[sbstianfreeride]

I've been trying to do manuals for a really long time and I still cant keep one for a long time! The longest time that I can stay on my balance point is for about 7-8 seconds max but always loose it....
I was wondering how long did it take some of you guys to get it dialed?
Any tips?

 

[Bicyclist]

Just keep practicing. Keep your butt low, push out with your feet, and learn to feather your back brake to maintain balance. It takes a while.

 

[Chris1166]

Here-let Ryan Leech teech you:

 

[sbstianfreeride]

o ok i see. So I have been doing it right. Damn... I guess it takes a loooooooooong time.... because ive been trying for about a year!

 

[sbstianfreeride]

around how long did it take you?

 

[Bicyclist]

About a year, but I sucked when I learned them. I practiced all the time though. 5 days a week I rode to work and like the whole time I practiced bunnyhops and manuals.

 

[DHS]

i still can't, nor do i really care to learn. sure is fun to watch though

 

[Jonny5]

Took me about a year mucking around too. Find a nice gentle slope to practice on.

 

[cannondalejunky]

i'm still learning...my problem is i over shoot it almost every time

 

[mattmatt86]

i'm still learning...my problem is i over shoot it almost every time

That's my problem, keep one finger on the rear lever and just tap it if you feel you are goin too far back.

 

[_*sTiTcHeS*_]

i learned in a day. its all about practice. i have a river in my town so i found a big bridge and said: im going to manual across this today.

and then by the end of the day i could manual for ever. if you can manual for more than 5 seconds then youre 75% there. just find some kind of obstacle to manual.

 

[noskcaj]

If you can wheelie pretty well, you can learn to manual in much less time. I found to just feather the rear brake and use your knees/hips to balance side to side. It also helps if you keep the front wheel spinning, you can counter balance and steer with it.

 

[mattmatt86]

i learned in a day. its all about practice. i have a river in my town so i found a big bridge and said: im going to manual across this today.

and then by the end of the day i could manual for ever. if you can manual for more than 5 seconds then youre 75% there. just find some kind of obstacle to manual.

This is what I did, I went to the skate park one day and said I was gonna manual the whole way across one of the platforms(about 40ft) it took about 30 mins but after the first time I did it, it only took two tries after that to get it again.

 

[TomBo]

I am still not super happy with mine, I find the faster Iam going the easier they are. Till you crash of course... My room mate has a brakeless BMX that I mess around on if I want to try to dial in manuals. There so much smoother on my DH bike after trying them on a BMX. Took well over a year to get smooth (no brake/pedal input ) manuals for more then a few seconds.

 

[sbstianfreeride]

wow i dont see how some of you guys can learn in less than a hour... makes me wanna try harder though!

 

[mandown]

i found riding a unicycle helped. i'm still not good at it and i've been trying for years. keep your butt low (as mentioned above) and keep your eyes ahead. don't fall into the bad habit i have of looking at the front wheel to see how high you have it.

 

[Iridemtb]

If your trying to manual with dual suspension... its a lot harder. Hardtails are the best. You barely need to use the brakes (I don't at all) and kicking is definetly almost the most important part.

 

[RaID]

i still can't, nor do i really care to learn. sure is fun to watch though

one of those things that has never clicked for me, not that i really would use it though since i dont ride street. Wouldnt mind to know it.

 

[sbstianfreeride]

I think its pretty important. specially if you do 4x or DJ. Ive seen it being used on DH. Im pretty sure all DH pros know how to hold a manual and probably take advantage of that.

 

[Boxxer]

Manualing is the foundation for a ton of moves, not just riding street either. Take the time to learn them and they will improve many aspects of your riding.

It will take time, maybe years.... HTs are where its at, and the less you rely on rear brakes the better.

Plus hops up ledges to manuals are fun.

 

[bikenweed]

It took me about a year to really figure out how to manual. Wheelies took only a few months, and are really important in learning the balance point.

Having some sort of goal to wheelie to, like the bridge mentioned earlier, was how I figured things out. A parking lot works well. Stay relaxed, and practice EVERY DAY. You'll get it.
p.s. If you need motivation, the last 45 seconds of this movie are a manual. < http://bicycleweed.com/Lost_med.htm >

 

[mace2]

I've been trying them for a year or more now... I guess not seriously enough to get them down, but I'm progressing.

I can't wheelie at ALL, but I can manual for about 5-10 feet on average. If I'm lucky maybe 20.

I suspect if I could wheelie it would've been a lot easier to learn manuals.

 

[- seb]

Hmmm, I'm not bad - I manual a lot of things on DH courses, but never for a huge distance I guess, 10ft maybe. I've never got them down so I can just go and go like you see riders on vids doing. Having watched that vid I'm fired up to give it a go now, would be pretty satisfying I bet.

 

[ridea]

lol the first line of that vid is quality