Comments on: How to Do a Wheelie on a Bike

on 11/22/2005 Try to find a good "balance point." When you are in your final wheelie position, you will feel as if you won't fall backwards or forwards. I also suggest practicing bailing off of the back of the bike before you try to wheelie at higher speeds. It is harder to bail at quicker speeds.

on 11/22/2005 For those who haven't done wheelies, try to use low gears. Once you get going with the low gears, try to move up a gear in the front. Once you find a good gear, you are ready to go. I like to use 2 in the front and 4-6 in the back, depending on how fast I'm going. I find it easier to wheelie sitting down. Lean most of your weight to the back of the bike. Then, give a good hard pedal crank and pull up on the bars. Continue pedaling, varying your pedal speed and weight distribution on the bike. Do not be afraid of falling off of the back, because it is easy to avoid injury if you bail properly. Don't let go of the bars. Take your feet off the pedals and put them on the ground without letting go of the bars. If you are moving at a good speed, prepare to move your legs in a running motion (so you don't wipe out).

on 12/23/2005 I'm an avid biker, and doing a wheelie is one of the things I like to do best. Whenever I do a wheelie, I always keep two fingers on the back brake lever, and the other fingers hold on for life. I've found that it's easiest to do a wheelie in a medium range gear, and sitting down on the seat to lower your center of gravity. The key is to pedal until you get the balancing point, that's where you bike is just about to tip over backward. When you're at the balancing point, if the nose dips down, you can pedal to make up for it, and if it starts to tip back, you can feather the brake to set it down lightly, but not so much that you end the wheelie. You just need to keep practicing. I can easily do a wheelie over 100 feet now, with about 2 years of practice.

on 11/22/2005 I have leaned back too far three times. The first time, I was standing up doing a wheelie, popped up too far, and landed on my head and back (without a helmet; I could sure feel it). The second time I leaned too far back sitting down doing a wheelie, I landed on my feet. The last time, I was sitting down doing a wheelie again and I leaned back too far again and fell right on my back. I suggest wearing a helmet, even though I don't "practice what I preach!"

-Mark

on 11/22/2005 A good way to keep it going long is to lower your saddle, get into a catwalk, and then sit down and keep going. Just remember that the most important part is keeping your wheel at a good height. I was thinking about sitting on the seat and didn't see that the wheel was too high. It was too late, I flipped the bike and slammed my back into the cement. Whatever you do, make sure that you don't go too far back!

on 11/22/2005 Pedal untill the bike is balanced. When the front wheel starts to drop, pedal some more. If you start to flip over tap the rear brake and it should bring you down safely.

on 11/22/2005 Put your front foot in the middle and the back foot on the tail. Slam the tail while sliding the front foot on front. While in the air, tuck your knees to your chest. Level out and roll away.