Trackstanding.....

simon johnson

Any tips for trackstanding?

I have good days but generally I'm crap. What's the secret (apart from 'cheating' on a fixed)?

mekonta

If i say so myself I'm pretty good at holding a trackstand.

And I actually don't find it much easier on a fixed than a regular bike with the exception of when pointing downhill - but even this isn't too bad on a normal bike with a bit of practice.

Start out pointing up a hill (and unclipped) - you'll probably want to be out of the saddle too. Put the cranks 3 & 9 oclock (or whatever the term for parallel to the ground is) and experiment with balancing your weight between them, you'll want just enough weight on the forward foot to stop you rolling backwards, but not enough to move forward.

keep your head upright and try and focus on a particular spot - wall, floor whatever - it'll help keep your head steady.

Cover the front break and if you start moving forward give it a quick dab and allow yourself to roll back until your feet are in the correct position.

When you get everything perfect you can hold the bike almost motionless, but most of the time you'll be making constant minor adjustments either with weight on pedals, direction of front wheel or position of upper body.

Hope that helps ... and basically just stick with it. Practice, practice, practice :-)

simon johnson

Thanks Mekonta,

I'm sick of looking toss at the traffic lights. How long can you keep it up for (oo err)?

edeverett

I can now trackstand seated for as long as I like on my fixed, and almost as long with freewheel. On the fixed, I can even have drink and get the bottle back in (although I'm still struggling to look nonchalant doing this). But then I commute to Hoxton so I have to have something to hold my own with next to all the fakengers on their polished retro steeds.

I don't have my cranks horizontal, but rather my right foot down a bit to push against the bike rolling back (turn the front wheel towards the centre of the road where it's rises a bit). Then just relax, breath easy. I got the hang of it when I just started to breath normally.

And the final tip is ride a lot in city centres where there traffic lights every five meters.

Ed.

dazzawazza

Can someone please give a simple definition of trakstanding on a free-wheel?
I assume my 'moving very slowly forward whilst still clipped in' is the complete numpty definition.

simon johnson

edeverett wrote:

And the final tip is ride a lot in city centres where there traffic lights every five meters.

Ed.

I now commute from East Finchley to Hackney Wick: traffic lights-a-plenty.

To be able to trackstand for "as long as you like" is admirable Ed, you are indeed master of your domain.

cougie

dazza - to trackstand - you don't move forward. At most - you rock a bit.

Never really tried it - one day I will tho !

andrewgturnbull

Hi there,

Easiest to learn this on a fixed wheel bike, with a tight chain! That way you can learn how much pressure to put on the leading pedal while correcting with the other one. Eventually you'll get to the point where you remain motionless and don't have to adjdust anything conciously.

Once you've mastered this it becomes easier on a geared bike, only you need a wee slope to work against - turning into the crown of the road usually does the trick.

This why the council those paint green advanced stop boxes - somewhere for you to show off!

Cheers, Andy

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simon johnson

OK, I've been practising today.....still got some way to go......

I find that I lean too much to the side and literally collapse (this looks pathetic I'm sure).


Also, I seem to perform better when applying the rear brake......

Do most of you find it necessary to turn the crown/forks into the road, or can this be done straight on?

I think I need a quite spot to practise- way too much pressure at the traffic lights!

neeb

Not having any toe overlap helps. Nothing worse than catching your forward foot on a mudguard while turning the wheel slightly to balance...

Another tip - if, like me, you are not very good at track standing and can only do it for short periods, DON'T try to show off at zebra crossings by stopping and doing a track stand while smiling at the attractive member of the opposite sex waiting to cross... she'll just look confused and you'll end up in a prolonged period of mutual second guessing before falling off the bike... :oops:

clanton

neeb wrote:

Not having any toe overlap helps. Nothing worse than catching your forward foot on a mudguard while turning the wheel slightly to balance...

Another tip - if, like me, you are not very good at track standing and can only do it for short periods, DON'T try to show off at zebra crossings by stopping and doing a track stand while smiling at the attractive member of the opposite sex waiting to cross... she'll just look confused and you'll end up in a prolonged period of mutual second guessing before falling off the bike... :oops:

Lol - fantastic.

jedster

she'll just look confused and you'll end up in a prolonged period of mutual second guessing before falling off the bike

ah yes, that's not for beginner trackstanders - you need to be able to take one hand off the bars and wave them across while your doing it

Raph

On a freewheel bike use the front brake to push against - hard to describe but simple to do when you get it. If your weight "wobbles" forward you pedal the bike forwards to catch up, as with a fixed - with your weight behind, you hold the front brake and push yourself backwards, then release the brake and pull the bike back - this replaces the back-pedalling that you can't do cos it's not a fixed. Doing it downhill is probably in the domain of the advanced trackstander - down a steep hill I can't trackstand. On teh flat or slightly downhill, the front brake trick works.

biondino

How can you learn to trackstand with clipless pedals, since you'll be putting your feet down every second or two when you're learning? Do it on grass, maybe, or that stuff they pave children's playgrounds with?

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neeb

If you're used to the pedals you've got just enough time to clip out once you know you can't maintain the trackstand any longer. Well, usually...

simon johnson

Raph wrote:

On a freewheel bike use the front brake to push against - hard to describe but simple to do when you get it. If your weight "wobbles" forward you pedal the bike forwards to catch up, as with a fixed - with your weight behind, you hold the front brake and push yourself backwards, then release the brake and pull the bike back - this replaces the back-pedalling that you can't do cos it's not a fixed. Doing it downhill is probably in the domain of the advanced trackstander - down a steep hill I can't trackstand. On teh flat or slightly downhill, the front brake trick works.

Hmm........I still find it easier tapping the rear brake.....

I'm getting better at it, I find that it's almost a 'rocking' motion as pressure is applied and then relieved from the forward pedal.