Manuals

[manual63]

A manual is a wheelie without pedaling. It is a good skill to have. Some riders can manual for blocks, but that is not necessary. All you really need to be able to do for mountain biking is manual about 3 sideways parking spaces.

To manual, lean your weight back over the rear wheel. The closer you get your butt to the tire, the better. Don’t get too close to the tire or ouch……you know. As you lean your weight back, pull up on the bars so your front wheel comes off the ground. Make sure you bend your elbows and pull back towards your chest. It’s easier to do on a BMX bike than a mountain bike because of the shorter rear end and smaller wheel, so you have to pull pretty hard with your arms and almost thrust your weight back on a Mountain Bike to get the front wheel high enough to maintain the balance. Now once your wheel is high enough, it should start to feel lighter and you should start to feel like you will fall backwards off the bike. As you get to this point, you move your hips forward to keep the front end from going up any further. By using your hips and slight adjustments in your arms, you can manipulate the front end so it stays up in the air for a long time allowing you to just roll on your back wheel. A good tip is to have one or two fingers on your rear brake lever in case you start to go back too far. Just tap the brake, hopefully good working ones, and the front end will come crashing down and save your hide. Also, if you feather the brake well enough, you can just use it to keep from falling back, but not so strong as to bring the front end down. Also, the faster you go, the easier it is to balance from the left to right. Just don’t go too fast and smear yourself all over the ground if you crash. I’d say do about 5-8 MPH.

So why learn this? It’s all about bike control. It will help you speed roll and gives you a good idea of the balance of the bike in all conditions. I have a tough time doing manuals on mountain bikes because of the larger size, but practice helps. One thing that happens to me is that I tend to fall to the left or right and any crosswind makes doing manuals almost impossible. Practice in a parking lot and like I said earlier, use parking spaces to gauge your progress. If you can do 3, that’s pretty good. If you want to go longer, enjoy it because people will think you are “dope ammo” if you can ride a long manual.

Are you starting to wonder why I use "manual63" for a screen name? Now all you need to do is figure our the 63 part. No, I was born in 67.

[grizzly adam]

It took you 63 tries until you got it right!
:laugh: :D

[viv]

This manual deal is also fun off the back of large log piles. If you dont have the oomph for full air, lofting the front can give us the floating sensation we love.... one finger on the rear brake is your friend.

[Trevize1138]

More digging. I got the manual religion last year. I bent a crank this spring as I was perfecting that "floating" of the front end off a small log drop at Leb. Oops. :)

My favorite place to practice manuals and "proper" bunny hops is the blacktop on the West side of Cedar Lake between the Midtown Greenway and the Cedar Lake Commuter Trail. There's a parking lot there with an entrance and exit and island of trees in the middle: manual off the first curb, bunny-hop up to the island, manual off the islan, bunny-hop back up to the level of the black top.

[stefan]

That spot is fun. I hit it every time I head to and from Theo. ;)

[drmrboyalex]

Shad- i had read one of your other posts about manualing last night(or maybe it was this one) but i tried some of the pointers and altho i still suck....it did help. Im a little to freaked out yet to try manuals but wheelies are even easier. I never could do them on a mtn bike before and now i can pedal about one and a half times(really sucky but for first day tryin and first time tryin on any bike in quite some time not too bad). As far bunnyhoppin into them....i cant do that but i air out on my culvert in my yard and i can almost manual across my driveway(and its still small but fun)

[manual63]

Alex, as long as your having fun.....keep it up....:)

Manuals take a very long time to master and I think they are tougher on a mountain bike. I still don't have them perfectly dialed on my mountain bike. I can manual forever on my BMX bike, but the larger wheels and higher CG make it much tougher on a mountain bike. Keep working at it, you will get it eventually and it will be worth it.

[Trevize1138]

That time of year again to brush up on them skillz! And, with all the trails closed, don't forget some basic urban riding skillz that can transfer to the trails (in just a few more weeks! Woot!)

I was reminded, yet again, of this topic (manualing) this weekend riding with a friend who just bought his first ever MTB: an '06 Rockhopper. He lives in Burnsville so I took him for a road ride to the Terrace and Leb trailheads. On the way I was talking about curb drops and the importance of practicing them because it's a great, fundamental skill for when you get to the trail.

