Barspin

A barspin is throwing the handlebars a full turn in the air and catching them before the front wheel lands. It is the first rotation trick most riders learn, and it builds the timing you need for tailwhips later.

What you need first

• A solid bunny hop, or confident airs off a small quarter pipe or jump. You need time in the air.
• Riding with relaxed arms and holding the bike steady with your legs.
• A bike that can spin: no brake cable in the way (brakeless, or a detangler), and bars that clear your knees and the frame.

In the video

• 1:36 Tricks to learn first
• 3:38 Bike setup
• 6:55 Basic barspin technique
• 9:44 Pinching the seat for stability
• 11:51 Barspins on a ramp
• 16:27 Bunny hop barspins

Step by step

1. Practise standing still. Stand over the bike, squeeze the seat between your knees, and spin the bars with your hands until throwing and catching feels natural.
2. Get height first. Roll into a small quarter pipe, jump or a bunny hop. The spin only starts once you are in the air.
3. Pinch the seat. Squeeze the seat or top tube with your knees so the bike stays straight while your hands are off.
4. Throw. At the top of the air, push one hand forward and let go with the other so the bars spin round.
5. Catch. Grab the bars with both hands as they come back to straight.
6. Land straight. Make sure the bars and front wheel are straight before the front wheel touches down.

Common mistakes

• Throwing too early. If you throw on the way up, the bars are still spinning when you land. Wait for the top.
• Not pinching. Without your knees holding the seat, the bike twists under you.
• Throwing too hard or too soft. The bars go past straight or stop short. Practise the throw standing still until it is the same every time.
• Landing before you catch. If you are not sure you have the bars, do not put the front wheel down. Bail instead.

Stay safe

• Wear a helmet, gloves and knee pads. A missed catch usually means landing with crossed bars.
• Check your stem and headset bolts are tight before you start.
• Learn on a small quarter pipe or into a foam pit or resi ramp if your park has one, not on big jumps.
• If you miss the catch, step off the bike and let it go.

More on gear and bailing on the safety page.

What’s next

Once you can barspin off a ramp every time, try one out of a bunny hop on flat ground. Later the same timing leads to tailwhips. More Progression tricks →