Disclaimer

...front-to-back wheel-swap
The front-to-back wheel-swap makes it possible to finish off a move on the rear wheel, even though you may have started or landed it on the front wheel. It basically starts from an endo.

A flowing transition move

1° Launch a fast endo and bring your knees towards the bars to absorb some of your momentum. Lean forwards and concentrate your weight above your front wheel.

2° Once you have transferred your whole body on the front, release the front brakes and roll off the bike forwards in one swift extension from the arms (to release your momentum).

3° Finish off the move fully extended again, lifting the bars in front of you to maintain the front wheel off the ground after it rolled. Stretch with the rear wheel beneath you.

See this move in a video

slow-motion demo by Olly

No room for the full bike

Go fast
The wheel-swap is easier when you launch it with plenty of forwards momentum, like doing a fast endo that would go over the bars if you didn't release the front brakes. Try it out on a kerb to gain confidence, then build it up on narrower edges. The trick is to shift your weight forward and above the front wheel (knees below the handlebar) and then whip the bike forward (the actual wheel-swap) by extending your arms while your body stays on the same spot.

Front-to-back finish

Just keep your body moving
It is like decomposing your forward momentum into small bits that you reuse in your own time.

Thomas Oehler on a smooth finish

Once you understand the concept, you can even do a back to front wheel transfer on the reverse principle. Try it just for fun. Some guys will bounce off rails and narrow edges... Same technique, just bloody difficult. Although it makes it more difficult, you could do a wheelswap on the spot just by emphasizing body movement.

If you want more info about this move or would like to share your own experience and tips, just type in your questions / comments in a

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