Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Crop Circles

How does one do a reverse 360+? I've gotten really good at no-handed track stands, but I can only get 3/4 the way around on a reverse before I fall to the inside. Are there any tips out there?

p.s. after I get good at circles, I'm gonna try reverse fractals!

start them out fast so you have the momentum to not get stuck with the pedals vertical. i do them standing up, with most of my weight over the front wheel when i start them, and them i shift the weight to the rear for the last part...i think. i can't really say much beyond that. a lot of it for me has to do with luck right now, as i just recently started doing them.

I recently started doing them too. 3 in a row is the most I've done so far. I stand up too. Basically, I come to a stop and turn the bars and start rocking a little back and forth in a trackstand. Then once I've got my balance, I rock forward, then rock back and keep pedaling backwards. I try to keep my body in the center of the frame. It seems like the toughest part is about half way around where you have to lean differently. I can't really describe the leaning, I'd just say keep practicing. I hope that helps, I'm by know means an expert at this.

I've been trying to learn how to do these backward circle things. Last night in front of a grit bar/bowling alley I was going REAL slow and checking things out. There's just something about girls with poofy bangs and LA Gear that gets me all riled up. I stopped and couldn't unclip and fell flat on my ass. I need to learn how to ride normal first. Told y'all I was special. ;)

Seriously any tips on learning these things from scratch?

does anyone ride backwards just in a straight line? i've tried circles and am not very good at it, but i figure... first learn how to ride backwards straight, and then do circles? is one easier than the other?

btw no-handed trackstanding rules.

Dennis

What kills me, is I can ride backward on a bmx bike forever. Just hop 180 to fakie. On my fix I can't ride in a straight line at all. One of my BMX friends tried too (and he's a ripper), he couldn't do it either. It must be the way you're positioned on a track bike that makes it hard.

You gotta think about the dynamics of it, and WHY its hard. Everything about the bike is meant to go forward: the stance, the frame, everything. Not only that, you are trying to go backwards, AND turn at the same time, on a bike that wasn't made to do so. That is where the challenge lies.

There's just something about girls with poofy bangs and LA Gear that gets me all riled up.LA Gear is still around?

It is in Ohio! :D

I've determined that Ohio is the only place that you can see a BMW at an Aldi store.

i've gotten pretty damn good at backward 360's

my buddy discovered the key - the goofy-footed trackstand.

let me explain: normally while trackstanding - you have your dominant foot forward, and the front wheel pointing toward it. you can get a good explanation of this on 63xc.com.

the goofy-footed trackstand is where your non-dominant foot is forward - BUT your wheel is still facing the same direction as it would in a normal trackstand.

we found that when we passed through this position on a reverse 360 - we became unbalanced. so we practiced the hell out of it. and all of a sudden - we could do reverse 360's like champs.

in fact - i feel more stable in a goofy-footed trackstand than a normal trackstand with my non-dominant foot now.

our next mission is the counter-clockwise backward 360 (we always do them clockwise) and then learn how to do a backwards figure 8. its really tough.

LA Gear is still around?
LA style is still played on the radio.

So, I got the goofy-foot trackstand down on both sides (no-handed even) and am really close to doing circles. I've found it's easiest to do while sitting, but I'm only shooting ~5%. Practice practice practice.
btw, I do them counter-clockwise

COUNTER clockwise?! wtf BIZARRO WORLD!?

COUNTER clockwise?! wtf BIZARRO WORLD!?
Remember when we rode, and I told you that I track stand with my wheel to the right and my right foot forward? You said "that's weird." It's not weird. I'm just special.

--insert comment about special ed or special olympics here--

Remember when we rode, and I told you that I track stand with my wheel to the right and my right foot forward? You said "that's weird."Well, I do it both ways depending on where my cranks end up at the traffic signal.

i do it with either foot forward, but my wheel is always cocked to the left.

Damn, it's like riding BMX all over again :) I can ride backwards on a BMX (sitting on the handlebars, bike's actually going forwards) forever, but I've never tried on my fix. Maybe I'll go back to my flatland riding spot on 'bust some moves'.

I've tried no-handed and seated trackstands in my workshop (table saw came in handy for something to lean on), I found no-handers were easier, but the bars kept falling to one side or the other, not helped by the steep headtube. I have no toe overlap whatsoever, so I can rest the wheel on my shoe; any tips on how to keep the front wheel in order? I guess I should try standing up too.

