Trackstands
 

How did you guys learn how to track stand? I'm finding it pretty difficult right now, and was wondering if you guys had any advice. Man, I've been going at it for the last two hours or so and I haven't been able to stay in a track stand for more than 4 seconds. And somehow I find it harder to do when actually standing; I'm trying to learn it by staying in the saddle.

So how did you guys do it?

Keep practising. Or do what I do and try to time the lights better. 4 seconds would surely beat my record.

loosen up. I tended to tense up when I learned, and any time I started to tip, I would swing the wheel wildly, which sends your stand into a death spiral. Chill out.

Point the front wheel uphill into the crown of the road, or a slight uphill in the road and relax, just roll back and forth. Start in street shoes so you can easily bail if you have to.

;)

jw

Practice frequently rather than for a long time.

It's the kind of thing where you gain as much from what goes on in your brain in between attempts as when you're actually doing it.

Is it possible to do a trackstand on level ground?

Yes, I have a friend who does it all the time. When he does it, he's actually moving foward at about 12 inches a minute.

You'll find a way to learn fast if you practice during rush hour. (I'm kidding.)

Just takes time. Practice on a narrow sidewalk so if you go over, you fall onto grass.

When you get real good, you can reach down and hold your front wheel indefinitely. Move that back and forth to keep the bike under you.

Then that isn't a track stand.

Ok here is what you need to do...get younger and buy a BMX bike then trackstand all the time...then as you grow graduate to a MTB and keep working on it...when you finally grow back up again and have gotten into road cycling trackstands will be easy. :D That is how I did it anyway. :D

Hmm to learn if you didn't already know how? When I roll up to a stop I keep tension on my pedals and lock up my brakes. Relax as others have said but you do need to keep just enough muscle tension to make minor tweeks to keep the bike upright...I don't think you can really tell someone how to trackstand...you just have to get a feel for the balance it takes to do...and if you are the sort with crappy balance it is going to be tough.

Trackstanding is not not easy, but not that difficult either, though I can't do it sitting in the saddle - you have to stand up. You will certainly figure it out.
Crank arms horizontal, I usually turn front wheel slightly to the right, slight incline helps, like entrance into your garage.
Relax, just say to yourself you won't fall off and get some confidence.
Definitely don't 'practice' for 2 hrs. 5 mins a day max before/after a ride and you'll get it.
Don't use clipless pedals when learning - platform pedals with tennis shoes.
Lower the saddle a couple of inches so you can easily reach the ground when you do lose balance & you don't get hurt :)

just get a fixed gear :)

My goal by christmas is to be able to do it no hands, and with both feet on the front wheel.

yeah....but that's too easy....but who cares, it's still a trackstand....:D

I learned on a fixed gear then after only a bit of trying on a geared bike I got it. Standing up is easier because you can move your weight easily. Don't use your brakes while trying to trackstand, you want to pedal only a tiny bit forward, it's more about apply pressure than actually turning the wheel any. Then let the hill roll you down, you can put a bit of pressure on the back pedal to help move your weight back, but too much pressure and it just coasts.

Start by riding at extremely slow speed. Try to ride in the tightest, slowest circle you possibly can. For your early attempts, stay in the saddle. It's much easier/safer to put a foot down from a seated position.

Trackstanding on a geared bike is easiest on a slight uphill. Get in a low gear and roll slowly to a stop. Then just find the point in your pedal stroke where you can barely inch forward. Allow yourself to roll back, inch forward slightly, and so on.

On a flat surface it's trickier. The key is the front brake. By locking up the brake and (gently) throwing your weight back you can get yourself rolling backwards just a tiny bit which you can counteract by soft pedaling forward. Repeat the process until you can do it in very subtle movements, and there you go.

On a fixed gear bike it's easiest with a bike that's geared lower. With too tall a gear there will be more points in your pedal stroke where it will be tough to make subtle movements.

I'm dying to get a cheap fixed gear only so that I can have fun doing trackstands.

It's so hilly here in Vegas, a ss/fg is a killer on your knees otherwise...

From a physics standpoint, the reason for standing is that it increases your moment of inertia, so you dont fall over as quickly. Same reason it's easier to balance a broomstick on your hand than a pen. I was getting decent at trackstands by the end of last year, now I suck since I haven't practiced all winter.

1. you learn from practice, and it's easiest to learn on a fixed gear
2. it's easier if you're sitting down on a fixed gear, easier if you're standing up on free-wheel set-up
3. I turn the wheel about 75 degrees of the bike and tend to have my right foot forward with the wheel turned toward that foot
4. I can do it no handed for 10+ minutes, but it gets kind of boring

just remember to practice unclipped... very easy to panic and bust a 0mph fall when you are trackstanding...

Yes if you ride fixed gear. Also some skilled (non-fixed) riders can do it using a tiny pothole or bump on the road, but most of us can only do it on a slight slope. Basically you pedal slightly forward and to one side, then roll slightly back and to the other side, that way keeping your bike pretty much centred under you.

I practised on an outdoor wheelchair ramp, to get the uphill slope, with two side rails to grab onto if needed. Turn your front wheel about 45 degrees (I prefer left, others may differ) and try to pedal forward (and left) just an inch or two, so you detect a tiny tendency to fall to the right. Then let the bike roll back an inch or two (to the right) so you detect a tiny tendency to fall left. etc.