Road Cycling - Trackstand

So over the years I've learned to trackstand on any bike I get on. I think I'm pretty good. Sometimes I do it to see how long I can do it, or with one hand, or with no-hands. I held it for a good 20 minutes the other day as the bridge went up for a boat to pass and then came back down.

How long is really long? Is there a record?

I don't know if there's a record. People have seen me doing it and asked how long I could hold it, but I have to tell them I don't know. All I know is, thus far, I have been able to do a track stand as long as required for whatever the circumstances have been.

Any tips for practicing this? I'm terrible at it but have relatively good balance otherwise. I'd love to be able to wait out the lights I always hit without having to unclip and put a foot down.

The biggest factor I've found is the angle of the ground underneath you. If you are on an uphill slope, it will be easier than downhill. If you are on the right side of the road next to the curb, the road should naturally slope up to your left. The trick is to lean towards the slop maintaining a bit of forward pressure on your pedals, and turn the front wheel slightly towards the slope. The road will give you a little uphill resistance and you are returning with equal pressure on the pedal. I think everyone has a natural 'coast' posture, either left foot fwd or right foot fwd. Mine is right foot fwd. When I trackstand, my left leg (which is back), sort of leans against the bike and the bike leans against the leg.

Make any sense??? I learned on a MTB with flat pedals, which was much safer, once I was good, I applied it to my road/hybrid bikes with clipless pedals.

I'm pretty sure that there's a record set by an actual track rider on a track bike. There's a reason that a trackie has the record, btw. fixed gear trackstands are fun.

It's also easy if you ride a track bike. The ability to rock back and forth helps keep balance on almost any surface. I can do it naturally now without even thinking about it. This lets me wear double straps on the street without worrying about pulling out.

Oh, at all the messenger competitions they have track stand competitions, where everybody starts with both hands on the bars for 3 minutes, then one hand off for 3 minutes, and then 0 hands 3 minutes. At the end, you have to take one foot off, and it gets so close, it really boils down to who hits the ground first at the end.

I'm pretty sure that there's a record set by an actual track rider on a track bike. There's a reason that a trackie has the record, btw. fixed gear trackstands are fun.

I've never tried a fixed gear, but would be interested in trying. However my unicycle of course is a direct-drive, so it's the same idea. Pedal fwd, go fwd...pedal back, go back. You don't really trackstand a uni (unless you're mental), instead it's a pogo action.

The biggest factor I've found is the angle of the ground underneath you. If you are on an uphill slope, it will be easier than downhill. If you are on the right side of the road next to the curb, the road should naturally slope up to your left. The trick is to lean towards the slop maintaining a bit of forward pressure on your pedals, and turn the front wheel slightly towards the slope. The road will give you a little uphill resistance and you are returning with equal pressure on the pedal. I think everyone has a natural 'coast' posture, either left foot fwd or right foot fwd. Mine is right foot fwd. When I trackstand, my left leg (which is back), sort of leans against the bike and the bike leans against the leg.

Make any sense??? I learned on a MTB with flat pedals, which was much safer, once I was good, I applied it to my road/hybrid bikes with clipless pedals.

Sitting here at work, it's not making a whole lot of sense but probably tomorrow I'll give it a try (when the rain stops).

Sitting here at work, it's not making a whole lot of sense but probably tomorrow I'll give it a try (when the rain stops).

Think of it like this...in your shoes stand on an uphill slope. They sensation you have of leaning into it is about the same feeling. But on a perfectly flat surface it can be trickier. I tend to rock the bike back and forth using a bit of brake. It just takes practice.

riding in nyc has turned me into an excellent trackstander.

on my fixie, i can trackstand on any surface pretty much indefinitely. i'm sure there's some time limit, but i'm more likley to get bored first.

on my road bike, if i find a little niche to rest my wheel in, i can hold a motionless trackstand for a few minutes. people always seem to be entertaining at the sight of a guy in full road gear trackstanding at a traffic light.

Any tips for practicing this?

I do not all mean to be flippant, but the answer is...(drum roll)...PRACTICE! ;)

Seriously, find a slightly inclined surface where you can apply a bit of pressure to the pedals without moving forward while slightly turning your wheel in that direction. Also initially, you should use neither a too steep nor a too slightly inclined surface--find something in between. Then...PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! I've actually taught someone with good balance initially to trackstand (somewhat wobbly) in less than a half-hour. (BTW, at first I might not try this while clipped into the pedals.)

