MASTER THE MANUAL

A really useful skill, but one even good riders can struggle with

Manualling is different from wheelieing, in that you don’t use pedal power to get the front wheel up. There are two common mistakes we see time and time again – riders either bending their elbows and pulling up on the bar or just leaning off the back and yanking. Neither generates the rearward momentum needed to get you into a balanced position over the rear wheel. The key is to drive your weight forwards through your feet and then instantly lean back. This pivots the bike on its back wheel and raises the front wheel up. Your arms should remain straight throughout this movement. As you shift your hips down and back, you’ll feel when you reach the balance point. Keep the bike in this position with subtle weight shifts forward and back. The balance point will vary depending on your bike’s geometry and wheel size, so the height of your hips in relation to the front wheel will have to as well.