Learn the Names of the Coolest Bike Tricks

Bike tricks have become an integral part of extreme sports and freestyle BMX competitions. Performing awe-inspiring maneuvers while flying high in the air requires skill, practice, and a deep familiarity with bike trick names.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn about the different types of bikes used for tricks, the history of BMX tricks competitions, and the names of bike tricks, coolest, and most popular tricks to try.

Bikes Made for Tricks

Certain types of bikes are specially designed for maneuvers, stunts, and BMX for tricks. Here are the most common:

BMX Bikes

BMX stands for bicycle motocross. These sturdy yet lightweight bikes feature compact frames, knobby tires, and pedal-activated brakes. Their responsive handling makes them ideal for tricks.

BMX bikes come in different variations:

• Freestyle: Optimized for tricks and stunts with pegs on the wheels for grinds.
• Dirt Jump: Used for jumping dirt ramps and trails. Stronger frames and suspension.
• Flatland: Low-profile frames to stay balanced while spinning on flat surfaces.

Trials Bikes

Trials bikes are extremely lightweight and have elevated chainstays for quick bunny hops. Slow-speed handling is optimized for balancing acts.

Track Bikes

Track bikes have fixed gears without brakes. Their simplicity allows for spin tricks like pirouettes.

Cruisers

Cruisers and old-school bikes can also be used by skilled riders. Their weight makes certain combos and landings tougher.

A Brief History of Bike Trick Competitions

Bike motocross (BMX) racing became popular in the 1970s, but riders started improvising stunts and tricks on their tracks. By the 1980s, professional competitions emerged solely focused on creative freestyle stunts.

Some key events in the evolution of competitive bike tricks:

• The mid-1970s: BMX races incorporate trick sessions during intermissions.
• 1979: Tom Hoffman completes the first aerial BMX stunt called an “air wheelie”.
• 1981: Bob Haro invents the first freestyle BMX frame optimized for tricks.
• 1982: Freestyling evolves from simple wheelies to complex combos.
• 1995: ESPN’s X Games holds the first major freestyle BMX event.
• 2000s: Street riding emerges with tricks using urban features.
• The 2020s: E-bikes introduce new possibilities and challenges.

In modern competitive events like the X Games, rider creativity and difficulty of tricks determine winners. Understanding the names of various maneuvers is key to following the sport.

Types of Bike Tricks

Hundreds of awe-inspiring bike tricks have been invented, but they fall into several basic categories:

Aerial Tricks

These gravity-defying stunts involve getting airborne to perform spins, flips, and combinations:

• Superman: Flying with extended arms and legs.
• Tuck no-hander: Bike and body spin separately while “tucked” in a ball.
• Backflip: Rotating bike and body backward 360 degrees while in the air.
• Flair: Doing a handstand on the handlebars before landing.
• Corkscrew: Twisting bike and body in different amounts during a flip.

Grinds and Stalls

Grinds involve sliding bike components along edges, walls, and rails:

• 50-50 grind: Riding with wheels lined up evenly on the edge.
• Nosegrind: Balancing and sliding on the front wheel.
• Crooked grind: The front truck grinds while the back wheel touches the ramp.
• Smith grind: Sliding with front peg on edge while lifting back tire.

Stalls are static tricks balancing on components:

• Fakie: Rocking bike back and forth on the rear wheel.
• Wheelie: Balancing on the rear wheel while pedaling.
• Manual: Balancing on the rear wheel without pedaling.
• Nose manual: The front wheel is lifted and balanced on the back wheel.

Spins and Rolls

These tricks involve rotating the bike under the rider:

• 360: Spinning bike 360 degrees beneath you.
• Tailwhip: Flipping bike end-over-end beneath you.
• Turndown: Spinning front end of bike downward.
• Icepick: Rotating bike with front peg scraping the ground.
• Pirouette: Full spin with rider standing balanced on pedals.

Combination Tricks

Once bike trick skills progress, combining different stunts opens up huge possibilities:

• Double tailwhip: Two consecutive tailwhips.
• 360 tabletop: Spinning 360 degrees while jumping a tabletop.
• Truck driver to fakie: Going from grind to backward stall in one move.
• Flair whip: Flipping to handstand at the peak of a tailwhip.
• Backflip barspin: Executing a handlebar spin while upside down.

10 Awesome Tricks to Learn First

Here are 10 cool bike tricks names and moves that are achievable for beginners after some practice:

1. Wheelie

Master basic balance points by looping out into a controlled wheelie. Learn to pedal and steer in this position.

2. Manual

The manual is similar to a wheelie but without pedaling. Use your body weight and brakes to balance.

3. Bunny Hop

Lifting both wheels off the ground simultaneously develops skills for more advanced airborne tricks.

