Manuals.
 

Okay, so. I've started wheelies. Practicing and practicing. Getting better. I've got a dual sus bike with a FOX DHX 3.0 in the rear so, it throws me off sometimes. Anyway. I was wondering if anyone could throw me some tips on manualing. I hear that its good to practice them moving fast. I usually pull up, lean back with my arms fully extended, but, I can never ride them or find that "balance point." I can get them high and far back if I pump my legs to get the front off the ground, but, more than likely it throws me off the back, or, the front just comes back down. Does anyone have any tips or should I just keep practicing?

all i ever hear is keep practicing. it will come they say. just hasn't come all the way for me yet!

The Fox 3.0 will throw you off. But like all things, it just takes alot of practice. You can't really give any other advice, other people do it differently.

yah man theres no real secret tip to manuals. pumping your legs when you feel you are losing balance is how you "find the balance point." other than that its just practice.

try not to pull, but rather push with your legs.

My best advice is NOT to do it for a camera, even if one is there. There's nothing like a camera to make you fall on you ass/face - depending upon what you're doing - it just never fails....

Hump like mad.

The pump action that you see people do is too help pick the front wheel back up. The move adds momentum by surging power from your body rather than the drivetrain.
Dont waste your time just pumping for no apperant reason. Pump to bring the wheel up.
When you feel like your going to go over backwards feather the rear brake, and regain control.
Simple eh??
Took me forever to learn these

Wheelies are a little diffrent, but simple once the light clicks on. The thing I think of when I teach friends how to roll around on the rear is this:
Fight the brake. When your about to go over the back, touch the rear brake (but keep your pedal stroke fluid)
Keep your pedal stroke smooth and consistant.
Lean back, and have faith in your brake.
Wheelies and manuals are good clean fun, and help you progress your riding in many situations.

You think wheelies and manuals are tough, try rear wheel hopping in one spot, with out going backwards or fowards. Add some trails into the mix.

rear wheel hopping as is moving around in one spot or?

Yes, moving in one spot. Its the prerequisite for many more moves to come.

The name is pretty self explanitory... hopping on the rear wheel, in a stationary spot; ie: on a rock, a ledge, rail, anything what have you.

More complex moves come into play with rear wheel hopping; ie: pedal kicking/ lurching (using a short burst of energy to the pedal while stationary, and body movement to launch you to another obstical)
I couldnt find any movies of a rearwheel hop, but these are pedal kicks/lurch's.. just to give you an idea.

Basic Lurch Verson.1
Log Gaps
Basic lurch Version.2

Thank You.

I've been working on them for about a week or so. I can do about 35-45 feet on the good ones. The only thing about the "practice, practice, practice" advice is that my back tended to get pretty sore and I got some mean blisters on my hands. Its worth it though, it feels awesome when you hit that balance point.

I'm finding it easier to learn on an incline. Is it just me or is it generally easier to learn this way?

I also find it can depend on your bike. I can wheelie/manual WAY farther on my friends bike and I think it might just be the geometry or it, Im not sure.

yeah, i think this is true, some bikes have manual and wheelies built into the frame, so to speak. i've been trying manuals and wheelies with my more or less XC rig and it just won't come

man, i would love to pull a manual past the stiffs in the parking lot at work each morning

its all in the rear brake

Sorry it took me so long to get back on this. Had a 3 day get away doing some freeride/downhill training.

My buddy has been working on his manuals by using inclines, and he seems to be getting better at them.

I learned personally by flatland, pick up the speed, give it a little pump and lean back and let her roll.

This is correct, geometry makes the huge diffrance while learning. An expert can do it on anything.

You should see the looks I get when I wheelie a my old road bike.