Lifting Front wheel

[Benjy15]

Hi All, I went to Majik Forest yesterday and left feeling very annoyed. While climbing my front wheel kept lifting and I kept on losing my balance. I didn't fall and I didn't have any 'pain' in the legs while climbing. How do I overcome the front wheel lifting? I have a Giant XTC hardtail, I was in my smallest front ring and changing between 2 and 4 off granny gear in the rear. Please help, any suggestions would be great.

[Danger Dassie]

Ride a slighter harder gear and shift your body position more forward. Also have your body positioning checked out at one of your bike shops.

[andretraut]

Fill the front wheel with sealant, lots of sealant! On a more serious note, move your upperbody forward, without taking traction-weight off the rear wheel. Stay seated, while climbing, but add pressure to your front-end. You might even be using a too light gear, which will result in a wheelie. Practise will make perfect.

[IdeJongh]

1. Bend your arms lowering your upper body and sit on the tip of your saddle. This shifts your center of mass forward.

2. Practice pedaling a fluid circular strokes. By 'pumping' your legs up and down you apply too much uneven force. By applying constant force your front is less likely to lift AND added bonus, your back wheel is less likely to slip.

 

Enjoy!

[Skott5]

Are you using a Riser bar / flatbar. What is the length of your stem. There are many factors that will make your front wheel lift, mostly to do with the incorrect balance of weight.

[DJR]

If that XTC is a Small and you want so sell it for a very very good price, I'll solve your problem.

 

Otherwise, it sounds like (providing it's the right size for you) your bike set-up is wrong. Get someone who knows his stuff to check it out.

 

Get your saddle hight and fore-aft position right first. Next is to get the stem length/angle right for you. Then move the handlebar up or down by removing or adding spacers and if that does not work, change between flat/riser bar.

 

Also keep in mind that even if all is spot on, that for some very steep climbs, you'll still have to move forward on your saddle, thats normal.

[Belhammel]

Sounds like a set-up issue.

[EtienneB]

I agree with the above, especially abou moving yourself as forward as possible, keeping low down over the bars and using a slightly higher gear. It will be tough and uncomfortable at first, but once you are used to it you'll climb like a mountain goat on spanish meat!

[reteid]

weight shifting worked for me.try and find the happy medium between losing traction on the rear and keeping the front wheel on the track.a bigger gear also did the trick for me as granny did not give me enough momentum.pedal style is also NB.I think it is a combination of the above together with set up and practice that makes you more proficient.

[Top Fuel]

Longer stem?!

[Vetseun]

Longer stem

[Gravity Sux]

Also, drop your wrists. This prevents you from pulling on your bars which helps keep the wheel down.

[YUMEYA]

Like Dis

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x309/AhRO_bucket/Ned4.jpg

Or Like Dis

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x309/AhRO_bucket/1.jpg

 

Both techniques will prevent your front wheel from lifting.

[crankbrother]

If your handle bar isn't right under your chin on a climb...then it isn't really a hill.

[EtienneB]

Also, drop your wrists. This prevents you from pulling on your bars which helps keep the wheel down.

 

Shouldnt you still be able to pull on the bars though you should be pulling in the right direction? I am not saying, I am asking, because I feel pulling helps with the pedalling and with staying forward. I usually concentrate on keeping my elbows down.

[Benjy15]

Cheers guys, thanks for the tips / comments. I'll definitely try all the options and report back next Monday.