Standing on the pedals

tgotb

I generally try to avoid spending too much time out of the saddle, though I can see why it works for some people to get the power down, and accept it's a matter of personal preference. However I see plenty of riders coming out of the saddle to slow down too. There they are, happily pootling along the road; traffic light goes red, out of the saddle they come, brakes on, bike slows and stops.

Why?

My brakes seem to work equally well regardless of whether or not I'm sitting down, and if I spend half the time standing up I can no longer brag to my train-commuting mates that I always get a seat.

I could maybe see that hanging off the back of the bike might allow you to brake harder without going over the handlebars, but these guys aren't stopping quickly, and aren't hanging over the back of the bike anyway. What's going on?

sjacob33

One word balance standing allows a more sensitive distribution of weight over a wide base (pedal to pedal width) it also allows for fore and aft weight movement.

Long_Time_Lurker

Balance?
Find that I can stop on my bike and hold it in position without unclipping/ putting my feet on the floor at traffic lights if I stand up...

kurako

Most of the braking force is over the front wheel. The bike slows the body moves forward anyway. Standing allows you more flex in the arms and knees to counter it. Try braking hard and staying in control without getting out the seat...

jds_1981

Air-braking?

Can be fun to glide along on the pedals.

rubertoe

Its a balance thing, its some thing that i do, not sure why but i just find that its more comfortable and easier to balance and not unclip,

I try and track stand and could never do this sitting down and its easier to get the power down when the lights turn green.

First.Aspect

It is an opportunity to allow blood to return to the testy sack.

fnegroni

If you are referring to coming off the saddle, and later one foot off the pedal, in the final stage of coming to a stop, then it is the correct way to stop.
Reverse process for correct way to start.

If your saddle is at the correct height, you are unlikely to be able to stop dead while seated and have full balance. Heck, on my race bike I can't even touch the ground on tippi toes if I am seated.

I don't generally stand on the pedals when slowing down before stopping, but I simply slide forward off the saddle and then one foot off ready to stop.

And that's what I teach my son when it comes to starting and stopping.

Refer to Cyclecraft for further details as I am sure it is explained better there anyway.

jonny_trousers

I suspect most of the riders you are observing are riding fixies.

waddlie

I do what DonDaddyD does, and stick my arse in the air so wind resistance slows me down.

Oh wait, no I don't.

nation

Habit.

On the MTB I tend to be out of the saddle when braking, because you can brake harder without going over the bars when your weight is shifted back, and cornering (which is usually why you're braking, off road) on loose or rough surfaces pretty much requires that you're out of the saddle unless you want to get thrown of the bike by bumps. Note that you don't necessarily need to shift your weight back to slow down, but it's a good idea to be ready to do so.

I rode off road a lot more than on road until I started commuting. The habits have stuck. I also hang off the back of the saddle when descending fast on the road bike and bunny hop potholes.

kelsen

Balance. Try doing a trackstand on and off the saddle and notice which is easier.

iPete

I stand up when approaching lights, feel more manoeuvrable and can track stand(ish) when I do stop.

Started of mountain biking, maybe a connection?

rick_chasey

I do that.

It's more comfortable.

My position is quite stretched, so it gives me a little more control.

But I get out of the saddle a lot.

essex-commuter

I do it now and then to give my perineum a well deserved break.

Paul E

To let blood flow back, stretch my back out a bit and probably thinking about it for balance too as I started out in mtb too and you get more control and it allows you to drop your heels to help brace against the braking with your legs as well as hands and arms

Kieran_Burns

I stand on the pedals when slowing - the ladies prefer it that way. Who am I to deny them?

davis

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I stand on the pedals when slowing - the ladies prefer it that way. Who am I to deny them?

Two tickets to the seal show?

whitebait01

I find it allows me to alleviate the condition known as 'hungry arse'.

Airs the balls too.