Help: Manuals and Wheelies

[Turley]

Ok, I am having a fair bit of a trouble manuallying and wheelying my big hit. Anyone got and help/hint for getting the front wheel up on a big rig.

[DOM]

ya gotta get used to the sag in a dually .. when manually .. your going to have the nose up as high as if you were riding a HT .. just keep doing it turley yall get it after time.

[Adi]

Might have been better to learn it on a HT first. So if you got one try it on that...

/me waits for someone elses input.

[S.]

With wheelies: lock the front wheel
With manuals: don't lock the front wheel

Dunno why, but it seems to work that way... I can wheelie for ages but I'm still working on getting my manuals going well.

[Simo]

just makin sure, manuals is no pedalin right?

[Turley]

yeah, my main problem is that I ain't gettin the front wheel up high enough and if I do.. I seem to either looze control straight away or go over the back :( I can do them on HT's no prob.

[trobb]

You gotta get used to your bike first, dulis are harder to manual or mono anyway. just use all your wait and pull up and pedal... well you know what i mean. just practise and they will come.

[S.]

Try getting your hips further back, and lower, and do it in as smooth a motion as you can, rather than jerking up on the bars.

[trobb]

With wheelies: lock the front wheel
With manuals: don't lock the front wheel

Dunno why, but it seems to work that way... I can wheelie for ages but I'm still working on getting my manuals going well.

Dude why would you lock the front wheel when you mono? The spining of the wheel is what keeps you up

[S.]

dulis are harder to manual or mono anyway.

No, they're not. If anything they're easier because they react slower to everything you do, so you don't have to overcompensate all the time.

[S.]

With wheelies: lock the front wheel
With manuals: don't lock the front wheel

Dunno why, but it seems to work that way... I can wheelie for ages but I'm still working on getting my manuals going well.

Dude why would you lock the front wheel when you mono? The spining of the wheel is what keeps you up

No it's not.

[LTR]

Believe it or not, i prefer doing it on my dually!

[Adi]

Bobby root manuals like kilometers with his front wheel locked.

BTW

Manual is when you are not pedalinag and using body weight to keep your barrance

Wheelies are when you pedal.


Just wanted to clear that up.

balance point...find that youll go for ever

[grovesy]

dulis are harder to manual or mono anyway.

No, they're not. If anything they're easier because they react slower to everything you do, so you don't have to overcompensate all the time.



I find monos/manuals easier on my squishy.
Find the sweet spot and feather the rear brake when required.

[kalem]

i'd say just ride your bike lots... Sometimes it takes me a month or two to get really into a bikes geometry, sometimes one good ride and i'll know the bike inside out... Anyway just go out and ride your nice new bike!

[duncan^kona]

i just started to get manualing down, but still sketchy, i just figure sit back really far, pushing out on your pedals, and when the front is going to fall down, bring your body forward, so you legs are bent, then extend your legs again, bushing the bottom of the bike back out, whatever you do remember you have back brakes, coz i learnt to remember that the hard way on a steep road going about 50km/h :lol:

[bazza]

you need to go to 'danger zone' where you feel like you are justtttt about to go ass over end but just hold it.

[Dirt Devil]

Do you guys manual standing up or sitting down?

[S.]

Do you guys manual standing up or sitting down?

You can only really do brakeless manuals standing up, but you can do em sitting down as long as you're prepared to bitchstroke and brake every now n then.

[fastrider gus]

i only have a Ht but i can manual most duallies too... i dont realy do "wheelies" that much.. its either a sit-down-manual or a stand-up one..
HT's are defenately easier..
i use heaps of brakes for both.. i find it easier to go past the ballance point and drag the brake to keep you up.. then modulate the brake if you loose your position..
if you master sit-down manuals its time to move on to no-footed manuals! they rule...
and guys, its easier to not even have a finger on the front brake..

[Dicky]

i'm still gettin used to manuals as well, but i can wheelie for ages... i learnt on a duallie, i find em easier to wheelie than hardtails.
if you're on a big rig, try startin out in a really low gear. this makes it easier to pull the front up, and give you a better idea of where the balance point is. once you've got the balance point figured, go down a few gears and get used to driving the cranks around and pulling up pretty hard at the same time.

oh yeah, cover your back brake with one finger, if necessary, run your levers a bit closer to your stem, and wind them in a bit so they're closer to your bars.

front wheel starts dropping, put a bit more curry into the cranks...
start heading for the ground ass first, give it a bit of rear brake, but not so much that it slams your front wheel back into the ground. i'm on the brake probably 70% of the time.

as for manuals, um......

[crazy goose]

The only way to learn is to practice and see what works for you. For wheelies try not to use your brake unless your about to fall on your ass, you'll get a better feel for your balance point that way. Manuals bend your legs and stay off the brake again, use your mid section to keep your balance. Always be smooth, relax and practice it'll come in no time that way.

[wombat]

Gus: no footed manuals are awesome!

The key to anything on the rear wheel is the balance point, and the trick in maintaining this point. When you're doing a wheelie, it's nice and easy because you can pedal to bring the front up and brake to get it back down.

