how to start back wheel hopping

[gobigorgohome]

i have heard a lot of different methods people have used to get up on their back wheel, but i am still having trouble with it...
what it the best method?

[thisthingz]

:hsugh: just try them all...
and keep on trying, until you get the one that works for you.

[justfuzzit]

I jsut started by doing a trackstand, then sticking my butt really far back and pull up.

You could also try rocking. Rollup and grab your front brake. Then hold your rear brake and rock onto your rear wheel. This just gives you a little momentum boost.
Another thing you could try is, roll up to a bench or a ledge and roll your front wheel on top of it. Once up, hop around a bit and try to keep your wheel on the bench and stay up. After that, try rocking back a bit more and you will be on your rear wheel.

Some of those might help :dunno:

[FDS2223]

I recommend skipping all the little tricks to get on your rear, like rocking or putting your front wheel on an object and just start learning to use the drivetrain to raise your front then start hoping. You may find it frustrating at first but I think if you give it a good hour of practice every day for a week or two you'll have it down pretty well.

[jak442]

I jsut started by doing a trackstand, then sticking my butt really far back and pull up.

You could also try rocking. Rollup and grab your front brake. Then hold your rear brake and rock onto your rear wheel. This just gives you a little momentum boost.

I recommend skipping all the little tricks to get on your rear, like rocking or putting your front wheel on an object and just start learning to use the drivetrain to raise your front then start hoping. You may find it frustrating at first but I think if you give it a good hour of practice every day for a week or two you'll have it down pretty well.

Having just gone through this(last week), I have to agree with both. A little endo to rocking back and up is an easy way to get a feel for it. But, learning to get up on the rear properly seems just as important as learning to balance there, so don't spend too much time doing it the easy way. Just knuckle down and learn your pedal kicks, once you get it you'll see that it's really quite easy.

[Muerto]

Learn to rock up. Then pedal kick. Then using your drivetrain to get up on the rear. imho

[Mordax]

Learn to rock up. Then pedal kick. Then using your drivetrain to get up on the rear. imho

+1

[ktdid]

I just figured this out about a week ago... one thing that really worked for me if you're just starting is to find a rock or ledge large enough to get you almost to the balance point. Try to hop in place and pull your front wheel back until you find the sweet spot - this will help you get a feel for where you and your bike need to be to keep your balance on the rear wheel. Once you figure out where the balance point is, don't waste anymore time with the tricks but start using your drive train to get to that point.

[TheBOFH]

I just figured this out about a week ago... one thing that really worked for me if you're just starting is to find a rock or ledge large enough to get you almost to the balance point. Try to hop in place and pull your front wheel back until you find the sweet spot - this will help you get a feel for where you and your bike need to be to keep your balance on the rear wheel. Once you figure out where the balance point is, don't waste anymore time with the tricks but start using your drive train to get to that point.
I'm just starting to progress beyond rocking to get up on the rear. I have found it a good practise to roll to the edge of a kerb & try pedalling off but stopping at the edge.

[stpatr3k]

Use any means to raise your front tire, once there it helps to look at your position relative to the rear hub, you have to be atleast over or a bit further back than the hub.

[gobigorgohome]

ok thanx guys im still working on it but the tips have helped

[ktdid]

I'm just starting to progress beyond rocking to get up on the rear. I have found it a good practise to roll to the edge of a kerb & try pedalling off but stopping at the edge.

This sounds like a great idea - so far I've just been practicing on level ground and I'm still having a little trouble 'rolling' up into a good position sometimes, so my pedals usually aren't level while I'm on the back wheel and I have to waste a couple hops to reposition them. I think having some sort of obstacle would help force you to do it right, rather than having an endless length of pavement in front of you.

[gobigorgohome]

hey ive got another idea for begginners out there its helped me a lot check out the vid (not of me)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV_JWTzcDLA

[tra la log]

i found rocking from the front to the rear the best way to practice. i can now do a pedal kicked most of the time, tho when im getting tired i use the rocking motion instead