Feature

Thu 15 Jan, 8:00 am UTC

Skills Q&A: How to master the wheelie

By Chris Ford, CycleActive

BikeRadar has launched a new mountain bike Skills Q&A section in the lead up to BikeRadar Live. Chris Ford of bike training and holiday company CycleActive is on hand to answer your questions.

Q: This week, two BikeRadar users wrote to us asking for tips on how to wheelie. Nick asked: "It's only a little problem, but when I pull a wheelie, I quite often pull the bars to one side or the other. What am I doing wrong?"  Eddie wanted to know what gear he should be in when trying to wheelie. He said: "I try but can't seem to get the action/gear right. Any advice will be appreciated."

A: The key to a successful wheelie is in the selection of your gear and your ability to deliver one well-timed power stroke through the pedals. You need to select a good place to practise – flat grass is ideal – and flat pedals will let you bail out if needed.

Select your front little ring and a gear three or four down from easiest at the back. Pedal along at walking pace while gently dragging both brakes. As your lead foot comes over the top of a pedal stroke (see picture below), suddenly surge down on this pedal and release the brakes. 

How to master the wheelie: how to master the wheelie

There is no pull back on the bars, you just hold them in a relaxed, normal way with your body fairly upright and arms just a little bent. By the time your foot gets further round (see picture below) your front wheel will be in the air.  

How to master the wheelie: how to master the wheelie

By the bottom of the pedal stroke, as long as you keep this sudden acceleration going, the wheel is going to be high and the bike will be approaching the balance point (see picture below).

How to master the wheelie: how to master the wheelie

If you can’t get the wheel in the air you could be in too hard a gear, making it too much effort to suddenly increase your cadence and drive the wheel up. Or maybe you’re accelerating gradually rather than with one quick, snappy surge.

If you’re twisting the bars to the side then maybe you're relying too much on a pull up, rather than a pedal stroke lift. The thrust through the pedal stroke is coming through the centre of the bike so it’s inherently more stable than a tug on the bars. Try sitting higher and more upright, so your weight is further back, and let the bars come up lightly with your hands, rather than pulling them.

Advanced wheelies

One quick pop of the front wheel gets it over an obstacle, and then you can let it drop. But if you want to keep it high you need to hold that balance point as your next foot comes round the power part of its stroke (see pictures below). 

How to master the wheelie: how to master the wheelie

How to master the wheelie: how to master the wheelie

This is where some riders like to gently drag the back brake, so they have something to push against as they get their weight centred. If the bike starts to fall to the side you can throw out the opposite knee to counterbalance and keep you upright (see picture below). This is the way to steer when you wheelie.

How to master the wheelie:

Another exercise you can do to make sure you don’t pull back to lift the wheel but rely only on your pedalling is to wheelie with no hands (see picture below).  Just as you come to the moment of lift-off, release the bars and slightly pinch the saddle between your thights. This pinch isn't essential but can ensure you don’t slide off as the bike tilts backwards, since your hands are now in the air.

How to master the wheelie: how to master the wheelie

Next up on Skills Q&A:

" How do I train myself to look further ahead on the trail? I have this annoying habit of looking too close in front and I can't hit ruts or maneovure round obstacles properly. "

If you want your question answered, email it to us at bikeradar@bikeradar.com with “Skills Q&A” in the subject line and we’ll pitch it to Chris and the CycleActive coaching team.

User Comments

There are 16 comments on this post

Showing 1 - 16 of 16 comments

  • I've always wanted to do wheelies on my road bike, but I've always been worried about falling off the back, with my feet locked in.

    Any tips?

  • The best way to get this right is to put some flat pedals on, wear a pair of trainers and practice. This way you can land on your feet if you put too much power through the pedals and come off the back.

    Once you can accurately hit that balance point and hold it, start practicing with your clipless pedals back on, but cover the back brake (if you can) or slacken the cleats to give you the best possible chance of exiting quickly.

