Getting On The Rear Wheel And Endo Drops

[Sabiot]

Hey guys. The last couple of days I've been riding I've been trying a few new things. First on the list is getting on the rear wheel. I'm having some trouble with this. The two times I actually got on the back wheel I threw myself off and nearly landed on my butt. I guess my question is, when exactly am I supposed to lock up the brake? Is it more trial and error? I suppose if my weight is distributed correctly I should be able to brake at any time right? Aside from practice practice practice, can anyone offer any tips? If it helps I roll my bike to a stop, lean forward and then shoot my weight back, lean back and pull on the handle bars. If I'm doing it wrong, please help!

Now for endo drops. I did a couple from a curb the other day, pretty fun actually. My only question is this. When I go to do the endo I slow down, come to a full stop, lock the front brake, move the rear wheel off the curb and then release the front break while trying to pull up on the handlebars. I guess my question is, will I be able to tell if I am doing this correctly from something as small as a curb? I did notice that if I didnt release the brake fast enough that my rear wheel would actually hit the ground before I was trying to get the front wheel down, this really threw off my balance. Would I be correct in assuming (on something as small as a curb) that I do not want the back wheel to hit the ground before I start lifting the front?

Thanks in advance guys. You've helped me a lot in the past week or so.

[Simpson]

Pedal hopping- search the wiki there should be plently on there, 1stly can you back hop? eg, hold the back brake while trying to control your rear wheel and staying up? Basically its just that just you release the brake just enough so you can kick your front end higher up then lock the back brake again.

As for endo hops doing anything on a curb gives you a good basis to practice (i ride curbs every day for convenience) so then when you feel confident do it a pallet high, then 2 pallets... then 3 pallets etc. and just build your confidence / techniquie up until you can drop as high as you need to, although realistically "endo hops" as you call them are usually only used for getting your way out a sidehop quickly if your off ballence. hope ive helped

[16 years later]

Hi you sort of have to not think to much. It sort of just comes from the back of you mind. You should try and get the art of trials DVD by Ryan leech it really helped me.

Bruce. Take time and breath

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=9877

[psycholist]

Trying endo drops on a kerb unless it's a decent enough height is very difficult to get a feel for. Once you get used to endos though just try throwing your weight onto the front wheel while the back is in the air and throw your weight backwards, aiming to have the front wheel off the ground before the back wheel lands.

The easiest way to get onto the back wheel isn't far off the technique for the endo drops. Roll forward slowly, lock the front wheel and endo, then move your weight backwards as the back wheel drops and hold onto the back break hard, pulling back on the handlebars as the back wheel hits the ground. This will lift the front wheel up and get you to the backhop position. You'll find you can only hop backwards first, but with a bit of practice you can move your weight and the bike forwards or backwards in the air to allow you to hop in any direction you like. Adding pedal kicks is the next step ...

[Concussion]

Kinda hard to explain it all just using words... how about these? Plenty more where those came from!

Straight endo

Pedal Kicks... couldn't find Back hops!

[Sabiot]

Okay now that totally makes sense. I'm going to try that right now actually. Throwing your weight back on a regular endo to land on the back wheel only sounds totally like the sort of thing I need to practice. Thanks for that man.

And to whomever asked, I cant do back hops yet, no. I am still trying to get on the backwheel and balance there. I just ripped up on the handlebars a few times and eventually got the bike up there but I fell right off since I had no brakes on. I was reading on Trashzen that you should lock your brakes, lean back and slowly apply pressure to the pedal while releasing your brake slightly. I've tried this and I cant seem to get the tire to stay up there. I guess its just more practice.

Thanks for the advice and the votes of confidence guys. Ride on bros

EDIT: I thought I'd edit instead of adding another post. I went out a little ago and tried a few things. I was able to do a somewhat controlled endo and then rock back and get the front wheel up a little. I think I need to practice this for more than one reason. But one last quick question... to help get the front wheel up I know I have to shift weight backwards... is this all in leaning backwards and maybe even pushing the pelvis forward? or do I stick my butt out over top the rear wheel instead? Which way is more correct?

Edited May 8, 2008 by Sabiot

[Alex Dark]

EDIT: I thought I'd edit instead of adding another post. I went out a little ago and tried a few things. I was able to do a somewhat controlled endo and then rock back and get the front wheel up a little. I think I need to practice this for more than one reason. But one last quick question... to help get the front wheel up I know I have to shift weight backwards... is this all in leaning backwards and maybe even pushing the pelvis forward? or do I stick my butt out over top the rear wheel instead? Which way is more correct?

i stick my ass over the rear wheel, then lean forwards as the bike gets higher to stop yourself "looping out"

[psycholist]

Great to hear you're progressing. Getting to the back wheel is a headwrecker at first - I spent a lot of time getting used to it (But I took probably 2 years to learn to wheelie and still can't manual or stoppie for any length of time after over a decade trying). Unless your bike is really short you won't be able to lift to the back wheel by just moving your weight back, you'll need to carry some momentum from loading the front wheel back. I reckon it's definitely easier at first to get to the back wheel from an endo without trying to use a pedal stroke (Once you get good you'll probably never go to back wheel from an endo again though - for the pedal push to work you need to already know where the balance point is).

Mess with your weight position on the bike while on the back wheel too - you can be all the way from having the bars against your legs with the bike nearly vertical (With practice you can kiss the front wheel on most bikes from this position) or by hanging right back with the front wheel barely a foot off the ground. Those positions and everywhere between them are viable balance points, so get used to that range of movement.

[Simpson]

I reckon it's definitely easier at first to get to the back wheel from an endo without trying to use a pedal stroke

Tip: Do the tinyest endo you can just enough to get momentum, but keep in control