Asheville, NC — A local mountain biker who pedals “very efficiently” but cannot demonstrably jump a bicycle insisted this week that flat-pedal riders are dramatically overcomplicating bunny hops by involving unnecessary steps such as bike compression, timing, and physics.
“I teach people how to bunny hop all the time,” said Dick Hopper, 38, moments before confidently demonstrating the maneuver by simply pulling his feet upward while the bike followed along out of obligation. “You don’t need to load the bike. You just pull up. That’s it. I don’t know why people make it so complicated.”
Witnesses said Hopper’s demonstration consisted of lifting both feet at once, briefly yanking the bike into the air via his clipless pedals, and landing with the posture of someone who believes the problem has been solved forever.
Hopper said bunny hops are easy once riders stop “thinking like flat-pedal beginners” and stop listening to what he described as “flat fanboys who turn everything into a technique debate.”
“People talk about pushing down and scooping and all this other stuff,” he said. “That’s flat-pedal logic. Flat guys love to overthink it. If you’re clipped in, the bike is literally attached to you. So you just pull up. That’s how jumping works without a bike. That’s how jumping works with a bike.”
According to Hopper, the technique has proven itself repeatedly in controlled backyard conditions.
“I’ve cleared every stick back there,” he said. “Every single one. Some of them were pretty thick too.”
Friends noted that the sticks rarely exceeded an inch in diameter and were typically cleared after several warm-up attempts and a brief pause to reset his cycling computer.
Hopper added that his riding efficiency speaks for itself, pointing to smooth cadence, consistent power output and a strong preference for seated climbing.
“I pedal really well,” he said. “That’s what matters. Jumping is kind of secondary. Honestly, if you’re pedaling right, you don’t even need to jump that much.”
He also dismissed flat pedals as a tool for less-advanced riders who “haven’t committed yet,” describing flat users as “loud online” but ultimately stuck in the learning phase.
“Flats are fine when you’re learning,” Hopper said. “But once you’re elite, you want that locked-in feeling. That’s how you know you’ve progressed.”
