Advocacy & Safety - Learned how to do an assisted track stand today.

I was driving my car this afternoon, making a left from a left turn lane only. Traffic in the opposite direction was pretty heavy and as I am waiting, a guy in a fixie pulls up in back of me and starts doing a track stand.

I was watching him in the rear view and he seemed really close, but he hadn't put a foot down. It was a long wait and I keep watching him and he hasn't put a foot down for close to a minute. Pretty impressive, I think. Then I realize he was pushing against my rear bumper to hold himself up. Pretty neat trick!

What rear bumper?

-Kurt

Back in the '80s it was quite common to lean against a car when stopping... but the attitude of motorists has changed a bit since then.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK-oiHkEnno

I also recall leaning against fellow cyclists in the day... as we would reach a stop, both would lean toward each other.

I don't do it, mainly because I wouldn't want someone to lean on my car (It does have an expensive paint job).

if someone did that on my car, the thing would buckle and the repair bill would bankrupt them.

I don't really see how the bumper trick helps, but my trackstand is a little nervous. I keep having
to remind myself to relax.

Man... people go nuts if you touch their car.

Man... people go nuts if you touch their car.

Did I say I went nuts? I thought it was cool.

Did I say I went nuts? I thought it was cool.

Not you, but the other 99.99% of drivers that don't cycle and hate us to the point where they can justify vehicular homicide to themselves on the grounds that we touched their precious cage.

I'm still confused, was he holding on to the bumper with his hand?

I'm still confused, was he holding on to the bumper with his hand?

He can't. Far as I know, the OP has yet to re-install the bumper shroud back onto his car. ;)

-Kurt

I'm still confused, was he holding on to the bumper with his hand?

He was pushing his front wheel into the back of my car (where the bumper would be if I had one as Cudak888 has pointed out much to my embarrasment).

On a fixed gear bike, or any bike for that matter, you can track stand much easier if you are pushing up against something that doesn't move.

Just wondering, would it bother any of you if a pedestrian leaned on your bike? :)

He was pushing his front wheel into the back of my car (where the bumper would be if I had one as Cudak888 has pointed out much to my embarrasment).

I wouldn't have too much of a problem with a rider trackstanding on my bumper, but I'd say that it was a tad rude of that fellow to push against the bottom edge of your trunklid.


Just wondering, would it bother any of you if a pedestrian leaned on your bike? :)

I would request them to get their grubby hands off of it. Generally, I don't let anyone get near a parked bicycle of mine for the mere reason of theft prevention. That, and the fact that most locals will use your saddle as an ash tray.

If I may return the favor:
What if you were on a descent in the TdF on a machine equipped with Mafac centerpulls, pre-1967 (before the release of Campag. Record sidepulls). Would it bother you if another racer placed his hand on your back? True story too - back in the day, riders running the Mafacs often had to "brake for two" on descents, due to the poor sidepulls available at the time.

-Kurt

Did I say I went nuts? I thought it was cool.

Did I say you went nuts?

Just wondering, would it bother any of you if a pedestrian leaned on your bike? :)

Not if I was stopped. It's just a machine. I don't think a ped could hurt it.

Not if I was stopped. It's just a machine. I don't think a ped could hurt it.

It would be kind of weird though, no? And possibly harder to remain upright. I feel like the original poser of this question was joking though.

I came out of the store and some guy was leaning against the bike rack and my bike. I rather curtly told him to move away from my bike. He took offense.

Tough for him.