Seeing another cyclist doing a track stand at a light made my husband and I wonder, what's the point? Other then not wanting to put your foot down, it seems like it would use up more energy trying to maintain your balance then just simply putting your foot down and waiting for the light to change. I'm sure it helps with your balance, but why do cyclist do it other then those two reasons?

It looks cool.

It looks, and is, very cool. I wish I could do it.

It not only looks cool, it is, in fact, way cool.
And if they can, why not? Wish I could...

It is the epitome of cool, like doing the perfect cannonball or bouncing your golf ball with the blade of your putter or licking your finger before turning the page or looking over the top of your glasses at someone who is being excessively loud at Starbucks....

In fact, can anyone think of anything cooler?

I unclip one foot, but don't move it and practice track standing. Many times on the MUP at a busy intersection I will do it so I can take off a little quicker. One day I stopped for a car for a second or two and when it went past I took off and a lady on a bike, who I didn't know was watching, said " Hey that was cool". I don't get many compliments from the ladies or anybody else when I'm on my bike, so it made me feel pretty good.

I feel like it helps me keep focused on riding. I can certainly start up faster if both feet are in the clips and I'm mentally focused on the bike, rather than chatting or looking at, well, interesting pedestrians.

Road Fan

The only thing cooler is to balance at a stop by putting your hand down. Or both hands.

I've seen a lot of cyclist try to do a track stand, but none of them balanced without moving all over the place, plus, almost every one has ended up so far forward that they are almost out into the traffic crossing in front of them.

I can trackstand for several seconds, and it is very helpful, for instance, at a red light which is about to turn green.

I can understand how this is done on a track bike....but what's the technique on a road bike? I wanna look cool too.

Surely there are more accomplished cyclists in the Bay Area!? When I'm doing it right (especially when on a slight uphill), I'm pretty well locked up and rock solid. And, yes, it *is* way cool.

FWIW, I routinely trackstand red lights, and can normally do it through an entire light cycle (a minute or two?). I might creep forward a bit, but usually never more than 5 feet or so...if I'm getting close to the back side of the cross-walk I'll put a foot down, but that's pretty rare (less than 10% of the time).

I can usually trackstand on an upright bike until just before the light turns green......dang!
I can come closer to a trackstand on my recumbent than when I got 'bent 17 mo. ago but doubt if it will ever happen. But, then again, I can put both feet flat on the ground and relax at red lights now.

I use the crown of the road to give me the ability to roll backwards, so your balance point is between going forward and rolling back. I can trackstand through a signal light cycle using this method. My bike is at about a 30 degree angle to the roadway.

I do this so I'm already clipped in to my pedals; no delay getting started up. I thought this was a common practice?

It's much harder to do if the roadway is perfectly flat, and almost impossible (for me) if I'm facing downhill...

Harry

The guys who are really good at it can do it while seated.

I have to stand on the pedals, and crank the bars to the left a bit.

And if you have toe overlap, be careful! I once went down when I tried to turn the front wheel, but it struck my toe...embarrassing and painful!

Yes, I also stand on the pedals and have my bars turned as well. But, do I get any points for using my waterbottle during the trackstand?

Harry

For sure! Major bonus points for that. I can't imagine taking a hand off the bars while trackstanding.

For me the biggest advantage is getting away faster and more safely at lights, because I don't have to reclip in. I can only trackstand for about 5 seconds -- so I don't consider myself a true track stander -- but that's enough if the light is about the change. It also sends a visual message to the traffic that you are alert and ready to roll.

Really cool is doing this little trick on a steeply banked track...and for long periods till your competition has to move and give you the advantage of a wind break on a matched sprint. Its been over 40 years since competition but, I still do it unconsciously when I come to a light

It looks cool.....and I do it on my Litespeed too.

Riding a Unicycle?

Trackstanding is a useful thing to know how to do when you mountain bike. The toughest maneuvers are at very slow speeds, and the more comfortable one can get at it the better.

I can't trackstand. I've seen my son do it for about two minutes at a time.

I learned on my Fixie. It is easier on a Fixie. To learn it on my road bike took some practice.... using the front brake helps and learning on an uphill grade.

I always keep drive pressure on the pedals, and always some drag on the brake, and jink the 'bars back and forth as needed. After all this time I don't wander around very much, but I don't think i do it for the full 30-second red signal phase.

Road Fan