Originally Posted by
TejanoTrackie
+1
Originally Posted by
Tristanh666
Perhaps practice stationary with something to lean against beside you, find 'the sweet spot' and hold it as long as possible. After youve become a master at finding that spot you can practice rolling slowly into a track stand.
Yeah, I think I'm in a little over my abilities if I'm trying to just jump into rolling into trackstands. I'll take it down a notch and try and progress.
Originally Posted by
hairnet
The more upright you are the easier it is, so it will help if you can manage to lean your weight back. Try doing it in a driveway with an incline slope or anything inclined. From there you can work to flat surfaces.
By turning the wheel so much to one side you are taking advantage of counter steering to keep the bike up (same as while in motion but exaggerated). So you can move your weight around or just tilt the bike one way or the other to move forward/backward.
The driveway suggestion makes a lot of sense, I'll give it a shot! When it comes to that rocking back and forth motion, I should be controlling that with my weight as opposed to my legs, right? Should my legs be flexed or more relaxed in the position?
Originally Posted by
striknein
I like to stand with my thighs hugging the nose of the saddle, and put my chest directly over the steer tube. A slightly slacker chain smooths out the movement of the wheel when you make corrections. Also, correct with your ankles, not your legs.
I've been trying to find posts that cover which body positions provide the greatest stability, you've nailed it, thank you!!
Originally Posted by
europa
A month or so of trying isn't much, even though some bas****... er people manage it on the first session. You may be too tense, you may be doing it wrong, you may be wearing the wrong undies. It's just a matter of trying (though knowing how helps).
The other thing to realise is that some people just can't for reasons that are beyond your control. Personally, I seem to be left footed or something because I always turn the wheel the wrong way - had the same trouble in the army with drill. That's not a biggie though it does mean I go into a trackstand attempt a little anxious which doesn't help. Of greater importance though, is that I suffer a condition that makes balance a bit of an issue, and that's something I've only just discovered - all these years I've been wondering why I can't do stuff others can and it's partly because I've got bi-polar.
The biggest tool you have though is the stubbornness to keep trying. I used to play bike polo with a bloke who had all sorts of great skills and I asked him about it one day. It turns out, he spent at least 3 hours every day practicing. No flamin' wonder he was good (and also unusual, most of us don't have that sort of dedication)
A very inspiring post; you've motivated me to go at this even harder.