How to wheelie a road bike?
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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?
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?
''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
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.
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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
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Start slower, point slightly up hill, cover your back brake to control speed
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.
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.
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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
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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.Miller wrote: ↑Thu Jul 15, 2021 4:43 pmIn 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.
''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
Learn it uphill 1st, for flats or downhills you need to use the rear brake to balance the bike.
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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.
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.
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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:
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Style police wants to have a talk about those fenders
Why? Front flap is missing in the pic but I have one now.
How do you commute in the rain? With a wet ass?
How do you commute in the rain? With a wet ass?
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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.
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.
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I would strongly disagree.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.
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.
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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