor Herman van Werkhoven and mountain bike coach Kristian Jackson, Seth wears a full motion capture suit covered in reflective markers. Nine specialized cameras track his body and bicycle movements, while force plates underneath the ramp record downward force and impulse. After establishing a baseline jump height of 2.154 meters using his traditional riding habits, the team analyzes his timing and force application. Van Werkhoven and Jackson both hypothesize that delaying his explosive upward movement slightly will extend the force application window. By pushing later against the ramp instead of early on the approach, Seth increases his total impulse and achieves a new jump height of 2.224 meters, representing a 7 centimeter or 3.25 percent improvement.