Balancing act - track stance

Zilla said:

I've thought about tieing the bike with bunjee chords from both sides of the bike and
perpendicular to the bike plane, one secured to one end of the garage, the other chord on the
other end. This way when I start to fall, the bunjee chord will catch.

I suggest more practice. The bungee cord idea sounds like a really good way to get thwacked in the
side of the head with a bungee hook.

A
--
My hands are full of thorns but I can't quit groping for the rose.

"Zilla" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I really need to learn this fundamental technique, and I've been trying and so far to no avail.
I've tried the "going a slight downhill and releasing brakes when about to fall" and "going a
slight uphill and pedaling when about to fall" tricks. I've thought about tieing the bike with
bunjee chords from both sides of the bike and perpendicular to the bike plane, one secured to one
end of the garage, the other chord on the other end. This way when I start to fall, the bunjee
chord will catch. Any other idea on how to learn this technique?

I'm starting to think that my bad hearing (from listening and playing rock 'n roll music) is
hindering me. (If you've forgotten your high school physiology, the inner ear controls balance.)

I guess I just need to practice, practice, practice more!

--
- Zilla Cary, NC (Remove XSPAM)

My ears are pretty shot too, from years of standing in front ofa drum kit and beside a guitar amp,
and I can track stand okay. I stand way up and lean heavy on the bars with my arms usually locked,
even though that puts the center of gravity high and front, where you wouldn't expect it to work. I
turn the wheel to between about 10 and eleven o'clock, hold the brakes just enough to keep the tires
from rolling, and kind of hover my butt around when I need to make adjustments. Sometimes, gripping
the brakes harder and ratcheting the pedals (like when in a rock garden) helps.

There's not much one can say to get you to trackstand...just go do it. Don't bungee cord it.

Chris

Quoted message said:

I guess I just need to practice, practice, practice more!

One thing I found really helps with these balancing things (wheelies included) is to keep your
head up and look fairly far ahead. I think it gives your brain a better big picture of the horizon
which makes it easier to balance. I am still working on these things myself and found this is
really helping.

Chris <[email hidden]> spoke thusly...

Quoted message said:

"Zilla" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I really need to learn this fundamental technique, and I've been trying and so far to no avail.
I've tried the "going a slight downhill and releasing brakes when about to fall" and "going a
slight uphill and pedaling when about to fall" tricks. I've thought about tieing the bike with
bunjee chords from both sides of the bike and perpendicular to the bike plane, one secured to
one end of the garage, the other chord on the other end. This way when I start to fall, the
bunjee chord will catch. Any other idea on how to learn this technique?

I'm starting to think that my bad hearing (from listening and playing rock 'n roll music) is
hindering me. (If you've forgotten your high school physiology, the inner ear controls balance.)

I guess I just need to practice, practice, practice more!

--
- Zilla Cary, NC (Remove XSPAM)

My ears are pretty shot too, from years of standing in front ofa drum kit and beside a guitar amp,
and I can track stand okay. I stand way up and lean heavy on the bars with my arms usually locked,
even though that puts the center of gravity high and front, where you wouldn't expect it to work.
I turn the wheel to between about 10 and eleven o'clock, hold the brakes just enough to keep the
tires from rolling, and kind of hover my butt around when I need to make adjustments. Sometimes,
gripping the brakes harder and ratcheting the pedals (like when in a rock garden) helps.

There's not much one can say to get you to trackstand...just go do it. Don't bungee cord it.

Chris

I don't think i ever learned track stands, i just tried it once and could do it. i remember last
year i would amaze drivers as i wait for a light in a track stand (ok, so it was a fast light).

what i found is, don't think about doing it, just do it. if you think too hard, your tiny balance
corrections will be too big and you will tip over.

This has been told to me a few times, and it works to some effect. Find a slight uphill slope. come
smoothly to a stop and as you stop, apply a little tension on the pedal, like if your foot was
resting on the tension of the chain.

I find the mindset that works best is "i am only momentarily stopping, but i will keep going". it
will, for some reason, keep the body balanced like it is ready to ride. come to a stop, and when you
feel yourself falling, start off again. try it again for a bit longer, and keep at it. sometimes
creaping helps (not really going, but creaping a few inches at a time like cars at a stop light).

HTH ~Travis
--
~Travis

megalink.net~farmersOpen ↗

Zilla said:

I really need to learn this fundamental technique, and I've been trying and so far to no avail.
I've tried the "going a slight downhill and releasing brakes when about to fall" and "going a
slight uphill and pedaling when about to fall" tricks. I've thought about tieing the bike with
bunjee chords from both sides of the bike and perpendicular to the bike plane, one secured to one
end of the garage, the other chord on the other end. This way when I start to fall, the bunjee
chord will catch. Any other idea on how to learn this technique?

