June 2007

“Whoopdedo” as defined by Hans Rey

A whoopdedo can be fun, hell, pain, flow, and surprise on two wheels. Motocrosser and BMXers refer to the whoops as a series of small and not so small bumps/jumps. The key is to find a good rhythm and method to get over them. There are several ways to do so, but that all depends on your skills and the size and number of whoops.

If you have the skill, you want to keep your front wheels from touching the ground in between whoops by manual-ing through them or over them. Motocross guys basically gas it, bikers can also try to speed jump them - by lifting the front wheel up onto or over the first one (and pushing it down the backside to increase or maintain your speed), that way you don't get airborne as easy, as long as you suck it up with the rear end.

Sure, that's easier said than done, to make it even more complicated you can double them, which means you do catch air on the first one and land on the backside of the second one. Of course should there be a third one; you'd better be ready and quick.

You can always just roll through them, you can try to find a pumping rhythm by pushing the bike through the transitions (the curved parts of the landing/takeoff). That way you can maintain your momentum without pedaling - since it's very hard to pedal inside whoops without hitting your pedals on the ground. Try to be smooth, don't flip over the bars and no death grip, although a firm grip is required. Whoopdedooooooooooooooooooo!