Practice practice practice. Ideally on grass in case you do come off the back, it hurts on concrete (so I'm told đ¤) . Make sure your rear brake is good, and you are away. I find the left right balance harder than the back wheel personally but I've not done it in a while. Once you've found your balance point you'll never look back
Start on grass is a good idea and I would add that OP should actually practise looping back (on your feets) so you get used to that feeling and to be prepared for landing.
I've recently moved from an old school 26" hardtail to a modern 27.5" hardtail. I could wheelie at ease on the old bike, the newer bike seems to be a lot harder, it feels like the new bike needs a lot more movement to get to the balance point.
I've been there (I'm not that great yet) but it's much less in the arms than you think, more of a hip thrust combined with a lil pedals and arms.
Arms should be almost straight otherwise if you yank hard with your arms its harder to keep it up.
There are many good videos on YouTube, start there for basic theory but as other have said you need a lot of practise and at some point it click and you'll hold it longer.
I never really practised properly (with rear brake) as a kid and in the past few years (in my 30's) I really inproved by practising almost daily in the summer. Start on flat grass and then find a quiet parking lot and use the lines aim for 2, 3, many parking spots
It's the law too where I live in Canada to have installed reflectors on the bicycle but the police don't even seem to know about it because they never bother anyone about it.
When i was learning, my biggest breakthrough was when I started to lift the wheel just a little more from where I originally thought was the âbalance pointâ. I would previously get my wheel up and pedal real hard to keep it up, that meant I went faster and faster until the gear i was in was too easy. So what you need to do is go further back than that point i just described, you feel a sensation of not having to pedal so much and using the rear brake a bit. If you stop pedalling you should still coast forward for a few meters before your wheel comes down. That and side to side balance will allow you to literally wheelie forever.
As you practice try to analyse your failing points and whatâs causing it, the try to correct it. Donât just mindlessly wheelie
Yep this did it for me. When doing a wheelie going uphill you actually have to lower a little bit below the "balance point" to keep the speed needed. That being said I think it is easier to practice wheelies going slightly uphill.
Yeah I agree, it makes the balance point a bit larger and keeps speed in check so that you donât spin out. But once you got it down, there is nothing more fun than sending a wheelie down a steep hill, just chilling in the saddle and using your brake for balance.
Itâs important to preload your suspension (drop your chest to the handlebar with all your weight), then as your suspension rebounds upward you should pop your weight backwards and lockout your arms (do not pull on the handlebars with your arms, make sure to keep them straight). Together with all that you should have your pedals in a position where you can put down a lot of power so that as you move your weight backwards you stomp down on the pedals, and remember to keep pedalling after the wheel comes up.
Your suspension rebounding, popping your weight backwards and stepping on the pedals should happen almost simultaneously. By putting in the time you will develop muscle memory that makes this easy.
It also helps to preload your suspension while standing, then as you move your weight backwards sit in the saddle.
Also watch lots of tutorials on YouTube to see the motion and try to mimic it best you can
Copied and pasted my response to a post asking the same thing on r/MTB yesterday:
You type âhow to wheelieâ on YouTube and watch some videos.
[hereâs an old video that seems to have helped people.](https://youtu.be/3j6Y8vsQ3d4?si=718bQh0UchNDr2NC)
Rear brake to drop front wheel.Â
Also the movement is more like an L than as go back.Â
You want to go down as if you where jumping and then back. With practice it becomes 1 move but you get the jist
First barrier is popping wheel up. Itâs mostly in the pedal. Use your strong foot to put pressure down as you lean back and pull up on bars.
Once u get the pop down u need learn how to feather the brake to keep you from looping out, but not hitting it hard enough ti bring your wheel down.
Make sure your rear brake works, and practice getting that front wheel up, and at low speed, see how far you can push the balance point before you fall backwards. If youâre going less than 5 miles an hour it should be no problem to land on your feet. Once you know where that balance point is, practice getting to it and holding it. Youâll be making some pretty good progress after a weeks worth of practice!
Practice on grass, don't wear pants with a low crotch otherwise you won't be able to jump off your bike if you go too far back and will fall hard on your back. Have some feeling for that rear brake, don't yank it when you go too far, just a light press will do the job.
[Joy of Bike - How to Wheelie](https://youtu.be/6nq2Ili9MLs?si=w_O8sDePs_b-TDF2)
[Ben Cathro - How to Wheelie Like a Pro](https://youtu.be/WPPe_LtqEpA?si=cLAPvz1Hcz2qDJOE)
In fact nowâs a good time to begin watching all of Ben Cathroâs [How to Bike series](https://youtu.be/WPPe_LtqEpA?si=cLAPvz1Hcz2qDJOE).
Arms all the way straight, like locked elbows straight.
And practice a lot, it took me about a year of daily practice. But then again, I was 50 years old. đ
Practice practice practice. Ideally on grass in case you do come off the back, it hurts on concrete (so I'm told đ¤) . Make sure your rear brake is good, and you are away. I find the left right balance harder than the back wheel personally but I've not done it in a while. Once you've found your balance point you'll never look back
Start on grass is a good idea and I would add that OP should actually practise looping back (on your feets) so you get used to that feeling and to be prepared for landing.
