How to Wheelie On a Bike for Beginners | A Complete Guidance!
Do you want to learn a wheelie? Because you see people wheelie and wish I could do the same, you are in the right place, beginner! Wheelie is easy; learn how to wheelie on a bike for beginners. You will do better.
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Short Answer
Learning new skills can be exciting and risky because you are new to it. But you will need to understand and practice to do it. How to wheelie on a bike for beginners? Follow the steps, tricks, and tips to do a good wheelie.
This article will not only provide the steps but will guide you to avoid mistakes and how to do tricks so that you can do a good wheelie and be proud.
How to Wheelie On a Bike for Beginners?
It always seems impossible and hard to start anything new, but you will learn if you are genuinely passionate. How to wheelie on a bike for a beginner? As a beginner, you always need a favorable surface like grass or a flat space with dirt, and also, a suitable bike like BMX or mountain bike with low gravity is the most practical bike. Before going into the detail of the process, make sure we are on the same page;
What is Wheelie?
To begin, you should know what a wheelie is without any confusion. A wheelie is a simple trick to lift the bike’s front wheel from the ground when riding on a bike. It’s fun and exciting but risky to do a wheelie wisely. Now look at the steps of the wheelie and practice as much as you can.
Wheelie as A Beginner: Step-by-Step Guide
It is fun to take risks and perform what you think you can’t do; as a beginner, you need to start slowly and with the basics. Once you gain experience with a wheelie, you will be more confident. Following is the step-by-step guide to get you started:
Step 1: Selection of The Bike
Go for the bike, which is perfectly suitable for a wheelie—usually lightweight. The lower height of the seat of the bike and bearable power output is best for beginners. Lower gear ratios also help to make it easier for the rider to lift the front wheel.
Step 2: Look for The Perfect Location
It is a widespread fact and one of the essential steps of the wheelie process to find a suitable location for stunts. Especially if you are a beginner, you need a soft surface for the wheelie because you will fall often. So it’s best not to get hurt or damage anyone’s property or any person. The best place is the garden or park an individual because you aren’t allowed to wheelie in a public parking lot. If you do, the traffic police will charge you.
Step 3: Safety Comes First
It doesn’t matter if you have been a beginner or have been performing a wheelie for the last ten years; every time you decide to wheelie, you must have safety gear first. Yes, if you are an experienced rider, you may fall less, but as a beginner, you depend on the safety gear. It will reduce the risk of bodily injury.
Step 4: Learn The Basics
It’s better to have a good understanding of the basic skills of riding. Especially controlling, balancing, steering, and practical brake skills. Be confident while riding a bike and have a good knowledge of clutch and throttle.
Step 5: Initiate with Lower Gear
Start with a lower gear, usually first or second. More torque is going to produce by the lower gears, making it easier to lift the bike’s front end. There is no problem initiating with the higher gear, but you may lose control of the bike. So begin will the lower one.
Step 6: Maintain The Balance
A balance point is critical to keeping your performance of the wheelie in an upright position. Initiate by rolling at a regular speed and applying the throttle gently. Now slowly lean back. When the front wheel lifts off the ground, look at the balance point where your bike remains firm and in control. You may take some time to find that balancing point but keep practicing to find it.
Step 7: Use of Rear Brake
Apply the rear brake to control the height of the wheelie. Slowly hit the rear brake to lower the front end of the bike. Remember to use mild and progressive braking instead of hitting it forcefully because you can quickly lose control of the bike.
Step 8: Learn Weight Shifting
Well, this is a technique to learn and master. Because to maintain the balance of the bike, it is essential to understand the weight shifting while wheelie. Shift the weight of your body towards the rear brakes by pedaling slowly and pulling up the handlebars; now, keep on pedaling and increase the speed to lift the front end. Keep pedaling to keep the wheel in the air by shifting the weight.
Step 9: Increase Period and Height
Now lower down the front wheel when you are ready to end it and gently do it.
At the beginning of the wheelie, please do it for a short period with complete focus and control. Also, start with the lowest height off the ground. As you practice, increase the wheelie’s time and the bike’s height with complete control and balance without shaking your bike. The more you gain experience in wheelie more your control and time will increase.
Step 10: Be Focused and Stay Patient:
One of the best skills you will learn while wheelie is maintaining focus and patience. Generally, it is necessary to drive or ride with complete focus. So as a beginner, when doing a wheelie, you need to avoid any distractions or notice any change in your terrain.
