Practicing track-stands when commuting

[GaryvdM]

I've been practising track stands since I was a teenager. I've got much much better in the last 2 years to the point that no robot is too long (unless it's a real down hill.)

 

In the last 6 months I've also learnt to cleat in and do a track stand without moving foward at all.  Very useful if you do uncleat, then you can cleat in before the robot changes.

 

I can also "track sit", but I find it much more difficult, and I can't do it for as long as I can do a track stand.

 

One of the more useful tips I find with doing track stands is to learn to move the bike forwards and backwards underneath you with out your body mass moving.

 

Some times when the stars align, I can balance with the bars turned to 30deg, and it feels like I'm leaning on the front wheel, or the front wheel is holding me up, and I can balance without moving the handle bars around, or the bike forward and back. It's only on the odd occasion that it happens, but when it does happen, it feels really good.

[rudi-h]

i could never do this even after a lifetime of riding bikes.  as with most things it boils down to technique.  slight uphill, rotate your wheel 45 degrees and put the foot forward on the side to which you turn the wheel and let your bike rock between your legs (body should stay still).

 

and BOOM, i got the hang of it in a single morning

 

Thanks to Peach for the tips!

[Velouria]

Probably the best topic on The Hub, ever. Although I thought I was special with my track stand skills - seems like there are quite a few of us with robot defying talents.

 

I can only stand with the front wheel pointing right, and can't do it seated.

 

I find it easier to do on warm legs - first thing in the morning and my legs are very jumpy. In the afternoons, my track stands are legendary - not even the howling South Easter can get me to put a foot down.

 

And there is nothing like getting a cheer from a bakkie load of labourers At least someone appreciates my skills.

[SimpleDom]

Funnily enough, I'm more comfortable with hoping to keep my feel off the ground.... Can't bunny Hop, can't track stand for very long at all, but I can hop a bit....

[Cargyrl]

I need to learn how to track stand, it is useful in sprint competition on the actual track. Most ladies falls woefully short at being able to do track stands, in and out of competition. 

[Spinnekop]

Well.....to me the very basics are:

• You have to be on a bit of an incline. 
• Your handlebars need to be turned.  i.e. the bike must not be pointing straight forward. 
• You have to keep moving.  Thus forward 1cm, back 1cm.  Once your balance gets better, you can start standing still without moving an inch

[DJR]

.....................In the afternoons, my track stands are legendary - not even the howling South Easter can get me to put a foot down..............................

Sometimes the southeaster is like a wall you could lean against. 

[milky4130]

How many of you can track stand & while balancing, rocking back & forth, just let the bike roll back like a reverse for maybe a meter or 2 & then just recover back to the starting point of your track stand?

[Letum911]

How many of you can track stand & while balancing, rocking back & forth, just let the bike roll back like a reverse for maybe a meter or 2 & then just recover back to the starting point of your track stand?

I can, but I ride a bit of trials so balancing, trackstanding, hopping and rolling back comes naturally after a bit of practice. Easiest is to just lean into the front wheel to create some backwards momentum then let the bike roll while keeping your bodyweight slightly over the front

[Imploder]

This is awesome:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWeCuZCIk4k

[Imploder]

This is awesome:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWeCuZCIk4k

 

3:46 they try to out track stand each other the first time.

They try again a bit later.

[Letum911]

I know its not completely applicable but have a look at the balance and control

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ0xSN6b1ZM

[JohnnyReggae]

I know its not completely applicable but have a look at the balance and control

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ0xSN6b1ZM

Awesome skills 

[milky4130]

I can, but I ride a bit of trials so balancing, trackstanding, hopping and rolling back comes naturally after a bit of practice. Easiest is to just lean into the front wheel to create some backwards momentum then let the bike roll while keeping your bodyweight slightly over the front

yeah, it's a skill I pretty much learned from my BMX freestyle Days & has never left me even after all these years.