Front Wheel Pivot - HowTo

[Imploder]

Hi y'all

 

Anyone got any tips on how to execute a front wheel pivot?

That's when you lock up your front wheel

Get the back wheel in the air and pivot the bike on the front wheel....

 

Thanks

 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

practice, practice, practice... 

[DR ◣◢]

How comfortable are you in doing stoppies or endos?

[Imploder]

Endo's are just getting the back wheel up right?

I can do them ok, without too much fuss. How long does the back wheel need to be off the ground?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

the longer the wheel is off the ground, the more time you have to rotate, and the easier it will be to get to the position you want to be in. Also - the higher your back wheel goes, the easier it will be to rotate. 

 

Just practice by doing an endo, and twisting in the direction you want to go - use your arms, shoulders and torso to put a twisting force into the bars, and then use your feet to shimmy the pedals and back wheel to the left or right. 

 

It takes time, but you'll get there (I'm not there yet)

[dirtypot]

It takes a LOT of practice to get right. 

Keep trying and post a pic or two of your face in the sessions where it didn't go according to plan 

 

I broke my face getting one of these wrong...

[Imploder]

Do you need to turn the handle bars in any particular direction before you pop the back wheel up? For example if you want the tail to swing left (effectively a right turn), do you need to start turning right before you pop the wheel up?

[Escapee..]

[Imploder]

It takes a LOT of practice to get right. 

Keep trying and post a pic or two of your face in the sessions where it didn't go according to plan 

 

I broke my face getting one of these wrong...

LOL!! Ok so a full face mask is recommended?

[NukeproofPeanut]

I find the easiest way is to drop the bar in the direction you want to rotate. i.e. to turn left you need you right arm to be bent and your left almost straight.

 

So while doing this you basically just swing your arse around in the direction you need it.

 

But yes practice, practice, practice.

 

Once you confident getting onto the front wheel, you'll surely have had times where the back swings around a bit. Just keep that motion going to do a full 180.

[dirtypot]

LOL!! Ok so a full face mask is recommended?

 

You should be fine just putting your hands out.  Normally you have time to react.  Mine happened so fast that my mind hadn't comprehended what was happening - I even had my knuckles taken apart on the top because they were still holding onto the bars.  Eina.

 

I find that getting the wheel up and then initiating the turn is the best way.  But then maybe the next guy does it differently. Play around, see what works.

[DR ◣◢]

To swing the back to the right you need to turn your bars slightly to the left before you lift the back wheel. 

 

As soon as the wheel lifts you need to twist your shoulders and torso to the left. This will cause your hips to move out to the right helping the back swing out. 

 

Start with very small motions at first. Super easy to turn the front wheel too much causing you to eat **** hard!

 

Where are you based? Would help to do it with somebody.

[dirtypot]

Instead of "turning the bars to the left" I prefer to think of it the same as counter steering on a motorbike.  Apply pressure the the bar in the direction that you want to go.  So if you want to go to the right, you push slightly on the right hand side of the bar.  This will initiate a right hand turn, which is all that you're needing - the rest will follow with more time and practice.

 

You can try what I'm saying just by riding down the road with both wheels on the ground.  Push forwards on the bar (just slightly) and the bike will drop down on that side.  This is how you have always turned a bike anyway, but it may have been happening subconsciously.  Taking control of it makes you a better rider.

It's a great technique for sharpening up your line mid corner too.

[Imploder]

Schweet! Guys, thanks for the tips. Youtube vid is awesome. Tips are awesome. Learning a new skill is awesome! You guys are all awesome!!!

[SwissVan]

Do you need to turn the handle bars in any particular direction before you pop the back wheel up? For example if you want the tail to swing left (effectively a right turn), do you need to start turning right before you pop the wheel up?

 

When in doubt keep the front wheel pointing in the direction you want to go....works most times