BMX Trick
Hang five
A hang five is a BMX trick where the rider rolls on the front wheel with one foot on the front peg and the other leg off the bike, rear wheel in the air.
Updated 4 min read804 words
A hang five is a BMX trick where the rider rolls on the front wheel with one foot on the front peg and the other leg off the bike, usually stretched out behind, while the rear wheel stays in the air. In flatland terms it is a rolling endo, with the frame pulled up until the seat meets the rider's body to set the balance point. It is closely related to the nose manual, and the name is borrowed from surfing.
Overview
The rider's weight goes almost straight down through the front axle. The foot on the front peg carries most of the load, the hands steady the bars, the seat rests against the rider's body, and the free leg works as a counterweight. Push the free leg back and the rear wheel goes higher. Bring it in and the rear wheel drops.
Hang fives turn up in flatland, where front wheel balance moves are the core of the discipline, and in street and park riding, where riders do them along a manual pad, a ledge top or a long flat section. You need a front peg on the side of the foot you plan to use.
How to do it
Learn the nose manual first, so the front wheel balance point already feels familiar. Practise on smooth, flat ground at walking pace. Wear a helmet, and consider shin guards, because the free pedal can swing into your leg.
- Fit a front peg. Put a peg on the front axle on the side of your planting foot. Tighten the axle nuts fully.
- Roll slowly. Keep the cranks level and your weight centred.
- Shift forward. Move your chest over the bars and lift the rear wheel into a short nose manual.
- Step to the peg. Move your front foot (the one on the peg side) from its pedal to the front peg. Do it quickly but smoothly.
- Take the other foot off. Lift the other foot off its pedal and let that leg extend out behind the bike.
- Balance. Use the free leg and your hips to hold the rear wheel up. Small moves only. Keep your arms slightly bent.
- Come out. Bring the free foot back to its pedal, step the peg foot back to its pedal, and let the rear wheel down gently. Ride away.
A first drill
Practise just step 4 on a stationary bike leaning against a wall: move a foot from pedal to front peg and back until it is automatic. Then try it rolling with the rear wheel only just off the ground.
Hang five and related tricks
| Trick | Feet | Rear wheel |
|---|---|---|
| Nose manual | Both on pedals | In the air |
| Hang five | One on front peg, one off the bike | In the air |
| Manual | Both on pedals | On the ground, front wheel in the air |
| Toothpick | On pedals, front peg on a ledge | In the air, a grind rather than a manual |
Variations
- Hang five on a manual pad. Up onto a box or pad, hold it across, and drop off the end. See manual pad.
- Long hang five. Hold the balance over a longer stretch of flat ground.
- One-handed hang five. Take a hand off once the balance is solid.
- Hang five with a turn out. Some riders finish with a pivot or a hop 180 on the front wheel. Names for these exits vary. See 180.
- Opposite side. Learn the other foot. This needs a front peg on that side as well.
- Hang ten. The same balance with both feet on the front pegs, one each side. See the FAQ above.
Common mistakes
- Moving the foot too slowly. A slow step lets the rear wheel drop before your foot reaches the peg.
- Leaning too far forward. All your weight over the bars sends you over the front. Stay centred above the axle.
- Free leg too stiff. A straight, locked leg cannot correct. Keep some bend in it.
- Loose front peg. A spinning peg under one foot is a fast way to crash.
- Looking down. Keep your eyes ahead along your line.
- Soft front tyre. Low pressure makes the front end feel vague. Run it within the range printed on the tyre.
History
Front wheel balance tricks with feet on the pegs grew out of flatland riding in the 1980s, when riders were inventing many ways to stand on and around the bike. The surfing name suggests where the riders of the time took their inspiration from. The first BMX rider to do a hang five is not recorded with any certainty, so this page does not name one. As street riding took on manual pads and ledge tops, the hang five moved off the flatland floor and into street and park lines. See flatland and freestyle BMX boom 1980s.
Related tricks
Frequently asked questions about Hang five
What is the difference between a hang five and a nose manual?
In a nose manual, both feet stay on the pedals. In a hang five, one foot moves to the front peg and the other leg comes off the bike, usually extended behind. The balance point is similar, but your body position is very different.
Where does the name hang five come from?
It is borrowed from surfing, where hanging five means riding near the nose of the board with the toes of one foot over the edge. The BMX trick also puts one foot right at the front.
What is a hang ten in BMX?
In flatland, a hang ten is usually described as the same front wheel balance as a hang five, but with both feet on the front pegs, one on each side. A related move with neither foot on a peg is sometimes called a hang nothing.
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