How to Manual on a Scooter

The manual is a classic mountain biking maneuver. Although it's flashy, it's also incredibly useful--many bikers use it to ride down bumpy trails and cruise over obstacles. If you've got good balance and a stout heart, you can try the manual on your scooter. The specific technique isn't quite the same, but the basic mechanics are pretty similar.

Instructions

1. Set yourself up on a smooth, long strip of pavement or concrete. Driveways work well, as do deserted neighborhood streets. Make sure there aren't any obstacles in your way.

2. Take a few kicks and ride forward at a moderate pace. You don't need a lot of speed to manual on a scooter, so take it easy.

3. Position your back foot over the brake and pull up on the handlebars. Make this movement even and smooth. Jerking the handlebars can throw you off the scooter and onto the ground.

4. Find the point where the scooter balances on its own. You won't have long to do this, so relax and focus on how the scooter feels beneath you.

5. Apply the rear brake gently. Use its friction to control the scooter's backward motion and keep it from flipping out from under you. On a mountain bike you'd use your hand to control the break, hence the name "manual."

6. Stay up for as long as you can, the lower the scooter back to the ground.

Tips & Warnings

• Shove the back of the scooter forward and bail out anytime you feel yourself losing control.

• Don't forget to don a helmet before trying the manual on your scooter. Wearing elbow and kneed pads is also a good idea, especially if you're a beginning rider.