The short answer: most bikes cannot
On an ordinary bike, pedalling backwards does not make the bike go backwards. Most bikes have a freewheel, a mechanism that lets the rear wheel turn forward without moving the pedals. In the other direction it slips, so backpedalling usually does nothing to the bike’s motion, and on bikes with a coaster brake it applies the brake instead. The bike can roll backwards if you push it or if it is on a slope, but you are not driving it.
So “riding in reverse” does not mean what it sounds like for most riders. The honest answer to “how do I pedal my bike backwards?” is that you generally cannot, and trying to ride it that way is not a useful trick.
What reverse riding can mean
There are a few cases where backwards movement is part of riding.
Fixed-gear bikes
A fixed-gear bike has no freewheel. The pedals always turn with the rear wheel, so if the wheel rolls backwards, the cranks turn backwards too, and a rider can in principle control the bike going backwards. This is a specialist skill with real risks, such as being thrown if the pedals turn unexpectedly. It is not for someone new to fixed-gear bikes.
Fakie in BMX
In BMX, “fakie” generally means rolling backwards, often after riding up a ramp or bank, stalling briefly at the top and rolling back down in the direction you came from. The rider is facing forward while the bike travels backwards, with the pedals typically level and weight balanced. Nobody pedals; it is gravity doing the work.
Fakie riding appears in parks, on ramps and on flat ground, and it is the doorway to further tricks that start or end going backwards. It requires comfort with ramps, balance at very low speed and a clear sense of what to do if the bike stops or tips.
Freecoaster hubs
Some BMX bikes use a special rear hub, often called a freecoaster, that lets the wheel roll backwards while the cranks stay still. This makes backward rolling more controllable on the bike’s own terms, and flatland riders sometimes use such hubs for that reason. The details differ between products, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions and ask a bike shop if you are unsure what your hub does.
Why this is a trained-rider skill
Going backwards on a bike is unfamiliar in several ways. You cannot see where you are heading without turning your head, steering feels different, and braking may not work the way you expect: on a bike with a rear freewheel, the rear brake will still slow the wheel, but the front brake and your body position behave differently when moving in reverse. If the bike rolls back down a slope, it can accelerate more than you expect.
For these reasons, reverse riding on ramps belongs with trained riders, ideally in a skills park with someone qualified to watch and a surface designed for it. It is not a trick to try on a public road, near traffic, down a hill, or without a helmet and protection. Nobody should ever ride backwards where cars, pedestrians or other riders could be in the way.
Safer ways to practise related skills
If you are curious about the underlying abilities, there are low-risk drills that cover similar ground without moving in reverse.
Slow balance
The ability to stay upright at very low speeds is at the heart of fakie. Practise slow-speed riding on smooth flat ground. Try slow races where you must go as slowly as you can without touching down. A related drill is the track stand, holding the bike almost still.
Looking over your shoulder
Shoulder checks are a basic skill that most riders can improve. Practise looking behind while keeping the bike straight, at low speed, in a quiet space. It helps with awareness and does not require riding backwards.
Walking the bike backwards
You can move a bike in reverse safely on foot. Walk beside it and pull it backwards to practise placing it in tight spaces. It is a normal, useful ordinary-life skill.
Rolling back a few centimetres on flat ground
On a smooth flat surface with a BMX, a trained rider might practise rolling a very short distance backwards while seated or standing on level pedals. Beginners should do this only with a coach, if at all. A skills lesson is the right setting to ask whether and how to build this skill.
Preparing for a fakie lesson
If you want to learn fakie in a park, think about these points before the session:
- A well-fitting helmet and protection suited to ramps, such as pads and gloves.
- A BMX or other suitable bike in good condition, checked beforehand.
- A smooth, small ramp or bank that a coach agrees is suitable, and not one used by fast traffic.
- An agreed plan for stopping or bailing if the bike tips or stalls.
Falling is possible on any ramp, so practising how to fall more safely on soft ground is part of the preparation, and fall practice drills on grass are a sensible warm-up for the mind as well as the body.
A realistic summary
Pedalling a normal bike backwards is not something it can do, and trying to is usually just a way to stall or damage the drivetrain. True reverse riding exists in BMX and with specific hubs, and it is a specialised skill for trained riders in suitable places. The skills that help most with it, such as balance, looking around and calm control, are worth developing in their own right, and no method here guarantees success or protects against injury.