Discussion
OK, in the motorcycle world it is generally accepted that wheelies are extremely cool, digged by chicks and should be applauded and encouraged wherever possible.
What's the concensus on pedal bikes? I've flipped my cannondale synapse arseing about on it, (damn no brake levers on the high part of the bars like we had in the 1980s!), but have the occasional wheely up climbs to pass the boredom and regularly do big wheelies on my MTB, to a mixture of reactions. Kids on the trail usually gasp in awe and point, adult women seem to "tut tut" rather than drop their pants as you may expect(!), some of the guys smile, some look at you with envy! I was out with my daughter on a wooded trail last week, and stopped to let a couple of guys passed who were going quicker, and got a "nice wheely, fella" from one of them, but also had a "wheely w
ker!" shouted from a car in Milton Keynes when on a segregated cycle path next to a dual carriageway! 
This isn't an "I'm great at wheelies" thread, (although I am fking awesome at them!), it's partly serious, how are such antics viewed by the cycling world?
Feel free to post pics, the more awesome the better!
What's the concensus on pedal bikes? I've flipped my cannondale synapse arseing about on it, (damn no brake levers on the high part of the bars like we had in the 1980s!), but have the occasional wheely up climbs to pass the boredom and regularly do big wheelies on my MTB, to a mixture of reactions. Kids on the trail usually gasp in awe and point, adult women seem to "tut tut" rather than drop their pants as you may expect(!), some of the guys smile, some look at you with envy! I was out with my daughter on a wooded trail last week, and stopped to let a couple of guys passed who were going quicker, and got a "nice wheely, fella" from one of them, but also had a "wheely w
ker!" shouted from a car in Milton Keynes when on a segregated cycle path next to a dual carriageway! This isn't an "I'm great at wheelies" thread, (although I am f
king awesome at them!), it's partly serious, how are such antics viewed by the cycling world? Feel free to post pics, the more awesome the better!
WinstonWolf said:
I'm cool with them...
My wife enjoys telling the true story of when we lived in a new build house in 2000, (when I was 30) and the road was unfinished with raised ironwork, some kids were out doing little jumps and hops over them on bikes. I went out to egg them on a bit and get them some bigger air etc, go heckled as "we're better than you!", so got the claude butler out and an impromtou stunt show ensued! Full range of tricks, to total adulation...........next evening, doorbell rang, she answers the door, and three lads, about 9 to 12 "call" for me to go out on bikes! Sadly I was out!!
Brilliant 
I could wheelie all day when i was a kid, but now (despite being a relatively quick XC rider on my local trails) i find it hard! Also, now im SPD'd onto the pedals, i get scared that i'll end up on my back!
So, yeah - wheelies are cool. But what really amazes me are people that can effortlessly "manual". I just dont understand how its possible, and i wish i could do it. Yes, i have watched youtube videos purporting to teach this witchcraft.
So, yeah - wheelies are cool. But what really amazes me are people that can effortlessly "manual". I just dont understand how its possible, and i wish i could do it. Yes, i have watched youtube videos purporting to teach this witchcraft.
I think 'dudes' who wheelie in public are utter prats.
*This may be entirely due to the fact that I can barely get the front wheel on my Anthem to lift, and there's no way I can get it high enough to consider keeping it there. It frustrates me to the point where I've stopped trying now. It's either the bike, or my technique. Although someone did tell me that it is harder to do on a full suspension bike than a hard tail, and I swear I used to be slightly better at it on a hard tail. I wish that the front wheel would stay down on steeper hills though, without me having to perch my pert buns right on the nose of the saddle!
*This may be entirely due to the fact that I can barely get the front wheel on my Anthem to lift, and there's no way I can get it high enough to consider keeping it there. It frustrates me to the point where I've stopped trying now. It's either the bike, or my technique. Although someone did tell me that it is harder to do on a full suspension bike than a hard tail, and I swear I used to be slightly better at it on a hard tail. I wish that the front wheel would stay down on steeper hills though, without me having to perch my pert buns right on the nose of the saddle!
Agent XXX said:
I've got wheelie envy now...
yellowjack said:
I think 'dudes' who wheelie in public are utter prats.
*This may be entirely due to the fact that I can barely get the front wheel on my Anthem to lift, and there's no way I can get it high enough to consider keeping it there. It frustrates me to the point where I've stopped trying now. It's either the bike, or my technique. Although someone did tell me that it is harder to do on a full suspension bike than a hard tail, and I swear I used to be slightly better at it on a hard tail. I wish that the front wheel would stay down on steeper hills though, without me having to perch my pert buns right on the nose of the saddle!
Sorry, it ain't the bike! I bet you're trying to "lift" the front up, which just isn't going to work (because you are much heavier than the bike, lifting is never the right thing to do, you need to "push" yourself up, and you'll find the bike follows)*This may be entirely due to the fact that I can barely get the front wheel on my Anthem to lift, and there's no way I can get it high enough to consider keeping it there. It frustrates me to the point where I've stopped trying now. It's either the bike, or my technique. Although someone did tell me that it is harder to do on a full suspension bike than a hard tail, and I swear I used to be slightly better at it on a hard tail. I wish that the front wheel would stay down on steeper hills though, without me having to perch my pert buns right on the nose of the saddle!
I couldn't do wheelies, but after a LOT of practice i now can do them. The basic technique doesn't change between my various bikes, but the level of input to get to the balance point does. My short c456 pops up with just a short pedal stroke, whereas my DuneXR needs a good pump and a big pedal stroke. But all bikes can be wheelied! (ok, possibly not a tandem....... ;-)
It's the same for manuals, where once you get the technique, vertically drop your body first towards the toptube, then push backwards/thrust bike forwards, straightening arms and legs, in an "L" shape (don't go diagonally back and down at the same time) they become fairly easy to do.
I was 18yo and that was 1986.
There. That's my excuse for the hair out of the way.
I can still wheelie my hard tail, even with SPDs although I'm very cautious about going over the back. I'm not as good now as I was then, when I could virtually wheelie for as long as I wanted, at walking pace, controlling it by pedalling or braking. I could even go around corners.
I still use the same technique, sat down for additional control, but disk brakes are a little snatchy so I'm not nearly in as much control.
Edited by Watchman on Wednesday 16th November 14:49
I used to be brilliant at Wheelies when I was a teenager. Even relatively short no hands one when I had the SPDs on. Seems that as I've gotten older my ability to do them as also disappeared! 
Despite having stronger leg muscles as well 
However, I have NEVER been able to do a decent manual roll. on MTB or BMX. I blame my leg to arm ratio
Despite having stronger leg muscles as well However, I have NEVER been able to do a decent manual roll. on MTB or BMX. I blame my leg to arm ratio
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