I'm starting to think that my bad hearing (from listening and playing rock 'n roll music) is
hindering me. (If you've forgotten your high school physiology, the inner ear controls balance.)

I guess I just need to practice, practice, practice more!

--
- Zilla Cary, NC (Remove XSPAM)

Have you got a friend who has a set of rollers? Start riding on them for awhile, and your balance
will improve. I can do a 'hemi-track stand' at stop signs, etc. for a couple of seconds. Keep your
eyes looking about 20 feet ahead of you, I tend to unfocus them and let my brain focus on balance.
Get out of the saddle and be aware of the four points to which you are attached to the bike. Toe
clips/clipless certainly helps.

I guess learning on a real track bike might be the best way. . .

--
J'm

To Reply Direct, Remove Clothes. ...-.-

"Chris" <[email hidden]> writes:

[snip]

Quoted message said:

My ears are pretty shot too, from years of standing in front ofa drum kit and beside a guitar amp,
and I can track stand okay. I stand way up and lean heavy on the bars with my arms usually locked,
even though that puts the center of gravity high and front, where you wouldn't expect it to work.

This will put your center of _mass_ high, this is a good ting when balancing since it means you'll
fall slower, and when balancing you are actually falling and correcting the fall all the time.

It also makes sense to move the center of mass forward since thats where the corrections take place.

Quoted message said:

I turn the wheel to between about 10 and eleven o'clock, hold the brakes just enough to keep the
tires from rolling, and kind of hover my butt around when I need to make adjustments. Sometimes,
gripping the brakes harder and ratcheting the pedals (like when in a rock garden) helps.

One day soon I will manage to do this.

--
__o | Øyvind Røtvold _`\(, | darkside.noindex.htmlOpen ↗ (_)/(_) | ... biciclare
necesse est ...

"Zilla" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I guess I just need to practice, practice, practice more!

Do a track stand every time you come to a stop on your bike.

JD

Quoted message said:

I guess I just need to practice, practice, practice more!

When everyone else stops for whatever reason, try pedal around as slow as you can without falling
over. It'll come.

-Bruce.

Zilla said:

Any other idea on how to learn this technique?

Quoted message said:

I guess I just need to practice, practice, practice more!

Your right about the practice. One thing that helped me was to not put a foot down (duh). By that I
mean, if you feel like you're going to fall, don't give up, just pedal forward a small amount and
keep trying. Over time the amount of pedaling needed kept getting smaller and eventually went
away...well...mostly🙂

Rich said:

Zilla said:

Any other idea on how to learn this technique?

Quoted message said:

I guess I just need to practice, practice, practice more!

Your right about the practice. One thing that helped me was to not put a foot down (duh). By that
I mean, if you feel like you're going to fall, don't give up, just pedal forward a small amount
and keep trying. Over time the amount of pedaling needed kept getting smaller and eventually went
away...well...mostly🙂

. . .and practice over grass, not asphalt.

--
J'm

To Reply Direct, Remove Clothes. ...-.-

J'm Sm'th said:

Rich said:

Zilla said:

Any other idea on how to learn this technique?

Quoted message said:

I guess I just need to practice, practice, practice more!

Your right about the practice. One thing that helped me was to not put a foot down (duh). By that
I mean, if you feel like you're going to fall, don't give up, just pedal forward a small amount
and keep trying. Over time the amount of pedaling needed kept getting smaller and eventually went
away...well...mostly🙂

. . .and practice over grass, not asphalt.

...or ditch your clipless and upgrade to platforms😉

"Technician" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Chris <[email hidden]> spoke thusly...

Quoted message said:

"Zilla" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I really need to learn this fundamental technique, and I've been trying and so far to no
avail. I've tried the "going a slight downhill and releasing brakes when about to fall" and
"going a slight uphill and pedaling when about to fall" tricks. I've thought about tieing the
bike with bunjee chords from both sides of the bike and perpendicular to the bike plane, one
secured to one end of the garage, the other chord on the other end. This way when I start to
fall, the bunjee chord will catch. Any other idea on how to learn this technique?

I'm starting to think that my bad hearing (from listening and playing rock 'n roll music) is
hindering me. (If you've forgotten your high school physiology, the inner ear controls
balance.)

I guess I just need to practice, practice, practice more!

