Technique

Yes way. Learn the fine art of the pedalling on one tire from the trials maestro himself

Really good wheelies with Hans Rey

The wheelie was something nearly all of us aspired to do in our younger days. Perhaps the seriousness of life and growing older kicked that ambition out of us. Somewhere along the line, the once-fun trail of life became somewhat straighter and a whole lot less fun, or at least it did for many of us. Then came Peter Sagan, a talented road racer with a mountain biker’s soul. The pro not only set races alight with his victorious flair, but also reintroduced the cool of pedalling with his front wheel in the air to all of us.

Long before Sagan, there was Hans “No Way” Rey, a trials riding world champion turned mountain biking icon. He defined the art of the wheelie for many of us. Rey is still pulling wheelies with a sense of fun that we could all use a shot of at times. The move has a very practical element to it, too. It’s at the very core of many technical trail skills, enabling you to pull off tricky manoeuvres with style. “Learning a wheelie is not only cool, it also helps you to become at one with your bike, which will improve your riding style and open up line options you have out on the trail,“Rey says.

“To learn wheelies takes time and lots of practice,” he adds. “That’s why you find kids in every neighbourhood who can ride for miles and you also find pro riders who can’t do them.”

To wheelie as well as the young rider in your neighbourhood, follow these tips from Rey:

Lower your saddle

“Try and sit on the tip of your seat with your saddle lowered,” Rey says. “This will improve your balance point and alter your centre of gravity, even though it may at first feel slightly cramped. Practising and getting used to this is key.”

Start out cautiously with your finger on the rear brake

“It’s best to lift your front wheel on a very gradual uphill slope to start with. Don’t have your feet clipped in. Lean back and get your centre of gravity over your rear hub, actually moving your rear wheel from being behind you, to being underneath you.

“Always have a finger on your rear brake, which is your emergency insurance. When you pull your rear brake, your front wheel will come back down and may prevent you from flipping over backwards. That’s how you also control your speed, so gently does it.”

Find balance

“Once you pull your front wheel up (while seated on your lowered saddle), you need to continue to pedal and immediately start correcting your balance. (There is a sideways aspect and a vertical – front and rear – balance.) It’s best to correct these before it ’s really necessary to do so, which means you are constantly plus/minus around the balance point. Use your knees, your arms and your hips for the sideways balance control. Use your brakes and pedalling for your vertical balance.

Persistence is key

“Keep practising and monitor your moves and failures to pinpoint where you can improve. Or, you can try it with a slightly different technique or approach, such as correcting your balance point early on in the move or being more sensitive on the brakes.”

“It will open up line options you have out on the trail.”