………at 43, I was mid-pack age of the group. Yes, there were three young guys, but two older blokes as well, and everyone was there for the same reason.
“I have always wanted to wheelie,” says one. “I have mates who can, and it was frustrating watching them do it and me not being able to. I didn’t want to crash my bike learning though, so when I saw this school, I jumped at it.”
There was even a young bloke who had no idea what knee sliders were – pointing to mine and saying, “you crash a lot do you?” He was the kind of rider who the Bike Bullies I have mentioned in a previous AMCN column would have jumped upon for his lack of ‘cool’ bike knowledge. Well, fellas, by the end of the day, he was bringing that bike up to balance point consistently, smoothly and I’m pretty confident he can now out-wheelie you.
“If it feels good, just keep bringing the wheel higher until the skid plate is on the ground,” said John. “If it comes up wobbly, put it down again and try again. Remember, get that rear brake on hard and it will keep the bike straight, stable and not flipping!”