Manuals are more difficult. Generally using your brake while manualling is a bad idea though, for a couple of reasons. Sure, if you know you're going to flip out then grab some brake to save yourself, but avoid using the brake to keep your balance. Firstly, you're better off if you can control your balance with your weight alone (braking is like "cheating"), but more importantly, you'll be able to manual for longer if you don't brake, becuase when you drag a bit of pad you're always going to scrub off some speed.
Another thing I found was that if tried to drag the brake when I was trying to bunnyhop up and maual a ledge or something, it was way too easy to get too much brake when you land on the ledge and have the front drop down.

Short version: I cover the brake with one finger, but avoid using it unless I'm about to loop in a big way.

[dazonic]

I also find squishies easier to manual, as someone said, they're more forgiving. About the front wheel spinning though... I can wheelie as long as i like, until the front wheel stops. If i stop the front wheel straight up, i'll fall over sideways. I can ride a unicycle, but can't wheelie without the front wheel spinning. I don't get it.
I recommend learning to manual by using your brakes as little as possible. This way you don't get slowed down, and you can potentially manual as far as you can roll, whether it be on a flat suface or down a hill. Eventually you've gotta learn to be able to feather your rear brake to pull you down, because at about 50km/h even 8" rotors sometimes can't bring you down.

[wombat]

The reason for being more stable when the front wheel is spinning is due to the gyroscopic effect of the wheel. The guy (can't remember his name) who wheelied his mororbike across the US had a little electric motor driving the front wheel so that it was always spinning.
Sometimes, like if you're doing x-up manuals, you're better off with the wheel still though.

[dazonic]

Yeah, it keeps you from falling sideways... i mean, i can't understand why i can't wheelie with the wheel stopped yet i can ride a unicycle, i think they are extremely similar manouvers.

[Adi]

yea, as wombat said gyroscopes give you ballance, they work on the principle of rigidity in space, the faster it spins the more rigid it is and becomes harder to 'deflect'.

I always try and wheelie with my front wheel not spinning, i can keep my ballance as long as I am going forward, just gotta practice on the speed a bit more.

[simooooona]

yeah when you mono try to like keep your arms pretty straight so your leaning back... also like hover your finger over your brake levers... that sometimes helps me... i dno its wierd

[chandler_mate]

its harder on a bighit because of the little back wheels
i ahve the same problem

[®ider]

but how about on new world disorder 2 fat tyre fury how the guy(forgot his name :-) ) he does a manual and locks up his front wheel.

[trobb]

With wheelies: lock the front wheel
With manuals: don't lock the front wheel

Dunno why, but it seems to work that way... I can wheelie for ages but I'm still working on getting my manuals going well.

Dude why would you lock the front wheel when you mono? The spining of the wheel is what keeps you up

No it's not.

erm... yes it is, try it.

[trobb]

The reason for being more stable when the front wheel is spinning is due to the gyroscopic effect of the wheel. The guy (can't remember his name) who wheelied his mororbike across the US had a little electric motor driving the front wheel so that it was always spinning.
Sometimes, like if you're doing x-up manuals, you're better off with the wheel still though.

yer thats right socket!!!

[S.]

With wheelies: lock the front wheel
With manuals: don't lock the front wheel

Dunno why, but it seems to work that way... I can wheelie for ages but I'm still working on getting my manuals going well.

Dude why would you lock the front wheel when you mono? The spining of the wheel is what keeps you up

No it's not.

erm... yes it is, try it.

I wheelie with my front wheel locked (seriously). Where's your theory now?

[S.]

The reason for being more stable when the front wheel is spinning is due to the gyroscopic effect of the wheel. The guy (can't remember his name) who wheelied his mororbike across the US had a little electric motor driving the front wheel so that it was always spinning.
Sometimes, like if you're doing x-up manuals, you're better off with the wheel still though.

yer thats right socket!!!

The reason bikes stay upright is nothing to do with the wheels turning (other than the fact that wheels turning = bike moving), it's due to the fact that the front wheel traces a sinusoidal path in order to compensate for every shift of balance. There have been experiments which actively disprove the idea that gyroscopic force keeps bikes upright.

[Mahoney_007]

Do you guys manual standing up or sitting down?

You can only really do brakeless manuals standing up, but you can do em sitting down as long as you're prepared to bitchstroke and brake every now n then.

Sweet Ive been wanting to ask that..... i have my reply...... and also the proper terminology for my action "bitchstroke and brake every now and then" cheers guys

LMFAO

[jamo]

ok theres too much tech scientific talk here.



turly bro, just practice, find your balance point, you can do it with/without your front wheel spinning, and with more practice of knowing exactly where your balance point is, then you'll be able to wheelie and manual up someones arse!!

buon a petite!!