4. 180 Hop

Turning the bike 180 mid-air seems simple but requires timing the bars and pedal position perfectly.

5. Fakie

Riding backward and rocking on the back wheel prepares for more complex fakie combo tricks. Gain balance control.

6. 50-50 Grind

Grinding is scary at first but learnable. Find a low box or curb and get your wheels aligned evenly.

7. 180 Pivot

Spin the bars and pedals 180 degrees while the front wheel stays planted. Pivoting refines rotation coordination.

8. Rollover

Looping the bike forward end-over-end beneath you takes courage but is great for progression.

9. Hip Jump

Add style by whipping the back end of your bike during a basic hop. Hip jumps teach whip technique.

10. Nose Manual

Balancing on just the back wheel with the front lifted takes precise foot placement. Master nose manuals before attempting nosegrinds.

The techniques required for these staple beginner tricks will set you up for success when learning more advanced maneuvers.

5 Iconic Professional Bike Trick Riders

Here are 5 all-time great bike tricksters who pushed the sport to new levels:

1. Mat Hoffman

“The Condor” won over 40 BMX competitions by pioneering huge air stunts like flairs and backflips.

2. Dave Mirra

Winning 24 X Games medals, Mirra progressed in park and street riding with double tailwhips and truck drivers.

3. Ryan Nyquist

Considered one of the most well-rounded riders ever, Nyquist flows seamlessly between dirt, park, and street courses.

4. Daniel Dhers

Venezuelan rider Dhers has won 5 X Games golds with smooth 360 variations and double tailwhip variations.

5. Scotty Cranmer

Sponsoring the first flatland contest, Cranmer excels at complex pirouette-based flatland combos.

These athletes continue to inspire both experienced and aspiring riders around the world.

Bike Trick Safety Essentials

While learning bike tricks is an exciting challenge, safety should always come first:

• Helmet – Choose a comfortable, properly fitted helmet that can withstand impacts. Full-face versions provide the most protection.
• Closed-toe shoes – Prevent injuries and keep your feet on the pedals with padded cycling shoes or sneakers.
• Flat pedals – Beginners should use large platform pedals to ensure feet don’t slip off during maneuvers.
• Knee/elbow pads – Hard shell pads absorb impact and prevent scrapes if you fall.
• Bike check – Frequently inspect your bike to ensure bolts are tightened, cables are intact, and parts function properly.
• Spotters – Have experienced riders watch and provide tips as you learn new tricks. They can also assist in preventing crashes.
• Progress gradually – Build skills slowly and methodically. Attempting stunts beyond your comfort zone can lead to serious accidents. Master fundamentals before progressing.

Following bike trick safety best practices reduces the risks associated with this action-packed sport.

Where to Practice Cool Tricks

Finding suitable locations to practice bike tricks takes some research:

• Skateparks – Cement bowls, ramps, jumps, rails, and banks are ideal for progression. Some parks are BMX-exclusive.
• Dirt jumps – Shaped mounds with gaps between enable big air without cement impacts.
• Grass fields – Large open grass areas are great for learning basics before progressing to ramps.
• Trails – Winding trails with small drops, logs, and rocks provide fun technical features.
• DIY spots – Some riders build their own features, but only with permission and in safe areas.
• Flat ground – Schoolyards, parking lots, and flat terrain allow practicing balancing tricks like manuals before adding obstacles.

Scout your local area to find a suitable spot to safely ride and learn at your own pace.

Inspiration from the Pros

Once you gain confidence with starter tricks, watching the pros can provide inspiration:

• Red Bull bike competitions like Joyride and Crankworx showcase innovative stunts.
• X Games, Nitro Circus, and Dew Tour feature world-class riders battling.
• Freestyle BMX videos like Props and Fiend deliver hours of stoke.
• Monster Energy BMX athletes like Kevin Peraza and Pat Casey constantly push limits.
• YouTube and Instagram highlight reels let you study tricks frame by frame.

Seeing top riders executing cutting-edge maneuvers on massive jumps can motivate you to keep progressing past basics and toward expert-level bike tricks.

FAQs:

Conclusion

Learning bike tricks requires courage, skills, and consistently pushing comfort zones. Mastering even simple maneuvers like wheelies takes practice and perseverance. However, absorbing these beginner fundamentals establishes a solid foundation for growth.

While certain tricks may seem impossible now, they become achievable goals through gradual progress. Internalizing each trick name deeply connects your brain, body, and bike so that combos flow intuitively.

Above all, embrace the journey rather than focusing on any final trick destination. Revel in those small daily skills gains. Savor that first successful hop or grind. The joyful process of growth lasts a lifetime.

Soon you’ll be the one with huge air, flowing style, and bike trick mastery that inspires others.