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The wheelie

Old 06-26-07, 08:20 AM
  #1  
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The wheelie

I have learnt alot of wat there is to learn on my bike - endo's, bunnyhops, wheelie drops etc..
But alas, my one inherent weakness is the wheelie itself.

Riding up and down my street for two hours last night, all i could manage was a good 5m - one in every seven or eight times.

Have you any tips for the n00b? Im sure im not the only one out there...
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Old 06-26-07, 08:33 AM
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I was going to post this, so I'll stick around the topic. My best was like 10 feet... And a 20 foot catwalk that I fell on.
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Old 06-26-07, 08:48 AM
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This guy obviously knows what's up - check the video: https://www.myspace.com/nohandking
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Old 06-26-07, 09:06 AM
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Lower your seat a little. You get a lower center of gravity. You should be primarily using your legs to get up. Stay loose.
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Old 06-26-07, 09:39 AM
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Actually, you may find a raised seat to work better. Two reasons: better leg extension makes for proper pedalling, which you need to carry a wheelie; the extended seat post gives you more leverage to help get and keep the front end up and biases your weight more over the rear wheel.

Also, find yourself a piece of street with a mild uphill grade; this gives you some resistance to work against. Keep at it - - it just takes practice. Eventually you will be able to measure your wheelies in blocks rather than just meters
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Old 06-26-07, 09:55 AM
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I've been doing wheelies for 25 years and I still can't do much more than what you are doing, yet I've done dozens of other tricks on bikes. Its just something I'm not good at.
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Old 06-26-07, 11:41 AM
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Alot of practice. 2 Hours isn't ganna get you anywhere.
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Old 06-26-07, 01:30 PM
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Yeah, a good wheelie takes a lot of practice. I can hold it for maybe about 5 seconds at most, and I've been practicing pretty much this whole year.
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Old 06-26-07, 05:35 PM
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I have done maybe 10 strokes....or 8 if I am honest..It felt great. A few days ago, I saw a guy doing an endless , relaxed wheelie riding down the road. I guess you have to get it to balance like a unicycle. I had a Good wipeout wheeling while clipped in. Good thing I was wearing a pack with some food in it.
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Old 06-26-07, 06:23 PM
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I prefer doing manuals compared to wheelies.
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Old 06-26-07, 06:28 PM
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I prefer the stand up power wheelie.
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Old 06-26-07, 06:40 PM
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It helps if you learn how to dismount off the back of you're bike in case you go too far, it can mean the difference between smacking the back of your head on the ground and looking like you did it on purpose.
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Old 06-26-07, 06:53 PM
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Well if your having trouble staying up a lower gear will reduce the shock to the bike frame each time you pedal making it more stable. If you dont get what I mean then put your bike in a normal gear take off as fast as you can pedal and then put your bike in a low gear and do the same and notice the smoothness of the lower gear ratio. Also my issue is the fear of falling backwards onto my tail bone which if you've ever done it you know hurts like hell. I just remember to hit my rear brakes if I feel I'm going too far backwards. When your doing a wheelie right you'll feel like your bike is back too far when in reality it isn't. The best thing though is simple practice and being on your bike to develope that balance. I tend to try and look at riding a wheelie as riding a unicycle. I try to get my entire body weight directly on the rear tire and keep it there by pedaling and braking. If your pulling up hard the whole time your weight isn't on your tire. If your scared to fall practice on dirt it's alot softer.
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Old 06-26-07, 10:44 PM
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Originally Posted by gastro
I prefer the stand up power wheelie.
You mean like this?



(Me - Gold Creek Stables indoor short track - wheelie contest - ca. 1971)
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Old 06-26-07, 11:14 PM
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I can do that on a snowboard and a cafeteria tray, but not a bike.
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Old 06-26-07, 11:43 PM
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I keep trying on my bmx bike, but good god it's slow going.
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Old 06-27-07, 12:14 AM
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Originally Posted by DevilsGT2
I keep trying on my bmx bike, but good god it's slow going.
Put a banana seat on it and you'll be doing them in no time
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Old 06-27-07, 02:21 AM
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I'll keep all that in mind.
WannaGetGood - i was just using the other night as an example...ive been trying for years without getting anywhere.

Haha i have the "Make it look like you went too far back on purpose" thing down pat. If im a pro at anything its that....
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Old 06-27-07, 07:55 AM
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I was coming home from Worcester on Rt. 190 doing about eighty in my truck when I looked in the rear view and saw a guy on a Harley coming up on my tail, freaking nutjob was passing me on the highway at ninety miles an hour on his back wheel. I sped up to follow him (at a safe distance) to see how long he could hold it. The guy stayed on his back wheel weaving in and out of traffic for about ten miles and took the Rt. 140 exit on his back wheel all the way down to the stop sign.
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Old 06-27-07, 07:57 AM
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Holy jesus thats crazy....and totally dangerous.
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Old 06-27-07, 08:07 AM
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Wow that is crazy.... and totally dangerous... but pretty awesome at the same time.
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Old 06-27-07, 08:20 AM
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Stupid Rain. Preventing me from practicing. I think my distance quates to about 6 or 7 crankstrokes...maybe 8. My record is 12. Ish.

Thanks for the help. Yeah th whole "Dont want to fall back thing is an issue. Maybe i just need to go eat a bag of cement and harden the F$%K up.
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Old 06-27-07, 08:53 AM
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I've been practicing for ever and can't get too good... Any tips on side to side movement? Also I slip off my seat when doing it.

And what gear do you personally use?
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Old 06-27-07, 08:56 AM
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I use 2/2...but now that im gettong slightly better i find 2/3 better (that is, middle ring and 3rd on the back end). Not sure of the exact gearing. 32 something.
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Old 06-27-07, 08:58 AM
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Originally Posted by AlucardZero
I've been practicing for ever and can't get too good... Any tips on side to side movement? Also I slip off my seat when doing it.

And what gear do you personally use?
For the side to side balance try to stick your knees out to counter if your leaning to far to one side. You could also turn the handle bars the opposite direction to where your leaning. Personally I prefer using my knees.

Now for the gears I use the biggest in the front (think its a 36 tooth could be wrong never really paid attention to that) and then the 3rd biggest in the back (and hell if I know how many teeth).
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