Originally Posted by
terrymorse
You don't have to be pulling up (lifting) on the bars to do a "wheelie" on a steep climb. Simply pedaling can do the trick.
My front wheel starts lifting on each downwards pedal stroke around 13%. I can keep the front wheel down for a while by lowering my chest to the bars, but that's good only up to about 15%. At no time am I lifting the bars, but I do pull back on them to keep me from sliding off the back of the saddle. Above 15%, I'm standing any way. Then the problem becomes rear wheel traction.
Absolutely. And it gets more complex if the steep incline is loose gravel! I use flat pedals and shoes I can run in, so it’s never a problem to just get off and run or walk the bike up the really difficult ones.
Otto