Track Standing, why cant i do it?

[rayhuang]

I dont know why some simpe things in life always seem to elude me. With the thousands of miles Ive logged riding city streets, youd think I could do a simple track stand for the duration of the light, on my MTB or my road bike. But I am maybe good for waiting 5 or 6 seconds of notchy, barely not falling over, scared to fall in my clipless pedals, standing.

How do you you guys (gals?) do it? Not on a track bike mind you!! Ive seen it done with class so I know it can be done!!

Ray

 

[ishiwata]

Practice on a slight uphill. Turn your wheel to about 30 degrees or so in whatever direction is more comfortable, and keep your pedals at 3 & 9, with your forward foot being on whichever side your wheel is pointed toward. Then balance. It was easier for me to learn out of the saddle, but I've heard of people who found it easier in the saddle, so just practice.

 

[TrekDedicated]

ray, this probably isn't the answer you want, but you just gotta practice practice practice.

Like ishi said, it is easier on a slight uphill too.

 

[schmuzzy]

i just got my fixie up and running- and really, that's the only (or should i say, easiest) way to do one.

the foward and backward motion on the crank actually leans or pulls the bike from side to side. thus the balancing act.

most see this as AMAZING or INCREDIBLE as their only experience is with a freewheel bike- or with a unidirectional crank.

i've heard of some being able to do a track stand on a "normal" bike- utilizing the brakes to provide the opposite correcting force- but it is ALOT harder- as you can't cross that balancing point and pull the bike back. you have to correct before you get past the center of gravity.

make sense?

honestly- 5 minutes on a track bike, and you'll know exactly what everyone is talking about.


good luck

 

[rayhuang]

Practice on a slight uphill. Turn your wheel to about 30 degrees or so in whatever direction is more comfortable, and keep your pedals at 3 & 9, with your forward foot being on whichever side your wheel is pointed toward. Then balance. It was easier for me to learn out of the saddle, but I've heard of people who found it easier in the saddle, so just practice.

THANKS everyone-now how about brakes-do you just use the front brake and modulate or is the key to do it without brakes?

I wish I had a fixie-maybe I need to make one-eh? I got a road bike frame sitting in my garage!!

Also-how about leaning? Do you lean inot the direction the wheel is turned or try to have bike straight up and down?

 

[rule62]

I started while practicing bike handling skills at super slow speeds to get better at weaving around road furniture and parking lot obsticles on my hybrid. That kind of riding came up a lot on my commute and I got tired of sucking at it. To do that you lift your butt out of the saddle a bit, keep pedaling but while applying braking pressure to keep your speed super slow. It's basically what the bike cop schools teach. You can do it seated on a road bike where your center of gravity is already pretty high.

Once you get good at really tight cornering at really low speed, the next step to track stand comes a bit more naturally. Your front wheel is already cocked to the side. The pedaling keeps your center of gravity low and your speed slow. Just ease to a stop on a slight incline, shifting your weight just a fraction to keep you in balance over your bike. It works for me pretty well, but watch out for cross winds at intersections if you ride clipless.

 

[DiabloScott]

I went to a little circus last night and there was a performer there who was balancing on top of a big stack of balls on top of planks on top of cylinders on top of other planks - it was amazing.... made track standing look like child's play. I'm not worthy.

 

[Savagewolf]

I usually just tailor my speed to fit with the stop lights. If it's green, I start gunning it until I'm past the light. If it's yellow or red, I slow down my pace...going as slow as I possibly can without stopping. Once the light goes green I start cranking the pedals and going for it.

If I just can't manage to balance myself long enough, I just step one foot off the bike. I don't mind putting that foot back on once it's time to go that much.

 

[schmuzzy]

I usually just tailor my speed to fit with the stop lights. If it's green, I start gunning it until I'm past the light. If it's yellow or red, I slow down my pace...going as slow as I possibly can without stopping. Once the light goes green I start cranking the pedals and going for it.

If I just can't manage to balance myself long enough, I just step one foot off the bike. I don't mind putting that foot back on once it's time to go that much.

or you could just put a hand on the nearest truck.

(however, please consider there is a inverse ratio of how much the driver welcomes this and how much he likes his vehicle)

 

[mstone]

Why worry? Just put your foot down.

 

[rayhuang]

Why worry? Just put your foot down.

Its not about convenience, its about doing it!! Like hockey stops on skates, 360's on skateboards, bootleg turns in your car, ummmm the eyes closed free throw shot, etc.... Its totally ok if you dont get it or want it.

I dont stress out about it, I just want to do it and havent been able to. Major practice tonight!! With some luck maybe it will start to click tonight!!

 

[rayhuang]

ohhhhhhhhhhhh-I had a Zen like moment and it almost felt locked in!! Maybe getting closer, but still scared to do it with the clips on......

 

[Duracellis]

although it would be a little different then doing it on the road you could try on grass. That way if you fall it wont hurt much.

 

[Durangodave]

Here's what nobody's mentioned yet:

Almost every road has a crown: the high part at the middle. Then it slopes down toward the curb.

So when you stop, turn your front wheel up toward the crown - to the left in the USA. The slope of the crown pulls you back down toward the curb, and you push back on the pedal, up toward the crown.

its a constant back and forth, push-pull, up-down action. Pretty soon you move up and down so little that it looks like you're standing still.

 

[rayhuang]

Here's what nobody's mentioned yet:

Almost every road has a crown: the high part at the middle. Then it slopes down toward the curb.

So when you stop, turn your front wheel up toward the crown - to the left in the USA. The slope of the crown pulls you back down toward the curb, and you push back on the pedal, up toward the crown.

its a constant back and forth, push-pull, up-down action. Pretty soon you move up and down so little that it looks like you're standing still.

Ahhh-like learning to hover a RC helicopter!! Very, very small almost pre-emptive movements!!

Thanks,
Ray
p.s. yea-I'd arther fall in my grass then my concrete driveway!!

 

[rayhuang]

Well-I havent been obsesively trying, but I did hit a perfect road on my last ride that was an uphill stoplight, I relaxed, rolled up slow, stood up with **** over saddle, peddles parallel with ground and let the spped die off till I was holding myself in a f'n trackstand, no brakes, just the force of the peddles on the uphill-wow-what a feeling!! I canot wait for th next perfect stop sign or hill!! Working into the crown IS a big help as well, helps to feel when to let off peddle pressure and when to add just a touch more..

Thanks for the tips, I used them all!
Ray

 

[schmuzzy]

"...just be the ball, Danny... be the ball...."

-Mitch Kumstein

 

[cycling_jedi]

"...just be the ball, Danny... be the ball...."

-Mitch Kumstein

Caddyshack


I have this thing going with someone at work... we will just blurt out a movie line and see if the other person knows what movie it is from.

ps Caddyshack was the best golf movie ever made... the worst golf movie ever made? Caddyshack 2

 

[Michael Pisarri]

Caddyshack


I have this thing going with someone at work... we will just blurt out a movie line and see if the other person knows what movie it is from.

I think you might work with my roommates