mtb_addict

i am trying to learn to jump off the back to prepare to learn wheelie.
Youtubers make it look to easy.

if you using platform saddlepedals, is it pretty safe?

i mean, when one loop out, does one naturally stand up ?

i still cannot pull the front high enough...i have this fear of landing on my ass and breaking my back. i dont have any grass space. only cement parking lot.

i am tempted to get a 20" bmx just to learn wheelie.

Rolla

If you never loop out, you won't find the sweet spot.
If you're practicing this on cement, you're going to learn the "hard" way.
The rear brake is your friend.
Wheelies are performed seated.
What's a platform saddle?

mtb_addict

i meant platform peddles.
Youtubers just step off gracefully when they loop out.

i am practicing everyday until my arm is pumped (about 30 min.).

Iride01 

We don't have peddles in our dictionary here. Do you mean pedals?

mtb_addict

yes, pedals! you know what i mean.

Iride01 

Yeah, sadly I did. Just couldn't resist. <grin> Feel free to goad me for similar things.

I'm just not sure where the problem is. Maybe it's because I learned wheelies when young and stupid. I just don't remember them being hard to learn, but some bikes are harder than others to do a wheelie on. My Schwinn Varsity used to do wheelies very well and I did them into my fifties on it riding for long periods on the back wheel. My Paramount and Raleigh where really hard to pull up so I quit doing them. My Tarmac seems like it wants to. Now that you've brought it up, I might go try next time I ride.

But once you find the bike out of the many I think you have that the front wheel comes up easy, then as long as you have a road bike type saddle, it should be easy just to put your legs down on the ground and stop with the bike in front of you. A cruiser type saddle that is really wide might present a problem dismounting like that.

Rolla

IMO, wheelies are more about pushing with your legs than yanking the bars with your arms. Hang on, lean back, and push down on the pedals.

mtb_addict

yes, i think my saddle is too wide. and it has the sticky type of cover.

mtb_addict

i dont have strong arms. so it gets tires easily.

vane171

Is that what Sagan does? Without dismounting?

freeranger

I had a friend that I watched wheelie on a motorcycle for 2 blocks! He was great on a bicycle too. I never did master it myself, best I got would be rated mediocre, if that. At one time, I was good at "reverse wheelies", but not on purpose. Definitely try to avoid them in my "senior" years!! Yeah, you'll fall some when learning, just part of it!

Troul 

gearing plays a big factor in it.

gringomojado

"Where really hard"?
gm

indyfabz

Did you mean tyres?

gringomojado

I couldn't resist either!
gm

subgrade

Loop-outs aren't hard and the stepping off comes naturally, in my experience. And sure, it makes sense to practice them before wheelies, but that's also the natural course of events - you'll almost definitely overdo it a few times before you'll catch the balance point.

Regarding the saddle getting in the way - it may depend also on your bike's geometry which determines how high can you lift the front before looping out. In my experience, a wide saddle didn't cause problems ejecting myself. At the loop out point the saddle is pointing nose up and you are moving away from it to the rear which results in an almost upward movement relative to the saddle instead of rearward as it would be if the saddle was level.

I was pretty decent at wheelies in my adolescence, I could do over 100 meters on a coaster brake bike. Later I gradually lost my interest in it and haven't practiced it anymore.

One thing I learned from wheelies on coaster brakes: as there is close to a half crank turn between engaging the brake and engaging the freehub, you don't use brake for balance, and as a result, speed tends to gradually build up. And looping out at speed is not a fun thing - you must be prepared to let the bike go, otherwise it may carry enough momentum to drag you down facefirst as your feet cannot keep up with the speed they are suddenly subjected to.

mtb_addict

i was watching these expert freestylers playing with a cheap bike.
i noticed one of them couldnt wheelie the bike (6:18 to 6:40).

so maybe some bikes are just more difficult to wheelie.

i think i need a lighter bike. but i dont have alot of money.

Viich

The bike was an issue because the handlebars were moving, and I think the chain slipped, not because it was too heavy. I've seen some pretty heavy bikes be wheelied all over.

Seth's Bike Hacks (Now Berm Peak) had some old videos that were pretty good for manuals and wheelies, Joy of Bike is another one. I've been working at manuals (not steady, but off and on) - I'm starting to get it:


And a link to one of the Seth's Bike Hacks videos:

indyfabz

Back on the subject of Walmart bikes. How original.

mtb_addict

Thanks! i saw the "over 40" video (link below). this really suits me. i not young anymore. he said on the video, he doesnt recommend using brakes to prevent looping while you are learning...it just gets you in trouble while you are learning.

mtb_addict

its sad u got nothing better todo than trolling bike forums.

cxwrench

The irony.

indyfabz

Funny. I was thinking the same thing.

aclinjury

1) wheelies are easy, just do lots of loopouts and you'll eventually find that balancing point.

2) smaller bikes (bmx) are easier to initiate a wheelie than larger bikes (mtb). But it's easier to hold a wheelie on a larger bike because larger bikes give a wider range of balance.

3) doing manual is harder then wheelie. First master the wheelie, then progress to manual.

4) nothing beats practice. Go out and to it. That's how kids learn, by doing it. Adults ask too much questions on forums, not enough practice.

mtb_addict

My fore arm is very sore from practicing. i am not strong. but this could be good work out.

i need to find a grass field. practicing on parking lot makes me nervous.