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Like many a middle aged mountain biker, I would love to, but can't, wheelie. New Years resolution 2018 was to change that. 6 and a bit months (!) later I've finally made it to the park 30 secs roll down the road. On the whole I'm a decent technical rider and can manual and hop well enough to ride pretty much anything I want, trailwise, but it would still be nice to smash out some proper back wheel action.
Now I've tried on occasion over the last 20 odd years to do this and today ended up with the same results. I can get the front wheel a decent way up, but as soon as it starts to go properly light approaching the balance point, I brick it. I'm absolutely TERRIFIED of going over backwards.
Firstly, I have no actual understanding of how to get off the bike in such circumstances. I know in theory, you just step off, but actual practice suggests that my mind goes blank and I freeze. Historically I've always tried to go down with the ship and ride things out, usually more or less successfully. Back in my northshore days it took me the best part of a morning to work out how to bail successfully from a skinny for much the same reasons as above - my brain just doesn't accept that separating from the bike is a good thing. I've got pretty good at that "accelerating madly, front wheel aloft, not quite at the balance point" thing, so I'm actually going moderately quickly by the time I'd want to abort.
I also see disaster and injury awaiting - broken cockyx, knackered wrists, cracked lid, assorted flat pedal injuries resulting from a loop out (let alone the sheer embarrassment of it, which is almost worse). None of which encourages me to "overgive". Even from the first power stroke (ie from standstill) I can't make myself stomp hard enough to go for a loopout. Its daft - give me a 6' drop or a 15' double and I wouldn't bat an eyelid - both of which have far more potential for injury, but the idea of banging the back of my head? <<shudder>>
I suspect there's also an element of using "having the fear" as an excuse to avoid practising, especially when I could just go and pedal away for several hours over the moors (something that I AM quite good at) instead...
Tips and tricks please...?
smash out some proper back wheel action
I believe Centre Parks is the place to practice this
the approach i used to get past this point was to do the following.
Make sure you're on flat pedals and have a good back brake. Put your saddle right down and get ready to pull up on the bars to get the front wheel in the air, whilst stomping on the pedals.
The only thing you'll be doing differently, is you're going to TRY to go over the back. If you're ready for it, and prepared to jump off the back and land flat on your feet, you'll be able to do this no problem.
Practice this for a while so you become comfortable jumping off the back of the bike to be left standing upright, holding onto the bars covering the back brake still.
Eventually, you should try to grab the back brake just in time to stop yourself going over the back. As you're used to the sensation of where the bike flips out, you should be able to do this. It will result in you being left right on the balance point, not really going over the back, or dropping the front very easily.
This method will clear your issue with thinking about going over the back.
If you can manual, why are wheelies such a problem?
You could always borrow a back protector to help with your confidence? Worked for me.
If you can manual, why are wheelies such a problem?
I can manual as in I can pump through a dip on the back wheel, not as in I can roll down the trail for 100m with the front wheel in the air. ie I can't manual properly. That's the next stage once I've got wheelies (hopefully) cracked.
You could always borrow a back protector
I have one. I have no intention of going to the park in full powerranger regalia to pedal round slowly on flat grass.
The only thing you’ll be doing differently, is you’re going to TRY to go over the back. If you’re ready for it, and prepared to jump off the back and land flat on your feet, you’ll be able to do this no problem.
I understand this concept (and it's what I'm trying to do), but in practice I just go into panic mode. I can't get past the "separating from bike =BAAAADDD" stage. I just can't envisage how you actually step backwards off the bike without going over ass over teakettle and smashing the back of your head in. I know it sounds really stupid. I've seen many other riders do it successfully, but I can't envision myself doing it and staying upright.
Put a backpack on with a pillow inside for cushioning.
I too am planning on learning to wheelie next week, fed up of kids requesting it and shrugging it off as if I am too cool for that.
The truth is I never could wheelie.
You needs flats.
Ask me how I know this.
I have flats. I'm using them. Doesn't make any difference as far as my head is concerned.
I got through the feeling comfortable jumping off the back stage and suddenly I was... still not able to wheelie.
Practice looping out.
Just at walking pace over commit and just step off it's harder the faster You get. But off your in a low gear you should be able to loop it out almost stopped at that point learn to brake to catch it
Then practice with a bit more pace
It's all in the back brake
I think if you have a better understanding of the balance point you get over the fear. The balance 'point' is actually quite a wide range.
You must have a back brake you trust. Lift the front wheel with a pedal stroke (and the rest) and slam the back brake on. Dont try and wheelie for ages, just do that . You'll learn quick that you can touch the brake and it will save you. Then practice (not moving if you like) stepping of the back of the bike by intentionally going too high. Then practice on grass. It really doesnt hurt if you fall off the back, but by this point you will know when you are going too. I think i havee fallen off the back once when wheeling when it was wet and i slipped off the saddle.
Good luck!
I can do a very short (as in 2-3 foot wheelie)
i can also loop out and step off the back until the bovines return to their residence
What I cannot do is is hold the bike at the balance point
I have decided that I basically need to practice more - a lot more - which I do try to until I decide life is too short!
Have you considered making yourself a manual practice jig? If you can get used to manualling a wheelie will be easy.
Manual stands/jigs or whatever they're called are stupid and a complete waste of time What they teach you has almost nothing in common with manualling or wheeling in real life.
The advice to learn to loop out intentionally and step off is your first mission.
Last training session we had with wheelies we had people basically lifting people's bikes to the balance point. Most were surprised by just how far back it was. Mostly, though, it just sounds like you're overthinking it. Put some flats on, find a gentle uphill grassy slope and get used to landing on your arse.