I have no toe overlap whatsoever, so I can rest the wheel on my shoe; any tips on how to keep the front wheel in order? You could intentionally index your headset like they do in circus act bikes..... :p

of you have a short enough top tube, or wide enough handlebars, you can stick a knee out to hold the bar end.

the steep headtube. I have no toe overlap whatsoever, so I can rest the wheel on my shoe; any tips on how to keep the front wheel in order? I guess I should try standing up too.

i find that if i am on a very slight downhill, the front wheel doesn't turn as much. much easier.

Dennis

Sorry, should have read 'can't rest my toe on the wheel'. And the top tube is way too long to reach the bars with my knee. And someone was stupid enough to build my workshop on the level, how inconsiderate! Guess i'll have to brave the weather and try it outside.

Here's a pic of me just standing around...

LA Gear is still around?

Like totally awesome !!

that orange thing looks like LA GEAR to me...

guess i'll put my pic up too...
-Dennis

that's it. i'm learning no handed, one footed trackstands.

Just clip in with your strong foot... I was doing them this afternoon :D

So I have another little tip. It makes it a lot easier if you concentrate on powering through full circles with your feet. Not only does it prevent you from getting stuck at top dead center, but it gives you another place you can shift your weight with. I'm still only at ~20%, but focusing on this helped a lot.

I'll be looking at that view tommorrow. Not the shirtless male, but the SF skyline.

I'll be looking at that view tommorrow. Not the shirtless male, but the SF skyline.
Unfortunately I'm not going to be able to make it WK... I'll take you up on the sam'ich some other time...

More pictures!

I'll be looking at that view tommorrow. Not the shirtless male, but the SF skyline.

You bringing wheels?

You bringing wheels?
No, I've got to carry stuff back in the car this time. No room for beta man's bike. It's the plan next time.

No, I've got to carry stuff back in the car this time. No room for beta man's bike. It's the plan next time.

D'oh!

DeeBo gonna lift it.

D'oh!

I'm coming home with a paint sprayer, a jeep soft top, a circular saw, and some other crap.

I'm coming home with a paint sprayer, a jeep soft top, a circular saw, and some other crap.

You wanna meet up at some point? I can throw some cash at you in exchange for that literature you're peddling.

DeeBo gonna lift it.

You gettin a tummy lift, or face lift.

I recommend a face lift, 'cause dat grill could use some work. I mean, you should contact MTV and ask them to "Pimp yo face" or something. Not that you're ugly or anything debo, but I've seen better looking road kill. Speakin of road killl, the only thing worse than yo face is your breath. Two words "Mouth wash". Get a bottle. Get two. In fact, get a 55 gallon drum and a pressure washer.

You wanna meet up at some point? I can throw some cash at you in exchange for that literature you're peddling.

.....

You're in oaktown. Are you near the bart station?

.....

You're in oaktown. Are you near the bart station?

Yeah, pretty close. A block away from macarthur bart. If you're going to chrome, though, i could just swing by there. I've got some fraying parts they could take care of.

I'm underemployed this month, so i'm pretty easy.

Yeah, pretty close. A block away from macarthur bart. If you're going to chrome, though, i could just swing by there. I've got some fraying parts they could take care of.

I'm underemployed this month, so i'm pretty easy.


I'm not sure what I'm doin'. I plan on hitting the city earlish, and leaving before noon. I'm gonna be in and around. You gotta plan?

I'm not sure what I'm doin'. I plan on hitting the city earlish, and leaving before noon. I'm gonna be in and around. You gotta plan?

Well, I was going to meander into the city, stop by chrome, and look around shops for a pair of those cheesy rubber block pedals for the scary city bike i'm working on. Oh yeah, and eat some food.

That's the plan. No timeline, though.

Well, I was going to meander into the city, stop by chrome, and look around shops for a pair of those cheesy rubber block pedals for the scary city bike i'm working on. Oh yeah, and eat some food.

That's the plan. No timeline, though.

----PM----.

:D

hey!! i'm supposed to go to the city tomorrow too!!! to drop resumes at shops!! we should all OMG HANG OUT!!!

that orange thing looks like LA GEAR to me...
It must be hard to walk in the house being the angle it's on.