One more thing I noticed between his riding style and mine: I have a lot more "body english." Of course, my friend hasn't ridden a bike for years and even then it was only on roads. He only had two body positions over the bike: seated and standing. I realized that he probably only knew of these two positions on a bike and never had a need for anything more: seated for easy pedaling, standing for hard hill climbing.

The really interesting question, then, is how many of you out there with years of trail riding experience think of yourselves as having more than just those two body positions? I would guess most of us shift our bodies all over the place over our bikes: up and down, forward and back, right and left, twisted ... But, how much have you thought of it?

Being conscious of how much your body shifts over your bike will certainly help bike handling. And, as a side-benefit, you'll be better able to explain to n00b friends how to handle their bike off-road. If you do have one of these friends, emphasize the curb drop to them this time of year. Get them to feel comfortable putting their butts behind their seats and feel that front wheel become unweighted.

Last, here's a good way to think about why body position is important on a mountain bike. Unlike a car, your body makes up a huge majority of the weight when you're "driving" your bike. Most modern cars are just over 2,000lbs at the lightest. Most modern mountain bikes are about 30lbs at the heaviest. If you're around 200 lbs then you're almost 7X heavier than your bike. Because of this, it only makes sense that you should be able to throw the bike around under you. You're taking it for a ride, not the other way around.

Riders who only have the two positions of sitting and standing are treating their bike like a car: a big, heavy object that only accepts your input by pushing on the pedals, turning the handle bars or pulling on the brake levers. Next time, think about how much heavier you are than your bike. Once you know that then you'll have better bike control.

More digging. I got the manual religion last year. I bent a crank this spring as I was perfecting that "floating" of the front end off a small log drop at Leb. Oops. :)

My favorite place to practice manuals and "proper" bunny hops is the blacktop on the West side of Cedar Lake between the Midtown Greenway and the Cedar Lake Commuter Trail. There's a parking lot there with an entrance and exit and island of trees in the middle: manual off the first curb, bunny-hop up to the island, manual off the islan, bunny-hop back up to the level of the black top.

[col200]

Good post! That's probably one of the most important parts of becoming a better mtn biker. Knowing that it's YOU controlling the bike and not the other way around. Alot of new bikers (or even some longtime bikers) believe they should just hang on and let the bike pull them along the trail. Like you said, grab hold and put the bike where you want it!

[bigwheel]

Chris uses the Kamasutra for mountain biking.

[stoneage]

The best advice I can give is 'relax'. Everything comes easier when you aren't tied in a knot. Handling becomes more intuitive and you just ride 'softer'.

[Trevize1138]

Chris uses the Kamasutra for mountain biking.

*sigh*

A guy gets caught in one embarrasing incident and has to endure a lifetime of bike-Kamasutra jokes ... :eyeroll:

[Danimal]

I feel naked!

Since purchasing my new Prophet I noticed that I have a hell of a time manualing and even pulling the nose up over things. I found out it is due to the distance of the crankset and rear axle. I also have a longer wheelbase. So basically I am positioned directly in the middle of the bike, verses over the back end on my Specialized. I have to re-learn all over again the "magic spot" on my Prophet.

Part of me is disappointed, the other part is happy cause I get to re-enact the learning process of the manual.

[Beau]

I have been working on the no footed manuals :banana:

[SpecHR55]

I feel naked!

Since purchasing my new Prophet I noticed that I have a hell of a time manualing and even pulling the nose up over things. I found out it is due to the distance of the crankset and rear axle. I also have a longer wheelbase. So basically I am positioned directly in the middle of the bike, verses over the back end on my Specialized. I have to re-learn all over again the "magic spot" on my Prophet.

Part of me is disappointed, the other part is happy cause I get to re-enact the learning process of the manual.

Does your Prophet have a Lefty? That would probs have a effect on it. I can only manual like 2-3 parking spaces but i can wheelie across parking lots pretty easily. I find sitting down is a little harder but conserves alot more energy.

