For starters, if you've got a ss or fixie it's gonna be a heck of a lot tougher. I've got a beater old Stumpjumper, and I can ride a wheelie for a couple blocks if I feel like it. Here's my tips 'n' tricks.
- Drop your seat like a trials bike. The lower you put your center of gravity, the easier it is to control your balance.
- Gear all the way down. Granny gear if you ride a MTB.
Now decide what kind of wheelie you want to do: Gliding or pedalling?
Gliding wheelie:
- Flex your knees, sit back over your wheel and keep your weight low.
- Lean back until the front wheel leaves the ground.
- By shifting your weight fore/aft, you can keep the wheel off the ground up front, and your arse off the ground from going over backwards.
Pedalling wheelie:
- Gear down all the way, stay seated (with the seat dropped low)
- Start rolling slowly, keep a finger on the rear brake lever.
- At the top of your pedal stroke, jam down on the pedal and lean back slightly. The front end will lift.
- Keep your balance fore/aft by playing with brake tension, pedalling all the while.
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"I feel like my world was classier before I found cyclocross."
- Mandi M.