Good luck. Check back and let us know how you're doing!

I'm trying to learn how to do this too. One question, how do you use the brakes or do you use them at all?

From the UCI track cycling rulebook for the 200m sprint. Standstills used to go for many, many minutes until this change......


Sprint
The rider on the inside of the track, unless overtaken, shall lead until reaching the pursuit line on the opposite side of the track. A maximum of two standstills shall be
permitted for each race. The maximum period for a standstill shall be 30 seconds
following which, the leading rider shall be directed by the starter to continue. If
he fails to do so, the starter shall stop the race and declare the other rider the winner of the
heat. In a three or four-up race, the race shall be immediately rerun as a two or
three-up race, without the relegated rider.

I'm trying to learn how to do this too. One question, how do you use the brakes or do you use them at all?

I have only used the brakes when using a slight down slope. Other wise it is a slight pessure on going aginst an up slope. I do find it easier to do out of the seat.

Another way to think of a trackstand in a manual on a hill, you don't take it out of gear you put only enough gas to keep from rolling back.

Well, I went out today to try this. I was able to stay up for 5 seconds. Luckily no one was around to see my miserable attempts!

I'm trying to learn how to do this too. One question, how do you use the brakes or do you use them at all?

If you are on an uphill slope, or on the right side of a street with normal slopes up towards the middle of the street, you 'should' not need brakes, but you may need to use them while learning.

If you are on a downhill slope or perfectly flat slope, you'll need to use brakes, unless you're really good. Point your front wheel towards the slope and rock your bike back and forth, fwd to back not side to side, keeping light pressure on one brake lever to maintain a little resistance. I prefer to use the front brake, but either brake should suffice.

-It is easier to do up off the saddle
-Your upper body should be over the front wheel
-Better to learn with flat pedals to avoid falling over unless you're good at clipping out fast.

I used to do variations of that as a kid when I did freestyle. Not sure what the appeal is -- has about as much flair as an endo does, IMO. I also think it is a waste of energy -- it's really not THAT hard to just unclip and put your foot down while you wait for the train. I have seen people hobbling about at lights trying to balance, and I think, "just put your foot down, for Pete's sake."

I also think it is a waste of energy -- it's really not THAT hard to just unclip and put your foot down while you wait for the train.

While you're clipping in, I'm up the road. That sounds more efficient to me. ;) And, cars very much seem to appreciate not having to wait while a cyclist fumbles around clipping in again. And finally, little kids really like to see someone doing a track stand. They always look at you wide-eyed while you're standing there. (It's even cooler it you can take a hand off the bars and give them a little wave. And who knows, maybe that will be the genesis of some little tyke deciding to be a roadie.)




I have seen people hobbling about at lights trying to balance....

As Yoda says: "Do not try. Do."

[QUOTE=Maj.Taylor]While you're clipping in, I'm up the road. That sounds more efficient to me. ;) And, cars very much seem to appreciate not having to wait while a cyclist fumbles around clipping in again. And finally, little kids really like to see someone doing a track stand. They always look at you wide-eyed while you're standing there. (It's even cooler it you can take a hand off the bars and give them a little wave. And who knows, maybe that will be the genesis of some little tyke deciding to be a roadie.)


Well said. I've gotten into many little sprint races with guys through town. When we stop at a red, he unclips and puts a foot down. When the light goes green, I'm across the intersection by the time he's clipped in. Besides it's kinda fun, kinda challenging and as you said if I ever thought I inspired a kid because he thought I was doing something cool like trackstanding, well then that's cool.

i can trackstand on all my bikes. i mostly just do it on my trackies though, as i'm using toeclips and straps on those and it's a lot harder to get my feet back in the clips. i stand on my road bike if it's going to be a quick light. if i'm tired or it's going to be a long light, i usually unclip for most of it, then when the cross-traffic goes yellow i clip back in and stand until i get the green. usually though, if i'm taking off from a light where i've unclipped, i usually think as i'm crossing the intersection "god, why did i unclip?" especially when i'm trying to pull up with my foot that's still unclipped.

While you're clipping in, I'm up the road. That sounds more efficient to me.
I can't trackstand (yet) but I can get clipped in, up and rolling forward ready to hit it by the time the light changes. Seems fairly efficient.

55/Rad