Don’t expect anything too soon. You will need patience because you can only learn something with a few attempts. Enjoy the process and grow within yourself.
Step 11: Ask for Guidance If Needed:
Lastly, even after knowing all the processes and understanding all the phenomena, you may struggle while performing. Don’t be ashamed, and ask for help! Or else you will be a miserable stuntman. An experienced rider or professional trainer will guide you according to your mistakes, and you will be a good stuntman in no time.
Tips for Successful Wheelie for Beginners:
Along with the step-by-step guide to perform a wheelie, you need a few tips for a beginner to have a successful wheelie which is as follows:
Additional Tips
- Remember to take breaks while practicing. Never overdo it. You can get tired or may lose hope.
- While balancing, don’t take the stress. I know it’s easier said than done but relax while performing and keep your arms straight.
- Don’t look at the front wheel when it gets down; you can lose your balance.
- Maintain the proper placing of pedals with one another. Don’t make one higher. It will disturb your balance.
- Find your comfort point by finding the right speed and gears. Experiment it.
Few Common Mistakes as a Beginner
It is possible that you make a mistake and everything goes perfectly. And it isn’t very intelligent to expect it, but yes, you can recognize and improve it. It is also a part of how to wheelie on a bike for beginners. So here are the few common mistakes made by beginners while performing wheelies. Try to avoid them:
- Releasing Clutch Aggressively
Please don’t be aggressive while wheeling, and don’t hit the clutch forcefully. You have to remain patient throughout the wheelie to have a successful and controlled lift, gently release the clutch and at the same time apply the throttle.
- Careless Safety Measures
Don’t I repeat, remember to wear proper safety gears, which are a helmet, gloves, pads (knee and elbow), boots, etc. It will help to save you from severe brain and other health injuries.
- Improper Body Position
To balance and control the bike while performing wheelie is essential. So while pedaling, shift your body weight wisely. Too much weight on any side of the bike will end up in a severe accident.
- Avoiding Rear Brake
It is an integral part of the wheelie; rear brakes help control the wheelie’s height and stabilize it. So pay attention to it. Practice with rear brakes.
- Extreme Throttle
It is perilous to apply excessive throttle from the point of starting. It will make wheelie early, and you will flip over. Extreme power is not a wise decision.
- Don’t Rush
A beginner must remain patient and wait for the right time to perform the wheelie. Wait to attempt to perform wheelie because you cannot master the required skills in one day. Slowly and gradually, you will get there. You have to believe it. And believe in yourself that you will do it. So take your time with beginners.
Good Wheelie Bikes for Beginners
Generally, you can perform a wheelie on any bike, maintenance of the bike is essential, but for the beginner, it is good to have a wheelie bike, which makes the wheelie easier to perform. Following are the few best wheelie bikes;
- BMX bike
- Mountain bike
- Hybrid bikes
- Racer bikes
Mountain bikes are acceptable with or without suspension forks and standard tire shape because fat tires bikes make wheelie very hard due to their weight. The essential quality is the lightweight bike is considered best for a wheelie.
FAQs
Is It Possible to Perform a Wheelie Without Gears?
Yes, it is possible to wheelie, but it is easier to perform a wheelie with the gears. Gears help you with the speed of the pedal, and your work would minimize the lifting of the front wheel. Gears are best for beginners.
Can You Tell the Other Bike Stunts a Beginner Could Do?
Anyone can perform any stunt. The only key is to learn with full passion. Other bike stunts are bunny hops, manuals, tail whips, and 360s. Stay safe and give time and practice, and please don’t hurry.
Which Bike Is the Easiest One to Wheelie?
Mountain bikes are the easiest ones. They are versatile in gear, and frame designs are unique, along with effortless control. You can easily lift it due to its lightweight and maintain your speed. Beginners especially should use mountain bikes to practice because they can learn balancing very quickly.
Conclusion
Noting is hard for beginners to learn and perform a wheelie. If your bike selection and especially the location of the wheelie is ideal, the rest is up to you, and any passionate rider will learn the wheelie very quickly. But the part of understanding how to wheelie on a bike for beginners is the proper follow-up of the laws and regulations of the state or whatever country you are in.
Never risk your life for any stun. It is not worth it. It is illegal in some parts of the world, and some have rigorous charges and penalties, which I am sure you wouldn’t want. Learn wheelie, enjoy your ride but perform wisely.