Useful over impressive
Experienced road and gravel riders rarely need flips or spins. The tricks that earn their place are practical: ones that help you keep control, deal with an obstacle or wait calmly at a junction. This article covers a handful. All involve some risk, so practise in a flat, traffic-free place such as an empty car park, wear a helmet, and build up in small steps. This is general information, not coaching, and nothing guarantees success.
The track stand at lights
A track stand means staying upright and almost motionless without putting a foot down. Riders use it while waiting at traffic lights or in a queue so they can set off smoothly.
The idea is to hold the bike nearly still using tiny movements of the pedals, bars and body. Many riders:
- Stop with the pedals level or the front foot slightly forward.
- Turn the front wheel a little to one side.
- Apply light pressure on the front pedal and hold back with the brake to keep the bike from rolling.
- Look ahead rather than down at the wheel.
It takes patience, and plenty of sessions with a foot ready to drop are normal. Practise next to a wall or soft grass, well away from traffic.
Be realistic about using it on real roads. If you wobble at a junction, you can end up in front of vehicles. If the stand is not reliable, put a foot down. Predictable riding around traffic matters more than looking neat, and a rider who stops properly at a red light is better than one who half-balances.
Bunny-hopping small obstacles
A bunny hop lifts both wheels off the ground. On the road or on gravel, it is occasionally useful for clearing a small obstacle such as a stick or a shallow crack, rather than swerving into a lane.
Think of it as a small, controlled movement rather than a jump. Bunny hop technique starts with learning to lift the front wheel a little and then bring the rear up. The common learning approach:
- Practise lifting the front wheel with a smooth pull and a weight shift back.
- Practise unweighting the rear by pushing the feet down and forward.
- Combine both over a flat line painted or chalked on the ground.
- Only after many clean repetitions, try a very low, soft marker.
Be careful about bikes and tyres. Road bikes with narrow tyres and thin rims are easily damaged by landings, so hopping anything bigger than a small obstacle is a poor idea on a light road bike. Gravel bikes tolerate more, but still not unlimited amounts. Also remember that swerving, slowing or riding through are usually safer choices than hopping on a public road, especially with traffic behind you. Use the hop mostly as a reflex for small things you have already practised.
Looking over your shoulder without drifting
A shoulder check on a road bike is a skill that deserves practice, particularly at higher speed or in a group. Practise looking back while keeping a steady line, ideally with a gentle hold on the bars, in an empty car park first. Shoulder check without wobbling is one of the most valuable quiet skills, because it lets you see traffic and signal safely.
Controlled stops and quick stops
An emergency stop on a bike is a practised skill, not an instinct. In a quiet space, build up gradually: brake firmly and progressively with both levers, shift your weight back slightly as you slow, and keep your eyes up. Wet and loose surfaces lengthen the distance, so practise on the surfaces you actually ride. The aim is control, not locking the wheels.
Handling rough ground
Gravel riding and rough lanes reward a different set of small skills:
- Keep your grip loose and elbows soft so that bumps do not steer the bike.
- Let the bike move under you, and look well ahead for the smoothest path.
- Brake before rough or loose sections, not in the middle of them.
- On cobbled streets and bumpy surfaces, a relaxed upper body and a slightly firmer pedal stroke can help many riders, although the best technique depends on tyres and bike.
Wide tyres at a suitable pressure can help comfort and grip on rough surfaces. Follow the manufacturer’s guidance on pressures rather than guessing.
Passing door zones and parked cars
Not exactly a trick, but a skill many experienced riders still get wrong. Giving parked vehicles room, and watching for doors opening, is more valuable than most stunts. Riding past the door zone with enough clearance and good visibility reduces the chance of a nasty surprise. Laws and road layouts differ by country, so apply principles rather than rules.
What to skip
A few things to avoid, whatever your experience:
- Wheelies, manuals and jumps on public roads.
- Riding no-handed or one-handed in traffic or on rough ground.
- Trying new skills when tired or in a hurry.
- Copying stunts you have seen online without instruction.
If you want to learn something bigger, a skills lesson at a park is a far safer route. For everyday road and gravel riding, a calm track stand, a smooth stop and a steady shoulder check will probably help you more than any flashy move.