--
- Zilla Cary, NC (Remove XSPAM)

My ears are pretty shot too, from years of standing in front ofa drum

kit

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and beside a guitar amp, and I can track stand okay. I stand way up and lean heavy on the bars
with my arms usually locked, even though that

puts

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the center of gravity high and front, where you wouldn't expect it to

work.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I turn the wheel to between about 10 and eleven o'clock, hold the brakes just enough to keep the
tires from rolling, and kind of hover my butt

around

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

when I need to make adjustments. Sometimes, gripping the brakes harder

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

ratcheting the pedals (like when in a rock garden) helps.

There's not much one can say to get you to trackstand...just go do it. Don't bungee cord it.

Chris

I don't think i ever learned track stands, i just tried it once and could do it. i remember last
year i would amaze drivers as i wait for a light in a track stand (ok, so it was a fast light).

what i found is, don't think about doing it, just do it. if you think too hard, your tiny balance
corrections will be too big and you will tip over.

This has been told to me a few times, and it works to some effect. Find a slight uphill slope.
come smoothly to a stop and as you stop, apply a little tension on the pedal, like if your foot
was resting on the tension of the chain.

I find the mindset that works best is "i am only momentarily stopping, but i will keep going". it
will, for some reason, keep the body balanced like it is ready to ride. come to a stop, and when
you feel yourself falling, start off again. try it again for a bit longer, and keep at it.
sometimes creaping helps (not really going, but creaping a few inches at a time like cars at a
stop light).

HTH ~Travis
--
~Travis

megalink.net~farmersOpen ↗

Like I said what you described is something I already tried as I referred to as "going slight
uphill...." trick. I can balance "momentarily" like if I get stuck going uphill, I don't
automatically fall. I can go on if I can pedal within say 2 seconds...

--
- Zilla Cary, NC (Remove XSPAM)

"Rich" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

J'm Sm'th said:

Rich said:

Zilla wrote:

>Any other idea on how to learn this technique?

>I guess I just need to practice, practice, practice more!
>

Your right about the practice. One thing that helped me was to not put a foot down (duh). By
that I mean, if you feel like you're going to fall, don't give up, just pedal forward a small
amount and keep trying. Over time the amount of pedaling needed kept getting smaller and
eventually went away...well...mostly🙂

. . .and practice over grass, not asphalt.

...or ditch your clipless and upgrade to platforms😉

Uhhh, how would that help? I see folks doing track stands both on clipless and platforms!

--
- Zilla Cary, NC (Remove XSPAM)

Rich <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

J'm Sm'th said:

Rich said:

Zilla wrote:

>Any other idea on how to learn this technique?

>I guess I just need to practice, practice, practice more!
>

Your right about the practice. One thing that helped me was to not put a foot down (duh). By
that I mean, if you feel like you're going to fall, don't give up, just pedal forward a small
amount and keep trying. Over time the amount of pedaling needed kept getting smaller and
eventually went away...well...mostly🙂

. . .and practice over grass, not asphalt.

...or ditch your clipless and upgrade to platforms😉

Ain't that the truth! Hear that Spademan? - We gots us another one! Heheheheheh ',;~}~

Shaun aRe

Zilla <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Rich" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

J'm Sm'th said:

Rich wrote:

>Zilla wrote:
>
>
>>Any other idea on how to learn this technique?
>
>>I guess I just need to practice, practice, practice more!
>>
>
>Your right about the practice. One thing that helped me was to not

put

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>a foot down (duh). By that I mean, if you feel like you're going to fall, don't give up, just
>pedal forward a small amount and keep

trying.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Over time the amount of pedaling needed kept getting smaller and eventually went
> away...well...mostly🙂

. . .and practice over grass, not asphalt.

...or ditch your clipless and upgrade to platforms😉

Uhhh, how would that help? I see folks doing track stands both on clipless and platforms!

Aye, but if you lose it while practicing T/stands on flats, you have your foot down before
you know it.

Shaun aRe

"Shaun Rimmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Rich <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

J'm Sm'th said:

Rich wrote:

>Zilla wrote:
>
>
>>Any other idea on how to learn this technique?
>
>>I guess I just need to practice, practice, practice more!
>>
>
>Your right about the practice. One thing that helped me was to not

put

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>a foot down (duh). By that I mean, if you feel like you're going to fall, don't give up, just
>pedal forward a small amount and keep

trying.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Over time the amount of pedaling needed kept getting smaller and eventually went
> away...well...mostly🙂

. . .and practice over grass, not asphalt.

...or ditch your clipless and upgrade to platforms😉

Ain't that the truth! Hear that Spademan? - We gots us another one! Heheheheheh ',;~}~

Woohoo, another one sees the light, cheerleader.orgg984082.jpgOpen ↗