You’ve probably heard of — or even attempted — the infamous wheelie. I think this skill has a few purposes. While it is useful on the trail (see details below), it is really fun to execute, and you look super cool while doing it. Sometimes people ask why it feels so good to get air on your bike (or ski in deep powder) and it comes down to the feeling of disconnecting from gravity for a brief moment. Although Hyperbole, this IG account said it well": “Sick air allows mountain biker to escape never ending feeling of existential dread for .78th of a second”. When your front wheel is floating in the air, (or better yet, both wheels) you are experiencing something akin to vertigo, but this one leaves you feeling stoked, not nauseated.
Does that sounds like fun? I’m going to tell you exactly how to do it down below.
Why Learn to Wheelie?
When you are climbing hills and you encounter features like rocks, roots, and ledges, you employ the pedal wheelie. Pedal wheelies allow you to get your front wheel up and over features using your chain tension. This is a great skill to practice in a parking lot during winter months when the trails are covered with snow. I’ll break it down for you.
Pedal Wheelie Practice Drill:
Find an uphill parking lot or grassy field.
Place your chain in a middle to easier gear so that you have tension on the chain.
Begin pedaling.
Cover your rear brake lever so that you can pull it needed.
When your front pedal is in a position of power—between 1:00 and 3:00—give your pedal a punch to make the front wheel come up.
Lean backward and keep your arms straight.
Stay seated (this is the the biggest mistake I see, people want to lift up).
If you feel like you may fall backward, simply pull on the rear brake. This will stop the rear wheel from rotating and will allow you to place the front wheel back on the ground.
My pedal wheelies have advanced over the past few years so that they rely more on finesse and skill and less on strength. Can you spot the difference in the photos below?
In the photo on the left, which is less correct, I can see that I've pulled up on the bars which is exhausting. My shoulders and spine are somewhat rounded, which is not a strong position. I am clipped in, which isn’t inherently wrong for this skill, although, I can my feet are parallel to the ground which means I am not putting enough force on the pedals.
In the photo on the right, my arms are straight which allows my spine and shoulders to be straighter. I am sending all my force through the pedals which is exactly how this skill should be performed. The pedal wheelie doesn’t take a lot of energy when it’s done properly!
If you are interested in online coaching from anywhere in the world, check out my Mountain Bike Mastery Course and you’ll be doing wheelies in no time.