Unable to pull up straight/falling to the side while manual

[dahouse]

Hey guys

I've been trying to figure out the manual for about a year now and I really haven't improved. I think I narrowed the problem down to one thing.

Basically, when I pull up to a manual, I always seem to fall the side once I'm balancing. I don't know if it's cause I'm pulling up on an angle or whatnot, but I always seem just to fall to the side. I try to make up for it by leaning the other way but this is to no avail.

Once I do get it up, straight and balanced though, I can go on for a good 15 feet, but that happens once a session.

Has anybody had any problems with this? I've never had trouble pulling up into a bunnyhop or anything, it's just manuals.

[halfbreed]

Damn a year 8O

Well I can't think of any advice but, keep your body centered, look forward focus on something and strive to get there. Maybe because you have pegs on a certain side? Take them off and practice.

[mantra51]

get loose, let the bike do its thing but keep it in line. Its your little bitch, and that how youll treat it. if it starts to sway, loosen up and concentrate on youre body being in the right place, Make that bike ride you.

Thats probably terrible advice

[Trimix]

Not if it works for you!

I have been riding and practicing manuals for almost TWO years....there was a point I felt like dahouse, but I forged ahead....it's all in hips and weight distribution...pulling harder with one arm than the other, OR, leaning to one side as you pull back...can make the bike lean.

I have not figured out how to steer well yet, but you CAN compensate for the bike wanting to move right and left by shifting your weight to the opposite side...it doesn't take much.... trust me...and sometimes you end up in the bushes. :wink:

KEEP practicing. Pretend your butt is a counterweight for the front end.

[mantra51]

it does work for me, i juts dont think i described the concept very well

[Eggit]

I hate the same problem. I ahve not found any solution to it yet.

Example: I am turning to the left.
I move my weight ot the right liek trimix said, but instead of me moving the bike moves and it just tilts more to the left causing me to carve even harder.

I move my weight to the left, well this time it unluckily actualy goes left, making me carve harder.

I try to turn the bike to the right, I suceed, however I also make it lean farther to the left. I now end up manualing straight, but with my bike leaned waayyyy out to the left and the problem slowly getting worse.

For me it just seems liek no matter what I do to try and correct it i just make it worse.

[SiNEjde]

problem most likely is one of your arms is stronger than the other, so pull harder with the opposite arm

[Eggit]

I just remembered that the last time I went riding, when I reinjured my knee that I ahd come up with a solution to my problem, unfortunately I forgot what it was...

[a1a10]

I had the same problem. My left arm wasnt as strong as my right so i was pulling harder with my right hand then i was with my left causing the bike to come up at an angle.

[Eggit]

Me it is not an arm strength issue for sure, mainly because it is never the same way that I start to turn. For me it is juts that once I turn or lean the slightest every single thing I do makes it worse and nothing helps, so in a matter of seconds a slight lean to the left turns into me making super sharp carve and getting thrown off the bike.

[oldstreetthrasher]

I suck at manuals too, but I have been getting better lately... it's all in the legs and hips. Keeping your legs straighter helps I have found, you just pump your hips back and forth (heh heh). I too used to fall to one side all the time, it's really in how you pull back and where your weight is centered. Keep your ass low and that helps. The lower your center of gravity is, the easier it will be to correct your bike turning on you.

[Justin M.]

just get your ass behind the seat and start pumping really hard, with your legs straight. it will straighten you out if you sway to one side.

good luck

[oldstreetthrasher]

Good tip, Justin - I just found that if you throw your ass downward as you pull into the manual, it steadies you so you don't tilt side to side as much.

problem most likely is one of your arms is stronger than the other, so pull harder with the opposite arm

that is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. If that was the problem, he would tilt ALL the time, even when he bunnyhops. the problem is your weight isnt centered when you start to pull up for a manual, most likely because you are already anticipating the lean. relax. keep your head and hips directly behind the bars, and if you start to tilt, twist your bike, like a tabletop with NO BAR TURN. this causes the wheel to tilt, just like tilting when you have both wheels on the ground. this is also how you turn when manualling, like areound a curved ledge.