How to: EMTB Uphill Riding Technique #3 - Steep Uphill & Uphill Wheelie

Markus Greber

· 14.06.2022

How to: EMTB Uphill Riding Technique #3 - Steep Uphill & Uphill Wheelie

Photo: Markus Greber

Driving uphill with lots and little grip

Thanks to the power of the motor, steep ramps on an e-MTB are no longer scary. Nevertheless, these passages require a lot of physical effort and the right technique. We differentiate between two techniques depending on the terrain.

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Steep uphill trail, good grip

Phase 1: Just before you really get down to business, the saddle is lowered a little. The aim is to always have your centre of gravity vertically slightly in front of the rear axle so that maximum pressure is applied to the rear wheel without the front wheel coming up. The arms are only slightly bent here. It is helpful to fixate on the highest point of the upcoming trail. The gear should not be too light so that you can pedal smoothly. The Support level is rather high, the turbo mode does no harm here.

Photo: Markus Greber When it gets steep, first lower the saddle a little and shift your centre of gravity slightly forwards.

In Phase 2 the incline increases. Here, you have to bend your arms to shift your weight forwards a little. As it is only moderately steep, you remain seated in the saddle. In Phase 3 It's time to get down to business. The saddle is lowered further to bring the centre of gravity back in front of the rear axle. The upper body is bent low over the handlebars, the pressure is on the nose of the saddle, the Brake is used for fine adjustment of the motor.

Moderately steep inclines can still be ridden in a seated position. With bent arms, however, the weight already shifts slightly forwards for optimum traction on the rear wheel.

Photo: Markus Greber Moderately steep inclines can still be ridden in a seated position. With bent arms, however, the weight already shifts slightly forwards for optimum traction on the rear wheel.

The steeper it gets, the more the saddle is lowered and the upper body comes forwards and downwards. Incidentally, this also applies to <a href="https://https//www.bike-magazin.de/emtb/service_wissen/how-to-emtb-uphill-fahrtechnik-2022-video-04-zufallskurve" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">uphill curves</a>.

Photo: Markus Greber The steeper it gets, the more the saddle is lowered and the upper body comes forwards and downwards. Incidentally, this also applies to uphill curves.

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Only in Phase 4the steepest section of the ramp, your centre of gravity has to move even further forwards. In the round kick you go upwards and forwards out of the saddle. This puts a lot of strain on your thighs. If the surface is grippy, you don't need to worry about losing traction and spinning the rear wheel. Here it's more a question of taming a rising front wheel. The most important thing here is the position of your centre of gravity. Full physical effort is required here to bring it as far forwards as possible.

In the steepest section of the ramp, it is important to keep the front wheel down to avoid an unintentional descent backwards. To do this, you have to get out of the saddle - provided the ground is grippy enough. If it's too slippery and the rear wheel spins, another trick helps with the uphill wheelie, see below.

Photo: Markus Greber In the steepest section of the ramp, it is important to keep the front wheel down to avoid an unintentional descent backwards. To do this, you have to get out of the saddle - provided the ground is grippy enough. If it's too slippery and the rear wheel spins, another trick helps with the uphill wheelie, see below.

Important for steep ramps like this: The saddle must be lowered. At least a few centimetres, if not completely. The lower the saddle, the greater the freedom of movement on the bike and the lower you can crouch down. And if the front wheel does rise, you can bring the front down again by braking briefly.

Tip: If you brake, you win. Every uphill technique is based on the controlled use of the rear brake. As in a car, this acts like a clutch as a traction control. The brake smoothes out power peaks and ensures even propulsion.

Photo: Markus Greber Tip: If you brake, you win. Every uphill technique is based on the controlled use of the rear brake. As in a car, this acts like a clutch as a traction control. The brake smoothes out power peaks and ensures even propulsion.

Read our tip to find out how to get going again from a standing start, even on steep ramps: Starting uphill.

Uphill wheelie: Uphill with little traction

If the surface becomes slippery, you have to do everything you can to maintain traction. The tried and tested means of doing this is the uphill wheelie.

It's usually deep gravel that drives you to despair. The engine power cannot be brought to the ground because the rear wheel is spinning. There is only one thing to do here: put pressure on the rear wheel. And you generate as much pressure as possible by taking as much weight off the front wheel as possible. This can go so far that the tyre lifts off the ground, as in a wheelie.

For this manoeuvre, the gear should not be too low and the support level should not be too high. To build up pressure, make sure you stay in the saddle and lean backwards by stretching your arms.

Photo: Markus Greber For this manoeuvre, the gear should not be too low and the support level should not be too high. To build up pressure, make sure you stay in the saddle and lean backwards by stretching your arms.

Now it is crucial to keep your balance. Keeping your eyes as far forward as possible helps to stabilise the bike. The best way to control propulsion is by constantly grinding the rear brake. A round pedal stroke is also helpful.

As with a real wheelie, you use your knees to compensate for sideways drifting on an uphill wheelie. This riding technique improves with feeling and every metre you ride.

Photo: Markus Greber As with a real wheelie, you use your knees to compensate for sideways drifting on an uphill wheelie. This riding technique improves with feeling and every metre you ride.

How to | EMTB uphill riding technique - PART 1: BASICS

PART 2: TRAIL (from 16 August)

PART 3: EXPERT (from 11 October)

Stefan Schlie has been our uphill flow expert since EMTB Magazine was founded. The new three-part riding technique series with how-to videos explains the handling of the E-MTB from the basics to the moves of the pros.

Photo: Markus Greber Stefan Schlie has been our uphill flow expert since EMTB Magazine was founded. The new three-part riding technique series with how-to videos explains the handling of the E-MTB from the basics to the moves of the pros.

Photo: EMTB Magazin EMTB 03/2022 - now on sale. You can obtain the new EMTB conveniently in the subscription, in our online shop and as an app edition for Apple and Android .

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How to: EMTB Uphill Riding Technique #3 - Steep Uphill & Uphill Wheelie

Steep uphill trail, good grip

Uphill wheelie: Uphill with little traction

How to | EMTB uphill riding technique - PART 1: BASICS

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