Balancing on back wheel

[Sparticus]

I'm new to trials so go easy on me. I'm having difficulty finding a balance point on my back wheel. I can get my front wheel up without rolling forward but I either go over backwards or the wheel drops back down forward. I try to apply pressure to the pedal to bring front wheel back up but then I move forward and it eventually drops down again. I've tried starting with my front wheel on a 2 foot high wall with limited success. Is this a difficult thing for everyone to learn? Any tips would be appreciated. I ride an Echo Control Long.

[Elan]

its probably what took me the longest to learn out of all things ive done on a trials bike, as im sure with most people. it starts with pulling back and finding your balance on the rear. then it usually progresses to backward hopping to stay at that point, and then maybe you will be able to throw in a couple of pedal kicks to go forward. it takes a lot of time and dedication to get it down, but once you do, its second nature.
from the one ride ive had on a echo control long, it is a very good bike, has a good feel on the rear, so dont worry about the bike.

[Giant1118]

it really is the first step, and as elan said, probably the thing that takes the longest to learn. Keep practising u will see one day itll just click for you. If u start falling back do a backhop do put the wheel back under you, if the front drops as you said, release the brake, apply a little pressure at the pedals (kick if u have to) and grab the brake again. Then just repeat if needed.

It seems like you are on the right track. Stick with it and Good Luck

p.s. riding with people better then you helps a ton aswell

[stocktrials]

yep, its all just time and lots of practice.

Your body needs to learn to compensate for this front wheel falling/tipping backwards. If you do what Dan says, you should be alright. The thing is, your brain will take time to be able to do these things autonomously. How long this takes, depends from person to person.

Patience, practice, profit.

[Sparticus]

Thanks for the great responses. Good info and reassuring that I'm on the right track.

[psyber_0ptix]

small hops help recover balance sometimes. just remember not to work your arms to much, most of your counter weight comes from leaning your butt back a bit. can you balance well? try balancing on that 2ft wall while hoping a tiny tiny bit. slowly try to pick your front wheel up (not completely off) but just enough to relieve pressure from the front end. You will learn whats comfortable for you.

also, a slightly longer stem helped me out initially. (and having 0bb rise)

[aki]

What is your bike setup? Stem length/angle, handlebar type, spacer between the stem & headset, BB height etc. Sometimes 5° or 5mm of change can make a big difference in being able to balance on the rear wheel and riding in general.

[mstrials]

put most of your weight at ur ass and sit down but over the wheel so u lift the front tire then just balance and bounce its really easy

[tra la log]

im in the process of teaching myself trials as well. i started with the front wheel on a bench to find the point that i eventually needed to get to. once you get that confidence start flat and do a little endo, then pull back and do a little hop and try to stay up. once youre past that point try starting flat and doing a small pedal kick and pull the front wheel up. im at this point now. my next step is to try and get to the rear by doing a pedal kick hop

[Sparticus]

What is your bike setup? Stem length/angle, handlebar type, spacer between the stem & headset, BB height etc. Sometimes 5° or 5mm of change can make a big difference in being able to balance on the rear wheel and riding in general.
Echo HiFi trails Stem 130x15
Echo Bulge bar 29" wide
+10mm BB
I tried a 115x10 stem to bring me back a little but I felt like it lowered me too much.
I 've used all the spacers that my fork will allow to get me higher. It's still difficult to get the front end up by just leaning back.
For instance; I think my bike being a long makes it difficult to do manuals with out a little assistance from pedal pressure to get started.

[tra la log]

my street rig has a 23" top tube, 15.75" chainstays and a 50mm stem. that thing was so easy to manual. a trials bike is harder cause the long stem makes it hard to get up initially, but then its easier to loop out cause the insanely short rear end. once i got used to the trials bike the streetbike was unridable cause id pull too hard on the bars and id loop out instantly

but now im relearning the manual. i love them :)

[waffelstomper]

For what it's worth, I learned to lace together little pedal kicks before I went to still balance on the rear. I just worked on pausing longer between each kick.

[aki]

Echo HiFi trails Stem 130x15
Echo Bulge bar 29" wide
+10mm BB
I tried a 115x10 stem to bring me back a little but I felt like it lowered me too much.
I 've used all the spacers that my fork will allow to get me higher. It's still difficult to get the front end up by just leaning back.
For instance; I think my bike being a long makes it difficult to do manuals with out a little assistance from pedal pressure to get started.

What gear ratio are you using? As soon as the front wheel comes up you have to exaggerate the move to keep yourself balanced in the beginning, whether it's bending your arms or legs more, even if you go backwards try to hop, in the front wheel starts to drop lean back a bit and pull the handlebar towards you. Lower pressure on the rear could really help in hopping in place as well.

[Sparticus]

[quote=aki;495950]What gear ratio are you using?
I think it is 18 in front and 15 in back .

[nikkocholo]

what is your frame? actually the shorter the chainstay the easier it is to be pulled up infront and easier it is to balance..plus bb height will get you automatically up..hope i help

[Papa]

I did my first few back wheel hops on an XC bike. With my trials bike, getting up on the back wheel and balancing was much easier. Finally, a higher stem made a big difference, too. Of course this is all blah, blah, blah because practicing is the only way and I too have a looooooooong way to go.

[aki]

I think it is 18 in front and 15 in back .

I run 18/16 but because of naturals. It may (or may not) help you to get an easier kick to lift the front wheel.

[TheBOFH]

I'm just learning too & found running very low tyre pressures helped. It also helps to realise that you aren't hopping for the sake of it, if you just bounce a little on the tyre to keep your balance rather than do big hops you don't get tired as quickly.

[caleb1978]

my street rig has a 23" top tube, 15.75" chainstays and a 50mm stem. that thing was so easy to manual. a trials bike is harder cause the long stem makes it hard to get up initially, but then its easier to loop out cause the insanely short rear end. once i got used to the trials bike the streetbike was unridable cause id pull too hard on the bars and id loop out instantly

but now im relearning the manual. i love them :)

Not to be a total tool but-whats looping out?

[tra la log]

Not to be a total tool but-whats looping out?

rotating too far backwards and landing on your ass

[caleb1978]

If there is ever a loopin out comp- I think I would kick some ass!

[nikkocholo]

It always happen to me all the time...naturally :)