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Learning to Trackstand

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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

Learning to Trackstand

Old 08-21-05, 10:29 PM
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Learning to Trackstand

Is it easier to learn how to trackstand on a fixie?
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Old 08-21-05, 10:38 PM
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Allegedly.
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Old 08-21-05, 10:39 PM
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i prefer using no bike whatsoever
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Old 08-21-05, 10:44 PM
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Yeah, because you can rock back and forth a lot. I would guess that most people move around a lot when learning, so a fixed-gear is nice and forgiving since you can rock the bike in both directions with the pedals. Although if you learn with a freewheel you'll probably find trackstanding with a fixed gear very easy. If you are learning with a freewheel, try it on an incline.
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Old 08-22-05, 01:32 AM
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Originally Posted by ryan_c
Yeah, because you can rock back and forth a lot. I would guess that most people move around a lot when learning, so a fixed-gear is nice and forgiving since you can rock the bike in both directions with the pedals. Although if you learn with a freewheel you'll probably find trackstanding with a fixed gear very easy. If you are learning with a freewheel, try it on an incline.
This pretty much sums it up. But here's some more specific advice. I'm a leftie, so I naturally point the front wheel to the left at a stop, which is convenient because that's up the incline created by the crown in the road (in most cases). When the bike begins to tip left, I simply put some pressure on the pedals, which pushes the bike forward and to the left, which catches my fall. If I start to fall to the right, I let off the pedals, which allows the bike to roll backwards and to the right, which catches my fall. The incline does for me what backpeddaling would do on a fixie. But since I don't ride fixie and most roadies don't, the incline makes trackstanding much easier.
I no longer need an incline. I use the brakes to build upper body momentum to move the bike forward or back, depending on which way I'm falling. Brakes on, accellerate upper body, release brake and momentum in upper body moves bike up or back.
Good luck getting it down - once you do, you'll feel even more confident on the bike.
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Old 08-22-05, 10:12 AM
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I have tried doing it on both. It feels that trying to learn on the fixie is a lot more frustrating. I'll stick with the freewheel for now.
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Old 08-22-05, 10:43 AM
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I find doing trackstands on a fixie is a lot easier. Worked my way from standing trackstands, to sitting trackstands, one handed trackstands to no-handed trackstands. The no-handed trackstands are more for just showing off, I'd never do it in the street.
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Old 08-22-05, 01:15 PM
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no handed trackstands are super useful for getting in your bag at lights and such. i'm all about using them on the street.
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Old 08-22-05, 01:26 PM
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i use no handed trackstands to give people both fingers
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Old 08-22-05, 01:30 PM
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I use no handed trackstands just to show off.
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Old 08-22-05, 01:36 PM
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I use no handed trackstands cuz I have no hands.
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Old 08-22-05, 01:52 PM
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I use no handed track stands on my tandem so BOTH of us can fall over!!!!
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Old 08-22-05, 03:24 PM
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I use no-handed one-footed trackstands in the street so I can dig through my mess. bag and kick scenesters in the face at the same time.
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Old 08-22-05, 06:16 PM
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i don't trackstand. whenever i get to a red light i just turn around and go home.
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Old 08-22-05, 06:46 PM
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you know for awhile i was like "fuk yeh! trakstnd @ al da lyts s00n dewd", but then i started doing them more and getting comfortable, but most of the time i dont even think to do it at lights, and end up clipping out (i have clipless) with one foot. i dont know, its not that big of a deal i guess
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Old 08-22-05, 06:55 PM
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I think it's all in the hips. It looks like you have some sort of constant humping disorder but you can do a trackstand with very little bike movement.
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Old 08-23-05, 12:35 AM
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...I used to trackstand great, then I developed constant humping disorder...now I can barely get out of bed...
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Old 08-23-05, 02:50 AM
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yeah i still refuse to track stand because i think it is stupid to show off when you are ona bike
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Old 08-23-05, 03:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Terror_in_pink
i use no handed trackstands to give people both fingers
I use no-handed track stands to fall over in public.
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Old 08-23-05, 04:33 AM
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Originally Posted by TiP
i use no handed trackstands to give people both fingers
pics?


Originally Posted by BlindRobert
I use no-handed track stands to fall over in public.
pics?
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Old 08-23-05, 06:44 AM
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Originally Posted by LóFarkas
pics?


pics?
no hand trackstand with umbrella gone bad
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Old 08-23-05, 06:56 AM
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I can do a horizontal trackstand, especially when my toe clips are too tight.
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Old 08-23-05, 08:17 AM
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best trackstanding 101 thread ever.
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Old 08-23-05, 08:23 AM
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I keep imagining the face - and shirt - of the umbrella guy when he stands up and I can't stop smiling... Thanks, BlindRobert
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Old 08-23-05, 08:48 AM
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ouch, that must of hurt...
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