Road Cycling - What the heck am I doing? (Yanking front wheel off the ground)

OK so this is probably a really really dumb question but what in the heck am I doing? Sometimes when I stand up and really try to accelerate, I actually yank the front wheel off the ground several inches. It freaks me out every time I do it. This new bike is so much lighter than anything I've ever had that I guess I'm just not used to it yet. I hadn't done it for a while but the other night I was trying to be mister macho man and outrun my wife so I stood up and tried to leave her behind. After a few pedal strokes I yanked the front end up so I had to mellow out and slow down a little. So what the heck am I doing?? :confused: :confused: :confused:

I am by no means an expert on this topic, but i have had similar experiances. I am tall by nature 6'2" and when i first stood on the bike and pedaled like you explained i also yanked the wheel off the ground. from what I've read, its all about weight distrobution when your standing it increases the center of gravity and it might even be moving back a little. So when you push hard the front is now very light and it comes off the ground. Now, whenever i stand I'm almost over my bars and the problem has stoped.

Yeah, it sounds like your weight is too far back. I've never had this problem. Watch pro sprinters some time. Their hips appear to be a few inches in front of their saddle and only a few inches above it. When I first started sprinting I made the mistake of almost completely standing up on the bike.

when you do a sprint on level ground, grab the drops.. This will force your body to go up front but still providing much traction to your rear wheel.. remember to sway your bike a little bit when you pedal.. it helps..

If you are climbing, however, grabbing the hoods, while standing, would be enough...

How tall are you?
Modern road bikes have a very short rear triangle, so the rider is sitting closer to the rear axle. For tall riders, the rear triangle is the same length, but they are sitting even further back. This is really a design flaw of large bikes, they should be made with longer chainstays. With modern materials, they can be made stiff enough without a big weight penalty, and would give a more stable ride for large riders.

When I 'GO' or 'peel out' (car reference as we called it back in the 60's) . Or better yet- defined as 'take off really fast', I've learned to shift my weight mostly over the front tire (get off the seat). Almost like an uphill stand-up climb. I put alot of weight on my arms and shoulders. This technique really works. Take care however, as getting used to it can be some can cause unstable-ness,

Well thanks for the suggestions. I am only about 5' 10" riding a 57cm bike. I suppose maybe I'm just not getting enough weigh forward when this happens but it seems almost like I am somehow jerking "up" on the bars with my hands/arms. I usually ride on the hoods while standing. I've tried it in the drops a few times but it feels a little unstable and jittery. Guess I just need to ride the drops a little more often so I get used to it. It's not that big a deal but it is a little unnerving when your front end comes off the ground when you aren't expecting it.

I would suggest when you start to stand also make sure your pushing on the pedal at the top of the stroke downward.... that way you are pressing weight forward onto the front wheel and pushing yourself up at the same time.

Originally posted by dragracer
Well thanks for the suggestions. I am only about 5' 10" riding a 57cm bike

If that's measured centre-to-centre your bike might be a little big. Hard to say without seeing you. I'm 5'10" and ride a 55cm.

Practice using your arms to stabilize your body and concentrate on using your hips and legs as pistons. Also work on smoothness... if your sprints are jerky then the ft. wheel can dance around.

Have an experienced rider watch you sprint. It sounds like you've got a combination of bad form and bad technique. You may also have your weight too far back. WHile not a sprint situation... my driveway is about a 10-12% grade and I'll frequently lift the front wheel if I'm in the saddle and my weight is shifted back (like if I'm stretching my lower back by sliding my butt back on the saddle).

I think I'm well balanced on the bike when sprinting and I'm far more likely to make the rear wheel skip... I've never had the front wheel move on me in that situation.

Mr. Dragracer, you MACHOMAN, you! I wish I had that much upper body strength!

Originally posted by George
Mr. Dragracer, you MACHOMAN, you! I wish I had that much upper body strength!

LOL...Don't think it's a matter of strength George my man. Think it's more like F1 says, a matter of bad form/technique. I'm thinking that Litespeed measures their frames center to top but can't remember for sure. I would have probably been a little better off with a 55cm frame. I did the online fitment thing and It said I would fit best on a 58cm frame. The 57 was a little bigger than I had anticipated and I had to shorten the stem from a 110 to a 90mm. That probably adds to the twitch factor a little with the quicker steering and moves the weight back slighty. Bike feels fine and I'm very comfortable on it. I think it's just something I'm doing when I'm standing. Like I said, no big deal, I was just trying to figure out why it was happening. :beer:

You might consider your gearing. One of the easiest ways to do a wheelie is to drop to an easy gear and pedal like mad. The quick accelration on the back tire almost causes it to ride under the front if your weight isn't forward. I usually jump up few gears when I stand because of the increased power I have. Also, as everyone has said, lean forward too. You shouldn't be "pulling" back on the bars, but "pushing" down...

When I get up and stand on it on my FONDRIEST both wheels leave the ground. I literally fly for several hundred feet until all my competion is "Smote in Ruin". My FONDRIEST practically climbs hills all by itself.

It's a wheelie :)

Originally posted by enac
When I get up and stand on it on my FONDRIEST both wheels leave the ground. I literally fly for several hundred feet until all my competion is "Smote in Ruin". My FONDRIEST practically climbs hills all by itself.

LOL!!:D