How to wheelie a road bike?

Questions about bike hire abroad and everything light bike related. No off-topic chat please

Moderators: robbosmans, Moderator Team

misteryellow
Posts: 95
Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:04 pm

by misteryellow

Hey guys,

I've been trying to upgrade my handling skills and have been trying to wheelie my bike forever. Unfortunately I never come far before the cadence gets too high and I drop the wheel. Does anyone have any tips on how to wheelie? :oops:
''Just because something is possible, doesn't mean it's a good idea. It will add unnecessary complexity with little, if any, real benefit. Part of the beauty of this sport is the lack of hand holding & arse wiping.'' - ultimobici

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



User avatar
Miller
Posts: 2762
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2006 8:54 pm
Location: Reading, UK

by Miller

Not start with a road bike, that's for sure. Can you wheelie on any bike? If not, you'd be wise to start with something with a flat bar where it's easier to get your weight back.

misteryellow
Posts: 95
Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:04 pm

by misteryellow

Miller wrote:
Thu Jul 15, 2021 1:37 pm
Not start with a road bike, that's for sure. Can you wheelie on any bike? If not, you'd be wise to start with something with a flat bar where it's easier to get your weight back.
Yeah, I tried on a mountainbike too but I run into the same issue. I lift the bike up, pedal and then have to pedal faster and faster to keep the bike up.
''Just because something is possible, doesn't mean it's a good idea. It will add unnecessary complexity with little, if any, real benefit. Part of the beauty of this sport is the lack of hand holding & arse wiping.'' - ultimobici

ghostinthemachine
Posts: 780
Joined: Thu May 07, 2015 9:18 pm

by ghostinthemachine

Start slower, point slightly up hill, cover your back brake to control speed


User avatar
Miller
Posts: 2762
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2006 8:54 pm
Location: Reading, UK

by Miller

In the first lockdown last year I spent some time trying to learn to wheelie, watching videos and doing practice sessions. To keep a short story short, I did not succeed.

What I did learn was that the key is making yourself lean back, not only pedalling hard forward. With decades of doing my very best not to fall off a bike, I found the leaning back was alarming and I didn't manage to overcome that fear. But anyway, yes, flat bar bike, slightly uphill, soft surface if possible. You'd want to ride a confident wheelie on that basis before tackling the same trick on a road bike.

Sometimes you have to accept the pros really are quite good at riding a bike.

misteryellow
Posts: 95
Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:04 pm

by misteryellow

AJS914 wrote:
Thu Jul 15, 2021 3:50 pm
https://youtu.be/3j6Y8vsQ3d4
Bang on, thanks!
''Just because something is possible, doesn't mean it's a good idea. It will add unnecessary complexity with little, if any, real benefit. Part of the beauty of this sport is the lack of hand holding & arse wiping.'' - ultimobici

misteryellow
Posts: 95
Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2021 4:04 pm

by misteryellow

Miller wrote:
Thu Jul 15, 2021 4:43 pm
In the first lockdown last year I spent some time trying to learn to wheelie, watching videos and doing practice sessions. To keep a short story short, I did not succeed.

What I did learn was that the key is making yourself lean back, not only pedalling hard forward. With decades of doing my very best not to fall off a bike, I found the leaning back was alarming and I didn't manage to overcome that fear. But anyway, yes, flat bar bike, slightly uphill, soft surface if possible. You'd want to ride a confident wheelie on that basis before tackling the same trick on a road bike.

Sometimes you have to accept the pros really are quite good at riding a bike.
I must say I think the fetishizing of pro's abilities in cycling is not something I share. Most can ride a bike really fast, that's it. There are pleeeeenty of amateurs who have much better handling skills. They are often just found in other bike disciplines.
''Just because something is possible, doesn't mean it's a good idea. It will add unnecessary complexity with little, if any, real benefit. Part of the beauty of this sport is the lack of hand holding & arse wiping.'' - ultimobici

Marin
Posts: 4035
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2014 11:48 am
Location: Vienna Austria

by Marin

Learn it uphill 1st, for flats or downhills you need to use the rear brake to balance the bike.

bikeboy1tr
Posts: 1394
Joined: Thu Mar 21, 2013 3:19 am
Location: Southern Ontario Canada

by bikeboy1tr

Todays TDF stage at around 140km to go a young boy in costume on an MTB riding the back wheel along side the peloton forever. He was moving along at a good clip and the front wheel was not bobbing whatsoever.
I can do it on the moto but not so well on the bici. I have great respect for anyone who can do it on the bici for any length of time. Also the narrower the rear tire the more difficult it is to accomplish.
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=154188
2018 Colnago V2R Rim Brake
2019 Colnago V2R Disc Brake
2014 Norco Threshold Disc Brake
2006 Ridley Crosswind Rim Brake

Marin
Posts: 4035
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2014 11:48 am
Location: Vienna Austria

by Marin

Most important on a road bike is to wheelie in the drops and to assume an aero position - you can go much longer like this. Had to link my Strava profile pic:

Image

User avatar
jagheterjan
Posts: 66
Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2020 10:41 am
Location: Fat bloke on a TCR

by jagheterjan

Style police wants to have a talk about those fenders 8)

Marin
Posts: 4035
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2014 11:48 am
Location: Vienna Austria

by Marin

Why? Front flap is missing in the pic but I have one now.

How do you commute in the rain? With a wet ass?

User avatar
jagheterjan
Posts: 66
Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2020 10:41 am
Location: Fat bloke on a TCR

by jagheterjan

I used to do more than my daily allotment of wheelies when I rode BMX freestyle flatland and even later on riding road bikes I told myself a soaked bum and frozen wet feet are a sign that I'm tougher and more 'serious' than the roadies around me sporting fenders. And I know there are others that think/thought alike. That's what I was alluding to, sorry if the irony was lost in the transmission.
Since then I managed to develop some common sense and an appreciation for dry and warm clothes so fenders on the commuter as well as the winter bike.

iheartbianchi
Posts: 680
Joined: Sun Mar 24, 2019 9:17 am

by iheartbianchi

misteryellow wrote:
Fri Jul 16, 2021 1:49 pm

I must say I think the fetishizing of pro's abilities in cycling is not something I share. Most can ride a bike really fast, that's it. There are pleeeeenty of amateurs who have much better handling skills. They are often just found in other bike disciplines.
I would strongly disagree.

You should see pros/elites training on rollers for example. On bad weather days we would have our teenagers ride for hours on rollers indoors. They never get off the bike during this time, while doing insane power. They change their clothes on the bike, eat on the bike, ride with no hands, what have you, with absolutely minimal wobbling or upper-body movements. Track stands on rollers? Bunny hops on and off? No big deal. We had 12 year old kids doing this. And these are basic skills. Most amateurs would fall off their bikes on a roller or would be hanging on for dear life, and need a wall or side bars to get on/off, and for safety.

And then when they race, they learn very quickly how to ride in extreme proximity to a bunch of other riders. Whatever group ride you have been on where you think people are bunched up, pros are at a different level in terms of wheel overlap, handlebar overlap, and they react seamlessly to rapid changes in direction or road obstacles or poor road conditions. Sure, accidents happen in racing but that's to be expected.
Bianchi Oltre XR4
Celeste Matte
Campy SR 11spd mechanical
Bora Ultra 50 tubs
Viseon 5D / stock bits and parts

Bianchi Specialissima Pantani Edition
Campy R 12spd mechanical
Fulcrum Racing Speed 35 tubs
FSA / Deda bits and parts

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



Post Reply