"GspotRider" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:I'm working on increasing my technical skills. I'm getting ride-ups to 1
1/2' and can drop loading docks to flats comfortably on my tank (still new to drops, fear of
falling is much greater than it was when i was 15) but can't seem to get a wheelie drop to feel
natural at all.
For those of you who do wheeldrops, do you start with your chocolate foot? The off foot? How many
pedal revolutions do you prefer? Gearing? Any hints will be appreciated. I've been practicing on
ledges similar to what I do my rideups on, basicially 1' to 1 1/2'.
-GspotRider
Sounds like I'm not much better skill level than you with the wheelie drops. I'm sitting here today
with a sore butt cheek from having completely cocked a wheelie up this morning! LOL! I wish I'd seen
myself. It was interesting feeling as all the vertebrae along my spine clicked as my butt hit the
deck. I think that I'm about an inch shorter this afternoon.
I try to lead with either foot depending on how I'm set up. However, being right handed I seem to
like my right foot leading most of the time. I keep on the lower side of my gearing so that I can
use less effort and a short, firm push to lift the front. Try dropping the seat a little lower too -
that can help you get your centre of gravity back more too. I try to manual it more than force a
wheelie. Keep forward before you take off and smoothly transfer weight backwards as you pull back
evenly on the bars and push that pedal to bring the front wheel up a little. You don't really want
the front wheel too high though or you'll land awkwardly on the back wheel. Provided that you don't
let the front wheel _drop_ as you take off you'll be fine. You don't have to get it that high to
successfully clean the drop.
Speed is THE most important thing, like bomba said, if you don't have reasonable speed you'll just
drop like a sack of potatoes, drop the front wheel and faceplant. Which is what you were trying to
avoid by doing a wheelie drop in the first place. Getting that speed up is/was the trickiest thing
for me. I find that a slow running speed usually seems to work best for me. Most of the time,
anyway. I'm still getting used to it all myself.
--
Westie - anyone got a spare cushion?
