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Done the first 6 days now and I've genuinely made significant progress!
It's really well set out and clear what you need to focus on.
https://learn.ryanleech.com/wheelie-challenge
Thanks.
Thanks too.
It's really rather good. I'd be surprised if I ever actually succeed but it makes sense in a way most YouTube videos never have
I just signed up too. Gonna come out of this lockdown as the raddest guy in my cul-de-sac.
Nice one thanks!
Bookmarked. Thanks
👍🏻👍🏻
Day 10 for me (although repeated day 7/8). Coming on nicely. I’m using the local golf course (not the greens or fairways) as there’s some lovely long stretches to practice.
I’ve now progressed to tarmac and the difference is incredible. There’s days of frustration but occasionally I’ll nail it...as a 40+ year old who could never wheelie (properly) I’m over the moon!
Day 10 for me (although repeated day 7/8). Coming on nicely. I’m using the local golf course (not the greens or fairways) as there’s some lovely long stretches to practice.
I’ve now progressed to tarmac and the difference is incredible. There’s days of frustration but occasionally I’ll nail it…as a 40+ year old who could never wheelie (properly) I’m over the moon!
When you have a day where something starts to click though it's brilliant!
How much flat grass space do i need for this? Its all a bit up/down where i am. lots of flat road but no flat park style grass.
How much flat grass space do i need for this? Its all a bit up/down where i am. lots of flat road but no flat park style grass.
I've been doing it up and down the road so far.
Try and find the flattest short grass as possible. Too long and the friction just kills the wheelie and I found I just came to a complete standstill. Day 5ish progresses to slight inclines-but don’t think it that necessary. As Ogden says road is fine-I now use the school car park so no one can see me!! Use flats though as you’ll be jumping of the bike backwards.
I'm in, just finished day 2. It's dificult not to rush ahead.
Shall I shant I ......?
Maybe.
Cheers OP
I've been trying to teach my 8 year old to lift the front wheel. A not too successful demo today means I and probably her will be signing up.
Once you learn to wheelie is it like... eerr riding a bike or do you have to re-learn if you don't do it for a while.
Once you've got it you have it
Swapping bike to bike may take a few attempts as balance points differ.
If doing this on a full bounce lock it out makes it easier as the balance point wont wander
Ive finally found a purpose for the 26 Hardtail thats been gathering dust in the shed. Its now my "wheelie practice" bike. Seat set at a lower hight (and set back) and leave in the right gear.
Thanks OP I am looking forward to Day 2 practical. This could be a brilliant lock down success story. My wife is not offering the support Ryan suggests is needed, she thinks I am going to be an unnecessary burden on the NHS. Ben 48 and never mastered the art of the wheelie.
This and several other youtube videos (how to endo 180, Ali clarksons how to trackstand) would make perfect lockdown skills building, if only I had a seatpost.
Mine's away in Germany for warranty service at the moment. Tempted to buy a cheap post to tide me over. Although I don't really need a post for Ali's trackstand video...
Ta, OP, signed up!
Bought a cheap BMX years ago to try to learn to wheelie on, never mastered finding the balance point though!
As an aside, this website has an interesting approach to internet security!! Is there a way of changing your password?!
Cheers op, signed up and we will see how it goes.
To change your password, just click on the profile icon and then settings.
I'm about day 24 on this. Have been at it longer than that but can't manage every day. Have had to do it all on tarmac as no suitable grass area. Tarmac has been fine. Good days and less good days but really enjoying it. Slight uphill makes it much easier but might leave my technique lacking. Have got as far as some 40-50m wheelies however still very inconsistent so loads of rubbish ones. Suspect there is plenty of pandemic left to get more consistent.
This is brilliant thanks for sharing!
Myself in Manchester and brother in law in Leeds are going to learn together at distance.
I could see this sort of coaching working for me in the future too, little and often practise is much better than a one off coaching day
I'm doing it with my son, even got my wife having a go yesterday!! Daughter just looks at us like we're mental though....
