Wheely fear

[ceasar gre@t]

My first time was rough. I still haven't forgotten my first attempt at a wheely and honestly it left me pretty spooked. I was on a trail I knew really well but as soon as the front tire came up, I completely lost my balance. My bike went sideways and I bailed out quickly. It wasn't a bad crash but the surprise of losing control like that was enough to keep my front wheel firmly on the ground ever since. And I know the skill is important for getting over some roots and logs on the trail. But I'm still trying to figure out how to practice this without feeling like I'm going to flip over backwards every time. Does anyone have a suggestion for a safer place to practice than a rocky singletrack?

 

[Harriet Comstock]

I get what you mean! You know, a flat grassy field or an empty parking lot with a slight uphill slope can help you ease into it without worrying about rocks or roots. The uphill helps keep the front end from coming up too fast.