Learning to wheelie on a bike

irussb · 2007-09-22, 04:09 PM

Having learned to unicycle, I want to try and learn to wheelie. I tried to learn years ago when I was a teenager (with supposedly better balance) but gave up. I could only ever get a couple of yards before my front wheel would touch down again, or I would topple over sideways. I don't know if it's just me but I found learning to unicycle a whole lot easier (having learned age 30).

Pulling the perfect wheelie is the holy grail for me, and being able to ride everywhere on that one wheel would kick *ss. Does anyone have any tips for learning, like what the ideal bike geometry and gearing is, how to control your balance etc. What will I be able to take from unicycling to apply to this?

Thanks.
Russ.

ivan · 2007-09-22, 04:19 PM

I think the best bikes for wheelies are BMXses and Trials bikes. as they are pretty much designed for pulling wheelies.

I tried a BMX bike yesterday, and was able to wheelie for a few metres after a few tries. I think if I had a few days with that bike, I'd be able to wheelie very nicely.

When you're trying a wheelie, it's best to have the lowest gear possible, as you want more control and don't want to go too fast. Then, just pull on the handlebars and try to find the balance.

Brian O. · 2007-09-22, 04:22 PM

I feel that they are two totally different skills. I learned to wheelie long before I ever considered unicycling. I find the easiest wheelie is one done on a mountain bike riding slowly in the lowest possible gear. Theres a certain point that you hit where your balance sort of locks in, I call it the sweet spot. This point is usually just beyond your comfort zone where you feel like you are about to fall over backwards. Be sitting down while you are trying to ride it and be sure to make use of the brakes if you start to fall off backwards.

isaac steiner · 2007-09-22, 04:47 PM

A mountain bike is easiest for pulling at wheelie, if your pulling at catwalk a trials bike. Have a low gear but not too low. When I used to Mountain Bike I could go like 120ft doing a wheelie

Triball · 2007-09-22, 05:39 PM

I tried to ride a bike yesterday after quite a while. So I tried doing a wheely. But it was way easier than when I tried to do it without unicycling skills. Bikes are so fun

skrobo · 2007-09-22, 07:35 PM

i can wheelie for about 100 yards on the RIGHT bike. i like BMX bikes that are a little longer than the average, and extremely light.

isaac steiner · 2007-09-22, 08:03 PM

extremly light EH? I dont think so as much...Have you ever felt a Trials Bike..Mine is 24 lbs and its a heavier Trials bike some are 18 LBS

thejdw · 2007-09-22, 08:15 PM

I've tried on my bmx and failed haha

johnfoss · 2007-09-22, 08:35 PM

Why do you want to drag that heavy front wheel all over the place? Yes, riding a wheelie on a bike is a lot different than unicycling. Plus you have to cheat and use the brake all the time...

isaac steiner · 2007-09-22, 08:37 PM

When i was into Biking I didnt use my brake.

iShaw · 2007-09-22, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivan

I think the best bikes for wheelies are BMXses and Trials bikes. as they are pretty much designed for pulling wheelies.

When you're trying a wheelie, it's best to have the lowest gear possible, as you want more control and don't want to go too fast. Then, just pull on the handlebars and try to find the balance.

I have to totally disagree with everything you said there.
Trials bikes don't tend to have seats, not ones you can acctualy use anyways. And the best wheelies are sitting down so that rules them out. Depending on the chain ring on a bmx, you will have to keep up a fairly fast speed whilst pulling a wheelie which just makes things difficault for yourself.

I find mountain bikes much better. You can choose the gear which is fairly light but not so you're peddling like mad either. A high seat helps so your legs are almost straight when pedaling. As for position your arms should be straight out infront and parelal to the ground, back straight. One finger on the break if your about to fall backwards, pedal faster if the front wheel drops.

wickedbob · 2007-09-22, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skrobo

i can wheelie for about 100 yards on the RIGHT bike. i like BMX bikes that are a little longer than the average, and extremely light.

Haha of course you just described a pro level bike just about. I rode one like that a couple times. I tryed to wheelie and I sucked at it. I tried to pedal kick (bmx) and just fell on my ass. Bikes+me=pain

unicyclepa · 2007-09-22, 10:02 PM

are you trying to wheely or manual

wickedbob · 2007-09-22, 10:15 PM

manuals are so hard.

unicyclepa · 2007-09-22, 11:07 PM

well i can manual and not wheelie

2007-09-22, 04:09 PM	#1
irussb Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Crawley, West Sussex Age: 37 Posts: 22	Learning to wheelie on a bike Having learned to unicycle, I want to try and learn to wheelie. I tried to learn years ago when I was a teenager (with supposedly better balance) but gave up. I could only ever get a couple of yards before my front wheel would touch down again, or I would topple over sideways. I don't know if it's just me but I found learning to unicycle a whole lot easier (having learned age 30). Pulling the perfect wheelie is the holy grail for me, and being able to ride everywhere on that one wheel would kick *ss. Does anyone have any tips for learning, like what the ideal bike geometry and gearing is, how to control your balance etc. What will I be able to take from unicycling to apply to this? Thanks. Russ.