40-50m is pretty solid. I'm just starting out and using tarmac. Only on lesson 4 and have already looped out but managed to jump off rather than land on my arse. A long way to go.
Thanks for sharing OP - now on day 4 and like the bite sized approach to it. I've tried teaching myself in the past so these early steps are familiar but I never got past about half a dozen pedal strokes, so hoping for more this time.
I followed this link about 10 days ago too - I'm doing it with fadda Jr and we're on about day 6 or 7 (he's only here 5 days out of 10).
This approach is leading to small but steady improvements - its fun and its something for us to do together. Inevitably, he's doing better than me (bloody teenagers...), I'm up to a reliable 3/4 pedal strokes, with an occasional 6/7.
I'll be sooooo cool in the car parks when we're allowed back out.
Fadda (age 55 and 1/4)
Glad it’s helped people out, or just given us all something to do 😀
Im finding its the second pedal stroke that’s really important to get up to the balance point. Just getting to grips with the side to side. For me consistency in getting to the balance point nice and straight is by far the hardest bit and feathering the brake. Some useful tips on Pinkbike vid yesterday.
Progress takes ages but sticking with is seems to be paying off. Often seem to struggle to do the specific drills as well as I want, but find the techniques gradually creeping in without me really thinking about it. I'm not nearly as good on the flat as on a slight incline. Have got to the downhill wheelie lesson but that might have to wait until after lockdown as a grass downhill slope will be really useful. Keep it up folk.
@scruff I have exactly your same problem, can you you point me to the video you mention please?
I just signed up too. Gonna come out of this lockdown as the raddest guy in my cul-de-sac.
This is truly all I aim for in life. I just want to see the jealousy in the other middle-aged dad's eyes! Obviously Mrs 10 doesn't think this is a great idea...
Update time, how are you all getting on? all well on our way to being wheelie gods?
I'm still at it, day 17 now, pedal pauses. I'm putting in approx. 30-45 minutes practise in each day (there's a gated car park on the way to work so 15 minutes on the way in to work and then 30 minutes or so on the way back) consistency is getting much better and managed a few full length of the car park, about 40 meters. Also managing to correct errors and mistakes without putting the wheel back down which is nice.
I just did a 5 pedaller on my drop bar gravel bike.
Fair play. Stalled last week and I'm picking it back up again. On day 9, frustrated that I had a break as its definitely set me back...
Will head to the nearest carpark this weekend to see if that helps...
I'm on around day 6 (4/5 pedals strokes). Not managing to practise every day and have developed a habit of bending my arms! Planning to stay around there till I improve. I'm using a rigid 650b+ bike. Had a go on wife's smaller 26" bike and was surprised how much easier it was.
A smaller bike will be easier to house the front but probably slightly harder to learn on as it reacts quicker to your inputs (which are kack handed for now)
I'm on day 16 or so, enjoying it but not convinced I'm doing as well as I should be. The odd 20+ m wheelie but a load of mis starts in between. Tempted by his manual course next thou
I like the look of the manual course too, I think I'll start that once I've finished the wheelie challenge. I'll just keep wheelieing anyway, mostly to annoy anyone I go out riding with 😀
Me and the mrs are having a go. On day 7 but have practiced several days rather than go straight through the lessons. Progress is slow but definite. The mrs had told me she couldn't ever see herself managing it and has put in several 3/4 pedals in and is consistently getting the front wheel lift better than before. Will take a lot of time and practice but determined to crack it.
I am a month in and stuck on lesson 17 - no way am I ready for turning. Had a few days off in between and always return fresher and better. I replaced the bottom bracket bearing last night so hopefully I will now be super smooth. I also fitted new rear brake pads before starting the challenge and I think these have now properly bedded in as I am finding modulation / feathering is getting easier and more subtle, I am sure this is nothing to do with all the practice. Never used flats before but think I will stick with them when I go proper mountain biking again.
I've been going about 3 weeks but haven't got past day 8 (for time, not lack of progress). So far I'm probably wheelying about as good as I was before but the practice really is the important bit - I feel what's happening more and am hitting the balance point without fear. Far to go yet, mind.