Track Standing Through History
07-24-07, 05:32 PM
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Track Standing Through History
I've been doing some reading on the history of bikes/cycling/racing &c., and I came across the following:
I think it's pretty interesting that the instructor thought sitting motionless on the bike was more useful than the other instructions he provides, including such things as mounting, dismounting, pedaling and such. Someone should tell BSNYC.
--If anyone's curious about the provenance, I found it in The Story of the Bicycle, written by John Woodforde. The quote is from a [reprinted] pamphlet authored by Charles Spencer, who apparently owned the gymnasium where the Michaux Velocipede was first demonstrated in London.
"The most useful feat of all is to stop the bicycle and sit quite still upon it. Gradually slacken speed, and when coming to a standstill, turn the front wheel until it makes an angle of 45 deg. (sic) with the back wheel. Of course this is a question of balancing, and you will soon find the knack of it. When the machine inclines to the left, slightly press the left treadle, and if it evinces a tendency to lean to the right, press the right treadle until, sooner or later, you achieve a correct equilibrium, when you may take out your pocket-book and read or even write letters." (Italics mine).
This is a reprint of a pamphlet written in 1869 giving instructions on how to ride a velocipede or boneshaker. The method seems pretty similar to modern track-standing...though I'm sure it was easier when your wheel was 2" wide and shod with rolled iron.I think it's pretty interesting that the instructor thought sitting motionless on the bike was more useful than the other instructions he provides, including such things as mounting, dismounting, pedaling and such. Someone should tell BSNYC.
--If anyone's curious about the provenance, I found it in The Story of the Bicycle, written by John Woodforde. The quote is from a [reprinted] pamphlet authored by Charles Spencer, who apparently owned the gymnasium where the Michaux Velocipede was first demonstrated in London.
07-24-07, 06:49 PM
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Id say track standing is only usefull now at traffic lights. The real skill is doing it on a regular bike 
When match sprints were a kilo long (3 laps of a 333m track) track standing made perfect sence, once they changed the rules and switched to shorter tracks it became useless. Whenever you see it in a pro level race its been staged.
88' Olympics Soel Korea
When match sprints were a kilo long (3 laps of a 333m track) track standing made perfect sence, once they changed the rules and switched to shorter tracks it became useless. Whenever you see it in a pro level race its been staged.88' Olympics Soel Korea
07-24-07, 06:51 PM
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That's how to be more productive on the commute: I'm going to start writing memos while trackstanding at traffic lights.
07-24-07, 07:37 PM
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so cool. it sounds like a quote from Mr. Burns. ("...which is the velocitator and which the delceleratrix...")
07-24-07, 07:53 PM
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07-24-07, 08:03 PM
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Last quarter I took a film propaganda class, we watched a 1920s German movie about health which featured a cigar smoking old man who rode a wheelie in a circle around a nerdy young man, and then stopped in in track stand and proceed to puff the cigar.
07-24-07, 08:22 PM
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07-24-07, 08:39 PM
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07-24-07, 08:41 PM
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07-24-07, 08:42 PM
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07-24-07, 09:12 PM
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Yeah, the definition of 'velocipede' seems to be kind of vague. The author of the book I found the quote in seems to draw a distinction between 'boneshaker' and 'velocipede:' The velocipede seems to be a transitional design between the hobby-horse (which had no pedals--nicely illustrated by caloso) and the 'ordinary' bicycle, or Penny-farthing. 'Boneshaker' appears almost synonymous, but is generally restricted more to the two-wheel bike with treadles (
) attached to the front wheel.
I think the Wikipedia link is not really representational...from most of the reading I've done, most people distinguish between the trike and the bike. Like nowadays, the trike was mostly used by 'elderly and infirm persons...or persons disinclined to dangerous exercise.'
Here's a nifty link...I'd like to visit this place: The Velocipede Museum
) attached to the front wheel.I think the Wikipedia link is not really representational...from most of the reading I've done, most people distinguish between the trike and the bike. Like nowadays, the trike was mostly used by 'elderly and infirm persons...or persons disinclined to dangerous exercise.'
Here's a nifty link...I'd like to visit this place: The Velocipede Museum
07-24-07, 09:17 PM
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I was surprised at how 'modern' the bikes looked. Some of the angles were a little lax, but in general they looked very contemporary. And his seat was much too low for optimal riding....
07-25-07, 12:32 AM
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There is nothing new under the cycling sun.
07-25-07, 02:07 AM
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Id say track standing is only usefull now at traffic lights. The real skill is doing it on a regular bike When match sprints were a kilo long (3 laps of a 333m track) track standing made perfect sence, once they changed the rules and switched to shorter tracks it became useless. Whenever you see it in a pro level race its been staged.
88' Olympics Soel Korea
When match sprints were a kilo long (3 laps of a 333m track) track standing made perfect sence, once they changed the rules and switched to shorter tracks it became useless. Whenever you see it in a pro level race its been staged.88' Olympics Soel Korea
Secondly, match sprints are still held over 1km and are often still held on 333m tracks, as well as 250m tracks and even 500m tracks - in fact a wide array of track lengths from 160m to 560m. And track stands still occur in top level sprinting. Track stands are 'staged' at fun events, but not the Worlds, World Cups or Olympics. Of course, they're limited to 30 seconds now - but that's longer than many standstills used to last for anyway.
Great photo by the way.
https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/fea...standstill.jpg
Last edited by oldsprinter; 07-25-07 at 02:22 AM.
07-25-07, 02:34 AM
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Anyone know of any vids on the web which show trackstanding in a race? I've never watched much track racing and haven't seen it done before.
07-25-07, 07:20 AM
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check out 3:38, it goes on for almost 20-25 seconds. the finish is utterly rad!
07-25-07, 08:18 AM
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkkTSVVrPYk
check out 3:38, it goes on for almost 20-25 seconds. the finish is utterly rad!
check out 3:38, it goes on for almost 20-25 seconds. the finish is utterly rad!
07-25-07, 09:48 AM
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It's an old photo
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When they say fixed gear bikes have been around since the 19th century, they weren't lying. Interesting how the standard tricks we do have not changed though (bar spins, backwards circles, trackstanding). The jump rope one would be a cool one to learn.
07-25-07, 01:04 PM
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07-25-07, 01:10 PM
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Anybody know where online I can purchase breeches and a top hat for my next ride?
07-25-07, 01:46 PM
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If he's talking about a pennyfarthing, I'd agree that trackstanding is much more useful than on modern bikes, since it is so hard to mount/dismount the things.