2007-09-22, 04:19 PM	#2
ivan Non-Danish Girl Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Prague, Czech Republic Age: 25 Posts: 7,210	I think the best bikes for wheelies are BMXses and Trials bikes. as they are pretty much designed for pulling wheelies. I tried a BMX bike yesterday, and was able to wheelie for a few metres after a few tries. I think if I had a few days with that bike, I'd be able to wheelie very nicely. When you're trying a wheelie, it's best to have the lowest gear possible, as you want more control and don't want to go too fast. Then, just pull on the handlebars and try to find the balance. __________________ Did you know that lighter flame smells like burnt nose hair? Entropy isn't what it used to be.

2007-09-22, 04:22 PM	#3
Brian O. Team Spencer Photographer Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,868	I feel that they are two totally different skills. I learned to wheelie long before I ever considered unicycling. I find the easiest wheelie is one done on a mountain bike riding slowly in the lowest possible gear. Theres a certain point that you hit where your balance sort of locks in, I call it the sweet spot. This point is usually just beyond your comfort zone where you feel like you are about to fall over backwards. Be sitting down while you are trying to ride it and be sure to make use of the brakes if you start to fall off backwards. __________________ Get cool unicycle posters, pins and more! All products are my personal photography. * New Poster 11/16/2010 * Last edited by Brian O.; 2007-09-22 at 04:24 PM.

2007-09-22, 05:39 PM	#5
Triball Pimped out Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Slovenia Age: 22 Posts: 1,320	I tried to ride a bike yesterday after quite a while. So I tried doing a wheely. But it was way easier than when I tried to do it without unicycling skills. Bikes are so fun __________________ Pay for you gas or loose your ID

2007-09-22, 07:35 PM	#6
skrobo jumps stuff Join Date: May 2006 Location: Corpus Christi TX Age: 24 Posts: 4,426	i can wheelie for about 100 yards on the RIGHT bike. i like BMX bikes that are a little longer than the average, and extremely light. __________________ ><> Unicycle For Christ <>< MY VIDEOS World Record 94cm Highest Hop (rolling) 308cm Longest Hop (10 feet) 210cm Static Flat Gap

2007-09-22, 04:47 PM	#4
isaac steiner A little everything... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Stouffville, ON, Canada Age: 18 Posts: 2,617	A mountain bike is easiest for pulling at wheelie, if your pulling at catwalk a trials bike. Have a low gear but not too low. When I used to Mountain Bike I could go like 120ft doing a wheelie

2007-09-22, 08:03 PM	#7
isaac steiner A little everything... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Stouffville, ON, Canada Age: 18 Posts: 2,617	extremly light EH? I dont think so as much...Have you ever felt a Trials Bike..Mine is 24 lbs and its a heavier Trials bike some are 18 LBS

2007-09-22, 08:15 PM	#8
thejdw elcycinu Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: UK Age: 23 Posts: 5,472	I've tried on my bmx and failed haha __________________ I didn't spell it wrong, you just read it wrong!

2007-09-22, 08:35 PM	#9
johnfoss North Shore ridin' Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Carmichael, CA Posts: 14,932	Why do you want to drag that heavy front wheel all over the place? Yes, riding a wheelie on a bike is a lot different than unicycling. Plus you have to cheat and use the brake all the time... __________________ John Foss "jfoss" at "unicycling.com" www.unicycling.com "Unicycling is a way of looking at the world, making a choice to slow down, finish what you start, doing things not because they're easy, but because they're a challenge." -- Nurse Ben

2007-09-22, 08:37 PM	#10
isaac steiner A little everything... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Stouffville, ON, Canada Age: 18 Posts: 2,617	When i was into Biking I didnt use my brake.

2007-09-22, 10:02 PM	#13
unicyclepa i will defenestrate you Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: L-dale Age: 23 Posts: 1,025	are you trying to wheely or manual __________________ www.unicyclepa.com we suck but its all good team YAMS member in your sig or title and say

2007-09-22, 10:15 PM	#14
wickedbob Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 4,063	manuals are so hard.

2007-09-22, 11:07 PM	#15
unicyclepa i will defenestrate you Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: L-dale Age: 23 Posts: 1,025	well i can manual and not wheelie __________________ www.unicyclepa.com we suck but its all good team YAMS member in your sig or title and say

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