Can you do it?

The lowdown

Standing still on the bike without putting a foot down. Turn the front wheel slightly across and balance with tiny pushes on the pedals.

Fun fact

It is the cheapest balance practice there is, and you can do it while you wait your turn on a ramp.

Tips

Find a very slight uphill and rest against it. Look ahead at something still, not down at your front wheel.

Why it isn't working4 common mistakes

Keeping the bars dead straight. Turn the front wheel a little across so the tyre has something to push against.
Locking your arms and shoulders. Relax your grip and keep a bend in your elbows; tension makes the wobble bigger.
Looking down at the front tyre. Fix your eyes on something still a metre or two ahead.
Letting your shoulders drift sideways. Keep your hips over the cranks and your chest centred; your upper body is the heavy part.

What you need

BMX bike, helmet, and pads for ramps and rails

The road to it1 step

The road to it

Track StandYou are here · where every road starts

Where to practise

Flatground tricks want smooth flat ground. find spots with flat near you →

Where it sits

1 of 2

Flatground tricks at Rookie on BMX

In the BMX library

Rookie

Difficulty 1 of 5

Why it's Rookie: Nothing comes before it and nothing is moving, so a fall is a foot down. The whole skill is tiny pedal pressure against the slope, and that takes patience rather than power.