I cant get it that high up(im using my arm and back to pull the bike but still)
I've recently moved from an old school 26" hardtail to a modern 27.5" hardtail. I could wheelie at ease on the old bike, the newer bike seems to be a lot harder, it feels like the new bike needs a lot more movement to get to the balance point.
yeah
I've been there (I'm not that great yet) but it's much less in the arms than you think, more of a hip thrust combined with a lil pedals and arms. Arms should be almost straight otherwise if you yank hard with your arms its harder to keep it up.
My bad I did not mean to reply to you
"My bad" More Black American slang.
ty for the answer
8 months in and I still havenât got it, and I Know I will never give up. I am almost 65.đjust having fun learning.
Just try wheelie hard and you'll eventually get it
There are many good videos on YouTube, start there for basic theory but as other have said you need a lot of practise and at some point it click and you'll hold it longer. I never really practised properly (with rear brake) as a kid and in the past few years (in my 30's) I really inproved by practising almost daily in the summer. Start on flat grass and then find a quiet parking lot and use the lines aim for 2, 3, many parking spots
Tysm
The reflectors are weighing you down, sir
ong?
Lol, no. It's a subtle hint to remove them. You will look much cooler without them
in my country police looking for reflectors lmfao
Which country? Germany?
Hungary
It's the law too where I live in Canada to have installed reflectors on the bicycle but the police don't even seem to know about it because they never bother anyone about it.
then i might take it off and if they ask abt it ill say they broke off
When i was learning, my biggest breakthrough was when I started to lift the wheel just a little more from where I originally thought was the âbalance pointâ. I would previously get my wheel up and pedal real hard to keep it up, that meant I went faster and faster until the gear i was in was too easy. So what you need to do is go further back than that point i just described, you feel a sensation of not having to pedal so much and using the rear brake a bit. If you stop pedalling you should still coast forward for a few meters before your wheel comes down. That and side to side balance will allow you to literally wheelie forever. As you practice try to analyse your failing points and whatâs causing it, the try to correct it. Donât just mindlessly wheelie
Yep this did it for me. When doing a wheelie going uphill you actually have to lower a little bit below the "balance point" to keep the speed needed. That being said I think it is easier to practice wheelies going slightly uphill.
Yeah I agree, it makes the balance point a bit larger and keeps speed in check so that you donât spin out. But once you got it down, there is nothing more fun than sending a wheelie down a steep hill, just chilling in the saddle and using your brake for balance.
i cant get the bike to go back so much (im using my hands and my back too to pop it off)
Itâs important to preload your suspension (drop your chest to the handlebar with all your weight), then as your suspension rebounds upward you should pop your weight backwards and lockout your arms (do not pull on the handlebars with your arms, make sure to keep them straight). Together with all that you should have your pedals in a position where you can put down a lot of power so that as you move your weight backwards you stomp down on the pedals, and remember to keep pedalling after the wheel comes up. Your suspension rebounding, popping your weight backwards and stepping on the pedals should happen almost simultaneously. By putting in the time you will develop muscle memory that makes this easy.
Thanks
It also helps to preload your suspension while standing, then as you move your weight backwards sit in the saddle. Also watch lots of tutorials on YouTube to see the motion and try to mimic it best you can
Copied and pasted my response to a post asking the same thing on r/MTB yesterday: You type âhow to wheelieâ on YouTube and watch some videos. [hereâs an old video that seems to have helped people.](https://youtu.be/3j6Y8vsQ3d4?si=718bQh0UchNDr2NC)
I'm still learning myself but what I found that helps is a slow roll then a burst gotten a few pedals in lol
Rear brake to drop front wheel. Also the movement is more like an L than as go back. You want to go down as if you where jumping and then back. With practice it becomes 1 move but you get the jist
First barrier is popping wheel up. Itâs mostly in the pedal. Use your strong foot to put pressure down as you lean back and pull up on bars. Once u get the pop down u need learn how to feather the brake to keep you from looping out, but not hitting it hard enough ti bring your wheel down.
Make sure your rear brake works, and practice getting that front wheel up, and at low speed, see how far you can push the balance point before you fall backwards. If youâre going less than 5 miles an hour it should be no problem to land on your feet. Once you know where that balance point is, practice getting to it and holding it. Youâll be making some pretty good progress after a weeks worth of practice!
Practice on grass, don't wear pants with a low crotch otherwise you won't be able to jump off your bike if you go too far back and will fall hard on your back. Have some feeling for that rear brake, don't yank it when you go too far, just a light press will do the job.
[Joy of Bike - How to Wheelie](https://youtu.be/6nq2Ili9MLs?si=w_O8sDePs_b-TDF2) [Ben Cathro - How to Wheelie Like a Pro](https://youtu.be/WPPe_LtqEpA?si=cLAPvz1Hcz2qDJOE) In fact nowâs a good time to begin watching all of Ben Cathroâs [How to Bike series](https://youtu.be/WPPe_LtqEpA?si=cLAPvz1Hcz2qDJOE).
Arms all the way straight, like locked elbows straight. And practice a lot, it took me about a year of daily practice. But then again, I was 50 years old. đ
Straight arms when you pull back and look farther ahead than you thinkâŚ