    Just be aware that, as far as i know, road bikes are not designed for pulling wheelies and the impact of repeated landings might not be good for the forks, or other components and will probably void any warranty. So be careful.

  • The wheelie is all about practice,getting familiar with the balance point of the bike and being comfortable with the angle (not panicking).

    It's worthwhile to get used to looping a wheelie (when you jump off the rear of the bike and land on two legs in order to prevent ending up on your ass).

    Once your familiar with looping a wheelie you can then be more confident with the trick.

    I found that running my rear brake lever slightly higher up on the handlebar made it more accessible.

    Dabbing the brake to prevent looping is a great skill to learn, if a little frustrating at first.

    But at the end of the day its all about practice, practice and more practice.

    once your comfortable with wheelies, progress to manuals!

  • Nice to see Mr Barnard doing a non-handed wheelie!

  • Cheers Chris, I was having the same problem as the readers with my bars moving to the sides, now I know it's all in the gears, I'll try on my way home from work tonight.

    Thanks

  • Flip, I never knew its all in the pedal stroke. I have been pulling my bars going off balance for the last two years-!%$&. Off to try the pedalling thing this weekend.

  • Ive pulled wheelies all my life , I could actually wheelie my chopper , I always wheelie I love it , Its one of lifes little treats , Unlike the guy in your picture I always yank the bars up , but thats just how Ive always done em , Its also the first thing I do on a DEMO its my yard stick - Wheelie ing is Cool - Hard - Impresses the chicks , and they get better longer and easier the more you practice - but persevere it worth it , P.S. you will at some point go over the back so heed the warning about the flat pedals (until your better at em ) and keep the rear brake covered - if you go past the point of no return a quick grab of your rear brake will snap you back from oblivion.

    P.S. I can also wheelie a lambretta !!! not easy but dooable.

  • if your falling back use the rear brake to throw you forward, if your falling forward & want to continue with the wheelie then pedal to raise the front wheel. I usually apply the rear brake to help with control & speed however to much pressure on the rear brakes ends the wheelie.

  • I'm 38

    practicing wheelies makes me very self conscious...

  • Nailed it

    Never to be shown up by 7 year olds again!

  • I need to master this and the manual but I get bored with trying after a while

  • bomberesque - I nailed this technique as an adult mtber, not as a kid, but just by practicing on ever fire road climb on every ride, where no-one can see. If I wanted to practice at home I'd drag my kids out to "play" on their bikes and then "reluctantly" join them!

    zippy1 - it's all about putting in the practice. like i just said, do it on the fire road climbs, every time you go out. just try to put in 3 or 4 little wheelies every time you go up a hill. That's enough. By the time Spring turns to Summer you'll have it sorted.

  • So is it easier or harder to learn to do on a hardtail?

    Does it matter how long the top tube is my ancient trek has a long and comfortable wheelbase..so should I try to get a more aggressive framed bike?

    Is 61 too old?

  • Sadolsamura... I don't think it makes too much difference, hard tail or full suss as long as the rear suspension is not set too soggy.

    I found it made allot of difference which bike you ride, I practically gave up trying to wheelie my 15 year old GT (bum up hands down riding position) , now I ride a 2007, 5" full suss XC bike with bars and saddle more or less level and I'm doing allot better.

    61 too old for wheelies ?, I don't think so - if you come back from your ride feeling good, keep at it - I intend to. Just where some pads for wheelie practice though.

    B.T.W. I'm 46

  • i'm 15 and i've got an Exxcel oxygen bike, i don't if it's any good but it runs good (to me) in the forest by me and it's very comfy on the road, but dispite it's aluminium frome it's heavy and hard to get up, any tips? i do squats and calf raises so i can keep going on it all day, but i can't get it up, and simple stuff is very tiring and hard, any tips at all would be very welcome especially as sumer holidays are coming up and i got some weeks to practise, thanks,

  • I agree that suggested gearing is ok, problem is that if your use to that gear combination and encountered a situation you need to pop up / wheelie a bike and your on a different gearing, it would be difficult, you dont always have time to set your gears.

  • 1

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