How To Manual A Mountain Bike

Performing a manual on a mountain bike is a key skill to have. In this post, we look at how to manual a mountain bike and some of the reasons you should be able to perform a manual. A manual is very much like a wheelie, it involves keeping the front wheel off the ground as your rear wheel remains on the ground. The key difference between a wheelie and a manual, is that the front wheel is kept up by pedalling, whereas with a manual - it’s kept elevated and maintained by moving bodyweight around the bike.

When To Manual A MTB

There are several different circumstances when you should manual a mountain bike. Manualling an MTB should be used to retain pace when pumping along a trail, or to help keep the front wheel from tracking in deep ruts. Manuals are also great for controlling grip levels during a turn, or preventing your front wheel from simply dropping off an obstacle.

Manual A MTB Tips

When practising and learning to manual, most riders struggle to find the balance point. This results in a wheel getting lifted off the ground but struggling to stay up. This can be corrected by using your hips and bum to nail a manual Vs relying on your arms. Instead of pulling up the front wheel with your arms, think more about taking your bum over the back of the saddle, lining your hips up with the rear hub. This shift in weight will remove the weight off the front wheel, allowing you to manual.

Once you have found the balance point on the bike, with the weight shifted over the rear of the bike - it’s time to work on the technique to keep the front wheel off the ground. Try and keep your arms straight and bend your legs. If the front wheel begins to drop (which it will!) extend your legs and drop your hips further back, if the front wheel rises too much - shift your hips forward. These changes in balance are pretty small, but are key.

As you are learning, keeping the rear brake covered is handy - a quick touch on the rear brake will bring the front wheel back down, avoiding a crash! Lowering the seat is also a really handy thing to do when learning how to manual. Flat pedals are also handy, allowing you quick exit from the pedals, if you feel unstable.