Tips for doing wheelees?
 

Hey guy!

I tried doing a wheelee yesterday but fell by the side and landed all over my left side :cry:

Anyone's got some tips for doing this? Basic exercises I need to to before attempting this?

Thanks.

Practice, practice, practice...

As I recall from when I was a kid and did such things (35 years ago), it started out just pulling back hard all the way, while accelerating and stepping off the back of the bike as it started to fall backwards... so that initially you don't ride the wheelie, but just pull the bike up. Don't worry about staying up, but over do it, and just concentrate on the bike going straight as an arrow up... not veering at all to either side.

Concentrate on going straight back, and work on precision. This will help you to get the balance aspect down for starting the wheelie, then once you are consistent at pulling straight back, start trying to maintain the wheelie by not pulling up so hard, and trying to find the balance point. Always be prepared to put your feet down until you gain the skills to do it right.

Once you get the side to side aspect down for your "launch" then you need to develop the feel for the balance point, using a combination of your balance and acceleration to keep yourself balanced over the back wheel.

Also, whether related or not, at the same time, I was working on riding with no hands, so this may also help the balance aspect.

First, if you have a few bikes, get the one with the shortest wheelbase.

Next, dont even try to ride yet, just practice yanking it up from a standstill
and jump off the back. Do this 'til it fluid and effortless.
Timing is everything :thumb:

Now, ride slow, in about 3rd gear. Too low a gear and you spin out too
fast, too high and you cant pull up easily.....
While rolling along pullup on a pedal down stroke but keep your body
straight up and down. It takes lots of practice. Use your arms only !
Pull up til you feel the balance point which you definitely will, cuz
everything gets real light and scary :eek: pedal real smoothly and look
ahead to the horizon, not down. If you feel like you are going to go over
tap the back brake. Thats all ! Very simple :)

Pull up using arms- keep torso straight up and down - pedal slowly and
smoothly - look at the horizon :)

Lot's of good info here. I would only add that if you have access to an old Stingray style banana seat bike, they are the best wheelie machines ever built, followed by BMXers. Jack the seat up and sit near the back. A road with a slight incline is also a good way to help control runaway speed.

Go to the park and practice in the nice soft grass.

j

Once you get up there, remember; if you clamp down on the rear brake, you're coming down. Suddenly.

1) be young
2) depends on the bike, most bikes ate built for stability
3) easier if the seat is over not in front of the rear wheel
4) jerk back handlebars while pushing down hard on 1 pedal

When I has a kid I did them on a bike like this '71 stingray. It was wicked easy!

Above all, make damn sure your health insurance premium has been paid.

That bike is fitted for one very tall kid. ;)

--------

You also need the right motivation.
Loosen the outer nuts on your front wheel, so that when you pull up it just keeps right on rollin' down the street. :)

start small.
when i first started doing wheelies, i would scratch lines in the dirt about 3 feet apart and i would try to keep my wheel off the ground between those lines. then i would just make the lines farther apart. you either have to 1) go really fast, or 2) get your wheel higher once the lines get about 15 feet apart.

Don't wear clipless pedals when learning! :D

Yeah, StingRays are Wheelie machines :beer:

I got a new grape repop for my Wife and looped it before I got out of the driveway :lol:
Just sitting on the back of the seat pretty much got the front wheel up.

Do you remember the crazy wheelie bar attachments they made for them in the '60s ?

Your spot in the Caste system of your neighborhood was largely based
on the height of your sissy bar ......... :lol:

Yep. I think they were made by Wammo. When my brother and I were kids dad brought one home for us. Mom made him take it right back! No matter, we quickly learned the proper way to ride wheelies. 38 years later, I'm proud to say that I still can. Here's my 68 Orange Krate that I restored.

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/s...esidefront.jpg

Gorgeous ! The paint is incredible !! :thumb:

Do you see what they are going for to collectors :eek:

Thanks. Funny thing is the paint is rattle can Chevy engine enamel. Preparation and polishing is the key. I have a little over $200 into that bike, mostly because of the missing or trashed parts it needed. I recently received an offer of $600 for it from a guy buying a Schwinn Continental from me. I don't need the money, and like to ride it so it's not for sale.

These two were found together at the curb on trash day. The Midget needed the rear wheel rebuilt, a new Gripper Slick and the fork straightened, so it got a complete tear down. The Fastback needed nothing but air, so it only received a quick clean up.

http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/s...eRaysfront.jpg

Nice :thumb:
I seriously would use the Fastback as a commuter
with the 24" wheels.

Im sure you've seen this site, but just in case you havent

http://www.nemusclebikes.com/

:)

Lots of practice. Took me 2 years to master the wheelie........ Now I can ride wheelies for a quarter to half a mile every time eating a cheese burger and thats sitting down on the seat. Dont use clipless shoes with pedals(IT REALLY HURTS:bang:). -Gumballer9

Hey guys, thanks for the advice. I haven't been able to log in, in fact I'm just logging in quickly, I've got some stuff to do, but I checked some of the advice and will try it once I'm back home.

Thanks! Gotta run!