Bicycle Bike Cycling Tricks by Jim Langley

Human Coke Bottle
“Steida Special” Spoke Broke

Do the Pelican
Tire Flip

1900 ad for the Stearns bicycle

from Harper’s Magazine
more old ads

Human Coke Bottle
Next time you’re zipping down a nice long hill where you can see ahead and it’s safe to mess around, cant your head to the side, open your mouth making a nice round O with your lips, and move your head slightly until you get the wind passing your lips just so. With a little trying, you’ll produce a wonderful whoooooooo sound, just like what you get when you blow over the top of a Coke™ bottle. On group rides, this trick will amaze your buddies. Right. They may never ride with you again. BACK

“Steida Special” Spoke Broke
Alex Steida taught me this trick. I don’t know if he learned it while racing in the pro peloton or not (in ’86, Alex was the first North American to win a stage in the Tour de France). It’s a funny little trick you can do to your cycling friends and it just might create enough of a gap on a climb that you can escape for a bit or win the hill: Wait until the rider next to you stands on the climb. Take your hand, and swing it down so that your combined index and middle fingers sharply rap the top of his saddle. This will make a sproing sound and feel (to him) that strongly resembles what it sounds and feels like when a rear spoke breaks. He’ll likely look back to check his wheel. And you can sprint toward the top laughing. BACK

Do the Pelican
Sure to impress cyclists behind you, passing motorists and pedestrians, the Pelican is something only a true dork can appreciate. To execute, wait until you’re coasting down a slight hill, remove both feet from the pedals and swing your legs as if you’re a pelican trying to get up enough speed with your legs to take off. See if you can actually touch the ground propelling the bike and take giant strides swinging your legs as far forward and backward as possible. Wheeee! Double your style points by changing and swinging your legs together towards the front and back. Careful. Don't fall off! BACK

Tire Flip
My buddy Jeff Jolin has mastered this trick. It still eludes me. Maybe if you practice enough, you’ll get it. I guarantee it’ll amaze ride partners if you can learn it: As you cruise down a road or trail, look for neat stuff to hurl at the guys you’re riding with. Say you spot a pinecone or a clump of mud; steer toward it, get your front wheel right next to it and whip the handlebars towards the soon-to-be missile, chucking it up at your buds. Jeff is so expert at this, he can hit you anywhere he wants. Unfortunately his favorite thing to flip comes from the backend of a horse. BACK