Holding cuts both ways
Most hill jump games run on one rule: holding makes you heavier (or tucks you in). More gravity means a stronger push along the slope. Downhill that push points forward, so you speed up. Uphill it points backward, so you slow down.
| Zone | While holding | While released |
|---|---|---|
| Downhill | Faster acceleration (gain) | Less acceleration |
| Valley bottom | Little difference | Little difference |
| Uphill | Faster slowdown (loss) | Less slowdown |
| Near the crest | Arrive with speed already lost | Arrive with speed kept, easier launch |
Three zones
- Hold as soon as you tip into a downhill: the steeper the slope, the bigger the gain.
- Release once you pass the valley floor and start climbing: this is what “release at the crest” actually means.
- Be off the screen at the crest: whether you launch depends on your speed and how sharply the crest curves. See why you float over a hill crest.
Holding over the crest
In games where holding in the air fires a booster, you lose twice. You bleed speed on the climb, and because your finger is still down at take-off, the booster fires straight away and burns fuel. For when to spend it, see booster fuel timing.
Practice routine
- For the first few runs, ignore the booster entirely and drill “hold downhill, release uphill”
- Watch which hills launch you: short, rounded ones usually beat big long ones
- After landing, look for the next downhill at once; losing the rhythm kills speed fast
In WingBike
Hold downhill, release uphill
In WingBike, holding on the ground tucks the rider in and multiplies gravity by about 1.9 (up to about 3 with Wheels upgrades). Holding on an uphill slows you down by the same factor. While you are not holding and moving slowly, the rider pedals a little.
Take-off is automatic
There is no jump button. When you hit a crest fast enough, the bike can no longer follow the ground and lifts off by itself. When the hint at the bottom changes from “Hold to tuck and speed up downhill” to “Hold to fire the booster”, you are airborne.
Lift your finger before take-off
Holding in the air fires the booster. If you were still holding over the crest, fuel starts burning immediately, so get into the habit of lifting your finger just before you leave the ground.
Numbers are from WingBike 1.0. Balance may change in later updates.
FAQ
Can’t I just hold all the time?
It works on downhills, but every hill has an uphill after it. Holding there slows you hard, you reach the next crest too slowly, and the run tends to end without a launch.
I only launch off big hills, never small ones.
How sharply the crest curves matters more than its size. At the same speed, a short, pointed crest launches you more easily.
WingBike: Fly and Jump Racer
No account, fully offline, played with one finger. Free on Android.