Ryan, how long does it take to go from wheelie to manual?
It doesn't really make a difference whether you learn the wheelie first or the manual first. It's not that you have to be able to do one in order to learn the other. My advice is to start with the move that you think is cooler. As soon as you can do one, the other will come pretty quickly. However, it takes time to control the rear brake properly so that you don't fall backwards. And it takes time to feel out what I call the float zone. It's the area where you neither tip backwards nor forwards. It is the sweet spot where you are perfectly balanced. This zone is the same for manual and wheelie. It all takes time, whether it's a wheelie where you're sitting and pedalling or a manual where you're neither sitting nor pedalling.
Some say that wheelies are just showing off. A poser move. Is that true?
But of course the wheelie is a show-off move. Because people turn their heads and everyone looks when you roll past them on your rear wheel. But it would be wrong to turn the wheelie into a pure poser move. The wheelie trains you to lift the front wheel in a controlled manner. For example, when you have to ride uphill over a stone step. Or it trains your balance - which you need on tight, technical trails. In short: the wheelie helps you to become a better biker.
Is it really possible to learn the wheelie in 30 days with your online programme?
Yes, that is quite possible. People have actually managed to learn the wheelie in 30 consecutive days. To be fair, however, I have to admit that this is the exception rather than the rule, because who has the time to practise so extensively? Most people learn the wheelie in 60 to 90 days. And that's okay, because it helps to digest certain skills and let them take effect first. Of course, previous knowledge also plays a role and how keen you really are to learn the wheelie.
How expensive is your online tutorial?
It costs 1 dollar per day - i.e. 30 Canadian dollars.
How important is it to prepare the bike for the wheelie session?
It helps to lower the saddle by 10 centimetres, pump a little more air into the tyres and make sure that the rear brake works well. But even more important is the mental preparation: be determined!
What does the ideal terrain look like?
This changes depending on how far along you are in learning to wheelie. A flat grass surface is good at first. Then a slight incline and tarmac. Later, I teach you to surf downhill in a wheelie.
Is the wheelie the favourite among the moves that mountain bikers want to learn?
No, the favourite is still the bunny hop. And yes, the bunny hop means you have a lot more fun as a mountain biker, can ride more creatively on trails and choose a better line.
What feedback do you get on your 30-day Wheelie online programme?
I get very positive feedback from those who take the programme seriously and really learn the wheelie - because they have been successful. However, many don't go through with it and prefer to shred trails - which I can understand. All I can say is that the wheelie can be a truly life-changing experience. The wheelie can really change your life as a mountain biker. Because surfing on the back wheel is one of the most exhilarating feelings you can experience on a bike.
More about wheelie learning online at: https://www.ryanleech.com/wheelies/
Dimitri Lehner
Editor
