BMX Term
Bail
To bail in BMX is to abandon a trick mid-air or to crash, and a bail is the act of dropping the attempt, often by jumping off the bike.
Updated 2 min read359 words
To bail is to abandon a trick partway through, or to come off the bike after something goes wrong. A bail can be planned, such as stepping off the pedals mid-air, or it can be a crash. As a noun, a bail is the moment a rider gives up on the attempt.
Meaning
The word covers three related ideas.
- Aborting a trick. The rider sees the trick will not work and lets go, lands on their feet or throws the bike away.
- Falling. Any crash can be called a bail, especially one where the rider leaves the bike.
- Backing out. Riders also bail before a trick, by stopping at the top of a ramp or turning away from a spot.
Knowing how to bail is a skill. Riders practise stepping off, rolling out and releasing the bars so they are not dragged down with the bike. Learning this early lets a rider try new tricks with less risk. It also means that riding out a sketchy landing is not always the smart choice.
Origin and usage
Bail comes from everyday English, where bailing out means leaving a failing situation, and it is used in skateboarding, snowboarding and other sports. The exact point it entered BMX slang is not documented.
Bails are a normal part of riding. Riders bail many times before landing a new trick, and filmed clips often include the bails that led up to a make. A rider who bails safely can usually try again straight away. A rider who bails badly may be off the bike for weeks, which is why many riders learn fall technique and wear protection on bigger obstacles.
Examples
- "I bailed that tailwhip halfway round and landed on my feet."
- "He had to bail off the quarter when his rear wheel caught the coping."
- "Don't bail on me now, one more try and you've got it."
Related terms
Frequently asked questions about Bail
What does it mean to bail on a trick?
It means giving up on the attempt before landing it. The rider usually lets go of the bike, steps off or aborts the rotation instead of riding out a bad landing.
Is bailing the same as crashing?
Not always. A bail is a choice to abandon the trick, often to avoid a worse crash. Riders also say bail when they simply fall, so the two overlap.
Related articles
Sketchy
Sketchy is BMX slang for anything unstable, unclean or risky, such as a messy landing, a shaky run-up to a trick or a worn out bike part.
2 min readHang-up
A hang-up in BMX is when the rear wheel, peg or pedal catches on the coping or lip of a ramp during a trick, stopping the bike and often causing a crash.
2 min readCase
To case a jump in BMX is to land short so the rear wheel or bike hits the lip or knuckle of the landing instead of rolling down the slope.
2 min readEnder
An ender is the final and usually best trick of a BMX video part, saved for the end to leave the strongest impression on the viewer.
2 min readDialed
Dialed in BMX describes a trick that a rider lands consistently, or a bike that is perfectly set up, tuned and ready to ride.
1 min readBonk
A bonk in BMX is a quick tap of an obstacle with a wheel, tyre or peg, often used mid-air to push off or add style to a trick.
2 min read