Banging the front wheel Even for low obstacles, bouncing the front wheel really lifts the bike upwards and makes the climbing much easier and effortless compared to pulling a bunny hop or a simple pedal hop. It is a pedal hop technique, but with the extra complication of bouncing the front wheel on the edge of the obstacle, without any braking. This technique can be used for very high stuff, bouncing the front wheel even below the full height. Also it can replace the rollover technique when climbing on a sharp edge with nothing behind.

The ultimate technique...Really difficult but essential in biketrials
1° Like for the roll-over, start at least two crank turns away from the edge to climb on. In the last crank turn, lift the front wheel when pushing on the goofy pedal (left) to get the wheel up towards the edge of the obstacle..Aim at the edge or one inch below.
2° When the front wheel arrives on the edge (or just below if the obstacle is too high), finish the crank turn with a good kick on the right pedal to bang the front wheel upwards.	3° During compression, give the maximum jump extension from the highest position on the pedals. Because both wheels are compressed, you have good support from the ground.	4° Take advantage of the extra upward impulsion that arises from the compression to pull up the bike with you and try to lean forward. Full brakes on landing to grip the tires.
It looks like riding up a virtual steep slope that starts on the ground where the rear wheel touches and passes-by the edge where the front wheel bangs. See the move in a video

Sounds complicated? Well, it is really difficult to get everything right at the same time. This move requires very good timing and very good positioning of the bike before take off, so adjust your marks before you start, count your pedal strokes to reach the wall with your good foot. Ideally, the front wheel just bounces on the edge (no braking on the front wheel). The trick is to synchronise the extension and jump impulsion on the pedal with the wheel bang. When the front wheel hits the edge, both tires are compressed, and during a fraction of a second, you can really give the maximum jump extension on the pedals with good support from the ground. The instant after, the compression of the tires springs back and boosts the move upwards, while you pull the bike with you.

See the front tire bounce

Wing taps just any wall nowadays

Kind of a risky business It is best to practice on round edges at the beginning. Some pros like Kenny use this technique to climb up walls that are too high to rollover, or when there is just enough room to run a couple of good pedal strokes. But it is fun to use even on low round edges, as it makes the climbing much easier and effortless than pulling a simple pedal hop (where you need to take your jump impulsion while balancing on the rear wheel.

slow-motion zoom

If the edge is too sharp, the hit too frontal, or the pressure in the tire too low, you can pinch your front tire flat. The front wheel tapping or banging technique will definitely bring another form of abuse to your bike. Even when fairly well mastered, this technique will eventually break any fork, and has an excellent potential to buckle many wheels.

At a Pro level: pushing the move further Experienced riders are able to hit the front wheel on the most awkward corners or narrow edges, even tapping completely below the edge if there is some flat surface to hit and the obstacle too high. This technique also becomes more difficult as you have less run-up distance. This requires power and precision at the same time.
Ben Savage hitting a square section wood beam	Andrei Burton with minimal run-up distance