(this thread is geting outta hand witht his gyroscpical craP)

[®ider]

ok im trying with the spinning wheel manual.and locked up front wheely

[Timmy]

On the subject of front wheel spining / not spinning, the world record for a wheelie on a motorcycle is about 300km, basically till the guy ran out of fuel. He had a little electric motor to keep his front wheel spinnig because the gyroscopic efect from the spinning wheel makes the bike more stable.

[Bender is CRAZY]

I find manualling easier on my mates bike because his forks are really plush.

[naz]

think about it when ur wheelin n manualin on a duallie the dual crown forks, are heavy and once u get your sweet spot its easy to hold it, i can manual no worries but wheelie' is too much effort, ive just got manuals down on my trials bike(mod) n itsa bitch to hold coz every little movement can throw ur balance out, i find bunyhop to manual easy coz 90% of the time u land in ur balance point n u can manual till i stop rollin

i find when u stop ur front wheel spinnin your front drops physics not gonna explain ill confuse myself

[wombat]

ok theres too much tech scientific talk here.

(this thread is geting outta hand witht his gyroscpical craP)
Yeah, I mean the last thing we'd want is engineering types getting involved in mtbing. :roll:

Socket's right, having the front wheel spinning doesn't help you keep the front wheel off the ground, but what it can do is help you turn while on the back wheel, and to certain extent assist your blance.

[primeposition]

live_to_ride wrote
believe it or not i prefer doing it on my dually


yeah same it ios so much easier

[Adski]

Here's what works for me, monos and manuals:

1- Don't use SPD's if you respect the back of yr head!
2- Find the magic balance point and get used to it by going backwards a few times.
3- Feather the back by doing it down gradual slopes
4- Use your butt on the seat (seat height makes a difference due to leverage) and rub it back n forth like you're trying to get skid marks on yr undies. No shit.
5- Repeat.

[Timmy]

I cant manual a damm but Ive got my wheelies going ok. I find them eaiser at moderate speed, the brake controll seems eaiser if im going faster. Also if im going at a good pace I don't seem to fall off to one side as much. I need more practice. Nuthin beats a nice long wheelie..except maybe a piece of pussie :D

[smooth]

i ride a big hit and they are a bit hard to get up at first.....????? Anyway get your wheelie down first then find that spot were your balanced and keep practicing and after a while you should be able to coast while sitting. after your comfortable with your balance try getting some speed up and pull up on the bars while you push the pedels down and forward but do it smooth and flow. one more thing keep one finger on the rear brake , god knows how many stones and gravel iv had to pick out of my crack.

[Avanti_Racing]

hahahaha well said smooth, how do ya pump the manuals and keep em up 2?

[Link]

Ive been riding for a few years now and i have never been able to wheelie or manual.... i can nose wheelie longer than i can wheelie or manual for.

oh ive tried to lean them but i think i was just born without the ability to go along for more than 5m on my back wheel, its a genetic thing i think.

Nothing else in mountainbiking has given me as much trouble as wheelieing or manualing....and it shits me cuz everyone else can do them!

[norco_one25]

yeah but its soo good to do so its worth practicing

[MikeT]

i cant manual my little gspot but i can bloody manual a mates 30 kilo aline its wiered i just push on the forks and pull up and balance i cant go for very long

[naz]

nice gravediggin...thread is over a month old but eh....
persistance is the key with manuallin

[benny boy]

i cant manual i can wheelie but dont know how to manual can anyone help

[lotec]

wheelie then try to stop pedalling and balence there, or even better, dont listen to me, works a treat :P (i can only go for a few metres)

[Shaun]

i cant manual for shit, but can mono for ages. i only use the brake if im gonna fall on my ass and i use the seat heaps to help keep the weight back and also use the weight of the front end of the bike to sort of balance it all out.

works for me

[dumb 01]

respect to Socket. you say some good stuff.

and theres nothing wrong with grave digging. helps stop repeated threads, among other things

[Sutek]

So have you got it yet...

There's a few obvious key points amongst the advice.

1. Practise. Nothing is going to substitute for that...duh!
2. Don't be afraid to use the back brake. If you feel yourself going past the balance point, apply a little rear brake and inertia will bring the front down for you. Likewise, as mentioned, get on the gas and sit back when the front wheel dives too low.

Here's two more that may? help.
3. Use your own bike. Don't bother using someone elses because they can do it on theirs and it looks easy. Make love with your own bike. It'll pay off in the long run.
4. When learning to wheelie, do it on grass to keep abrasions down, and do it up a slight incline. This will provide just enough resistance so you can get a true feel for the pedalling required. On a flat you'll find yourself pedalling faster and faster to keep up. A little upward resistance does aid the learning process...trust me.

Good luck. :mrgreen:

[bazza]

listen to sutek he is your guide grasshopper! great hints, im slowling getting my wheeling distance up, and everything sutek says is dead on the money.

[Sutek]

Cheers Bazza, thanks for dat.

I'm just passing down those wheelie tips given to me by my Grandfather during my Penny Farthing training.

That whole 'up a hill' thing is a sure thing.

[dumb 01]

i agree with the up hill thing when starting. also helps in that you have more time to get your feet down rather than your ass if you go over the top.