I have a manual machine and it does nothing apart from teach you how to manual a manual machine which is useless unless you are really good with photoshop
Luckily I learned how to wheelie when I was about 10/11, even then it was just on the pedals. Took a while to learn to feather the rear brake.
Looping out is nothing to be afraid off, you will get a foot down, it's a natural reaction. If you feel it going past the balance point pull the rear brake. Try not to get too much speed up either, well not at first, gear changes whilst on the rear wheel can come later. 😉
Manuals are completely different to wheelies despite looking very similar, imho.
In wheelies balance is achieved through accelerating via pedal strokes and countering via feathering the brake.
Manuals balance is achieved by moving your body. Manuals 'feel' more natural but are actually harder to master. Wheelies don't feel natural as you're sat on the bike unable to move, but actually have a lot more input than the manual.
In either case, don't 'pull' on the bars. You use your weight via pumping (and accelerating for a wheelie) to bring the front up. If you pull, you'll fall over sideways or will take a foot off instantly.
In a similar situation than the OP but have been making steady progress. The key to my progress has been to stop actually trying to wheelie and in stead concentrate on normalising the feeling at the balance point. My problem was that once I go thte bike upto the balance point I'd panic and either grab the back brake and bail out or not fully commit and get into the 'power wheelie' thing where you're just putting in more and more power and speed to keep the wheel up almost at the balance point.
Recently I've just been practicing getting the bike upto the balance point and even a bit over so it's not such a panic if I do tip back so I can teach myself to feather the back brake rather than grab a fistful of back brake. By focussing on this I'm getting much more comfortable when on the balance point, not panicking and if I do start tipping back not panicking and grabbing brake, so as a result the length of my wheelies are increasing. My limiting factor now is side to side balance rather than fore and aft balance.
Practice on a very slight uphill if you can. Psychologically it feels safer, also it is harder to pick up speed. Also I have looped out many times and always managed to get a foot down. Leave a good bit of seatpost up you have more time to get your feet down, plus pedalling is more natural and easier.
Manual stands/jigs or whatever they’re called are stupid and a complete waste of time
not entirely, many people don't understand how far back your bum has to be, or where the balance point is, so for that fundamental part of the problem they can be very useful. They can't teach you how to do the manoeuvre, but they can bring something to the party
As soon as the bike does loop out you won't even have to think about getting your feet on the ground, it'll just happen instinctively.
My problem with a wheelie is that after about four pedals I always start to pull on one side of the bars making me go sideways.
Ok.
To stay straight and upright.
Don't pull on the bars at all
look further ahead. No. further ahead than that. OK? No. Keep your chin up. Seriously!
You can still steer with the bars while riding on the rear wheel (turning the bars makes your body lean in so will turn the bike). Staying straight is more to do with even pedal strokes. If you start to lean to one side put in a <span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">stronger pedal stroke on that side to push away from leaning to that side.</span>
Just broke my vertebrae in two places falling off a 30+ kmh wheelie, due to a tiny bump in the road making my rear wheel loose contact with the ground. Bad luck, but could have been avoided. It was also my first time falling off a wheelif after years of exp. Tips:
Lower your seat a bit, makes the fall shorter and bailing easier. Dropper post is nice for this.
Practise bailing.
Use c2 grade d3o armour or better.
Don't go at high speed unless you have years of exp. Esp not on hard surfaces.
Always use flats.
Know the surface, don't do high speed wheelies on unknown paths/roads.
If you start to lean to one side put in a <span style=”font-size: 0.8rem;”>stronger pedal stroke on that side to push away from leaning to that side.</span>
Oh, thanks for that! Pointing towards the scenery is my usual trick. I'll remember to try that next time I'm out.
Two things i tried that i think helped:
1) Find something like a raised bed, or a short bank, on grass or something soft. Ideally, at a decent angle but not so steep you tip over backwards just trying to ride up it. Park your bike, front wheel up the slope, back wheel at the bottom, get a friend to hold bike up. Sit on bike (stationary) then stand up and step off the back. This gets you used to the fact you can bail off backwards without going A over T!
2) Find a wall, back your bike up to the wall, then roll forwards about 1 foot. Lock you rear brake on, and then pull the bike up an back, till you back hits the wall. At first, when you are close to the wall, you'll pop up, bounce off the wall, and pop back down again. DO NOT LET GO OF REAR BRAKE!!! Start from a bit further away, allowing you to roll up to a greater angle, closer to the tipping point. In all cases, the wall means you can't fall off backwards! (wear a helmet to avoid banging your head on wall btw!) Not only will this get you used to balancing fore and aft, it'll also help you get up straight (side to side) and balance. You start off by slipping sideways off the wall a lot...
These worked for me, but might not for you, but are easy to try 😉
Funnily enough was watching this tonight:
before long you'll be
#noicantwheelie
This is different to how I’ve previously tried but it seems a cool approach:
I think you need to practice bailing....
I'm to some extent the same... but putting in time actually deliberately jumping off the bike really helps... not just wheelies... it now feels a lot more natural (still not entirely) for me and the bike to go separately by my choice.
I did a load of practices progressively trying to bail off the bike in as many ways as possible and not hurt myself... I did do most of my deliberate practice when the weather was wetter and the ground softer though....
In the past I ended up either doing a very impressive and spectacular save OR falling wrapped up with the bike.
The harder I rode the more of the latter.... and the feeling of bailing always felt unnatural... it was a go down with the ship...