[manual63]

Good post Chris. I talk about body position a lot. It is the most important thing when doing technical riding. You can have the strength to pull up and push here and there, but if you body isn't in the right place, it's going to be tougher to do things. A manual is a very good example of how you can use your whole body to do a technical move. In a manual, you must have your weight way back over the rear wheel. You do use your arms, but not as much as you use your body weight over the rear wheel. Every wheelie type meneuver should include the weight being put back over the rear wheel. Sometimes, you almost want to thrust your weight back, but not too much or you end up on your @ss. Body movement and weight shifts are important in all moves such as cornering, steep decents, climbs, jumping, and so on.... Like Bill say's...stay loose, but don't ride the bike, give the bike a ride...:)

[soupboy]

And I've been j-hopping my 'bent...

I have been working on the no footed manuals :banana:

[Beau]

And I've been j-hopping my 'bent...

Seriously. Sit down manuals no footed. I wasn't kidding. Go watch the video I posted in the freeriding forum.

If you j-hopped a 'bent I'd poop my draws right in front of you.

What kind of bent?

[Trevize1138]

The best advice I can give is 'relax'. Everything comes easier when you aren't tied in a knot. Handling becomes more intuitive and you just ride 'softer'.

I know that's a common tip given. It's a good way to look at it but I was trying to think of another way to put it to n00bs who might not quite know what it feels like to "relax" on the bike. That's why I was pushing the whole idea of you being 7X heavier than the bike. For those more analytical thinkers out there it might resonate more with them. :)

[Tetreves]

The really interesting question, then, is how many of you out there with years of trail riding experience think of yourselves as having more than just those two body positions? I would guess most of us shift our bodies all over the place over our bikes: up and down, forward and back, right and left, twisted ... But, how much have you thought of it?


This doesn't really belong in a thread about manuals, but I'll post it anyways.

Along with this, I find on some corners, it helps to put my body on a different line than my bike. An "S curve" is a good example. You can aim your body weight through the center of the "S curve", but let your bike turn back and forth underneath you. Try it in a parking lot, try to keep your body heading in a straight line, but make the bike turn back and forth under you. When you get the bike out far enough, to the point that it feels like you're about to fall down, it feels like floating over the bike, instead of riding it.

I do find myself twisting my body in tight spaces between trees (one spot at Theo comes to mind, and another in the RB).

But often I don't realize my body english, and I know when I get tired, I don't have as much of it...:zzz:

[soupboy]

If you j-hopped a 'bent I'd poop my draws right in front of you.

Can't open the vid at work but I believe you. Sounds awfully harsh on the twig and berries though.

I think it is physically impossible to hop a bent unless you were a mammal that propelled itself akin to seal or walrus.

[halls]

We use to have a contest at a certain Stillwater bike store to see who could do the longest manual , in store and out in the parking lot.
All around biker Tim holds the in -store record. (I think the cash register stopped him) and outside went to a young bmx'er Tyler, I believe he did the length of the building and then some. I'am still in awe and haven't done one yet!:cryin:

[berrywise]

I have yet to figure a way to use it to my advantage on the trail but I'm a fan of doing the superman on my bike. Lay on your stomache on your seat and kick your legs out the back.


whistle tips go Woo Wooooooooooooooooooooo

[fisherbikefreak]

Manuals frustrate me. I can ride a wheelie in a seated position quite well. I can probably can keep the nose up for a couple city blocks. When it comes to keeping the front wheel in the air without pedaling, that's another issue.

My helmet is off to those of you skilled enough to hold a manual.

[Beau]

I have yet to figure a way to use it to my advantage on the trail but I'm a fan of doing the superman on my bike. Lay on your stomache on your seat and kick your legs out the back.


whistle tips go Woo Wooooooooooooooooooooo

I use manuals all the time!

http://www.gtmills.com/Blog/bubb.jpg

[®y$GåÅ®D]

Manuals frustrate me. I can ride a wheelie in a seated position quite well. I can probably can keep the nose up for a couple city blocks. When it comes to keeping the front wheel in the air without pedaling, that's another issue.

My helmet is off to those of you skilled enough to hold a manual.

Once you've balanced out your wheelie good, just stand up. One of the trickier aspects of the manual (imo) is getting the bike up to the right angle or balance point. After yer there, brake as needed to keep from flipping, and dangle that butt to stop from dropping down.