Learning Barspins: Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Ever seen someone throw a barspin so smoothly it looks effortless? It’s one of those tricks that screams style, but behind every clean spin is a lot of trial, error, and frustration. Many riders struggle with the same mistakes, making the trick way harder than it needs to be. The good news? Most of these problems have simple fixes—you just need to know what to focus on.

The Biggest Mistakes Holding You Back

Learning a barspin isn’t just about yanking the bars and hoping for the best. There are some common mistakes that can mess up your spin, throw off your balance, or even send you straight to the ground.

Hesitating During the Throw

This is a huge one. Riders often second-guess themselves right before tossing the bars, making the trick sloppy or incomplete. Instead of a full spin, the bars get a weak flick, or worse, they don’t spin at all.

• Why it happens: Fear of commitment. Your brain doesn’t trust that you’ll land safely.
• Fix it: Confidence comes from repetition. Get used to the motion by practicing barspins while sitting still or in a bunny hop without committing to landing. You need muscle memory before you take it full send.

Leaning Too Far Forward or Back

Balance is everything. If you lean too far forward, you risk diving over the bars. Lean back too much, and the bike slips out from under you.

• Why it happens: A natural reaction to fear. Your body wants to brace for impact, but that messes up your balance.
• Fix it: Keep your chest over the seat and eyes forward. Your core should stay engaged so the bike remains centered beneath you.

Holding the Bars Too Long

Gripping the bars too long stops the rotation and ruins the trick. If you’re scared to let go, you’ll always have a half-spun barspin that just doesn’t look right.

• Why it happens: Lack of trust in your catch hand.
• Fix it: Start practicing with one hand off. Try catching with just your dominant hand first, then work on trusting your weaker hand.

Mastering the Setup

Before you even think about spinning the bars, your setup has to be right. A bad takeoff leads to bad results, no matter how perfect your spin is.

Foot Position Matters

Some people think foot position doesn’t matter much, but it does. If your feet aren’t set up correctly, the trick feels off from the start.

• Make sure your forward foot is your natural riding position.
• Avoid having your cranks too level; a slight tilt helps with balance.
• Keep your knees slightly bent to absorb impact.

Bars Need to Be Light, Not Forced

Forcing the bars to spin doesn’t make them go faster—it actually slows them down. A smooth, controlled flick is what gets them moving properly.

• A tight grip makes the trick feel harder. Loosen up.
• Push the bars from the center, not the edges.
• If the spin feels slow, try adjusting your hand position slightly forward.

The Right Way to Practice

Break It Down Into Smaller Steps

Instead of trying to land a barspin right away, break it into phases:

• Practice barspins while stationary: Sit on your bike and practice flicking the bars in place. This builds muscle memory.
• Do barspins while rolling: Just push the bars without worrying about catching them.
• Try the trick with your back wheel against a wall: This helps you focus on the hand motion without worrying about balance.

Use a Trampoline or Foam Pit

If you have access to a trampoline bike or foam pit, use it. Practicing in a safe space helps you commit without worrying about falling.

• Trampoline bikes let you work on the flick and catch without the fear of hitting the ground.
• Foam pits allow full commitment without the risk of slamming.

The Catch—Where It All Comes Together

Catching the bars is where most people struggle. If your hands aren’t where they need to be, the whole trick falls apart.

Catching With the Wrong Hand

Most riders instinctively try to catch with their throwing hand, but that’s not how it works. The key is to let your opposite hand do most of the catching.

• Keep your throw hand loose and let the bars move freely.
• Train your weaker hand to grab the bars as soon as they complete the rotation.

Hands Missing the Bars

If your hands aren’t getting back to the bars in time, it’s usually because of a bad spin.

• Try throwing the bars with a little less force so you have more control.
• Keep your eyes locked on the bars the entire time.

Fixing Fear and Mental Blocks

Why Fear Stops Progress

Most barspin problems come from hesitation. If your body doesn’t fully commit, the trick won’t work. Fear makes you hold back, and that leads to incomplete spins, bad landings, or straight-up bails.

• The more you hesitate, the worse the trick feels.
• Mental blocks are harder to overcome if you keep avoiding the trick.

How to Get Over It

• Start small. Try bus drivers first (holding the bars through the spin) to get used to the motion.
• Visualize the trick fully before sending it.
• Commit to the attempt. Even if you fall, you’re learning what not to do.

Bonus Tip: Keep Your Bike Setup Right

If your bars feel off, it could be your bike setup. Check your bar height and stem position. Sometimes small changes can make a huge difference in how the trick feels.

Even little things like your grips can make an impact. If you’re using old, slippery grips, swapping them out for fresh ones can give you more control and confidence.

Final Thoughts

Barspins aren’t something you land overnight. The process takes time, but every attempt gets you closer. Most mistakes come from hesitation, bad balance, or improper technique—all of which can be fixed with the right approach. Focus on the setup, practice each phase separately, and commit fully when you go for it.

Every smooth barspin you see started with rough ones. The difference between landing it and not is whether you keep working through the mistakes. Stick with it, fix the little things, and soon enough, it’ll be second nature.