Tips to Improve Your Manuals and Wheelies

Mastering manuals and wheelies takes practice, balance, and technique. If you’re struggling to hold a manual or keep your wheelie from looping out, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Here are two essential tips that will help you improve faster.

My Early Wheelie Mistakes

When I first started trying to learn wheelies as a kid, I made a couple of big mistakes:

1. I tried doing them standing up instead of sitting, which made it way harder to control.

2. I used clipless pedals… and let’s just say that didn’t end well. One day, I looped out so hard I still have a small scar from it.

If you want to learn wheelies without wiping out, here are two key things that will help you progress faster and avoid the mistakes I made.

1️⃣ Prevent Looping Out with Rear Brake Control

One of the biggest challenges when learning manuals and wheelies is looping out—going too far back and losing control. The solution? Keep one finger on the rear brake at all times.

✅ How it works:

• As you feel yourself tipping too far backward, lightly tap the rear brake—this will instantly bring the front wheel down.

• Over time, you’ll develop the ability to feather the brake, making small adjustments to stay in the balance point.

📌 Pro Tip:
Think of the rear brake as your safety net—you should always be ready to use it. Even pro riders constantly feather the brake during slow-speed manuals to maintain control.

2️⃣ Use an Uphill Slope to Learn Wheelies Faster

If you’re struggling to get the front wheel up, try this simple trick:

✅ Practice on a slight uphill.

• Going uphill naturally shifts your weight back, making it easier to lift the front wheel.

• It also slows down your speed, giving you more time to find your balance.

📌 Bonus Tip:
If you’re still having trouble lifting the front wheel, experiment with seat height and pedal positioning. A slightly higher seat can give you more leverage, and starting with your strong foot at the top of the pedal stroke helps generate more power.