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Track Standing, how'd you learn?

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Track Standing, how'd you learn?

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Old 03-02-08 | 11:31 AM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by brett jerk
most people keep their dominant (aka chocolate) foot up front and turn the wheel at a 45 degree angle towards that foot. this allows you a stronger push forward from a stop.
Sure? I think most people stand as they would on a skateboard (i.e. strong foot back).
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Old 03-02-08 | 11:36 AM
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I just went outside one day and practiced for hours. Was able to do it for a minute towards the end of the day. Now I can do it for a long ass time, but i get nervous about doing it in the roads and with my feet in the clips.
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Old 03-02-08 | 11:39 AM
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Originally Posted by Zombie Carl
Sure? I think most people stand as they would on a skateboard (i.e. strong foot back).
I do the opposite...I'm goofy on a skateboard and snowboard, but I trackstand with my left foot forward far better. I can do right almost as well, but the left was my natural foot forward when I started.
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Old 03-02-08 | 11:40 AM
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when i started learning i didn't take a dominant foot into consideration and just kinda did it the way i saw others do it (left forward, right back) and realized after learning it this way that it was way easier to do it the reverse way. now i'm ambidexterious with trackstands and it's really useful. i've heard don't clip in when learning but at least for me it makes sense to stay strapped in for better controlled stops at lights and such.

and if you fall over at a light, try and land on the windshield of the car next to you and play it off like it never happened.
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Old 03-02-08 | 12:12 PM
  #30  
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I know this link has been posted before on here because that's how I originally found it. It's a good step by step guide on how to track stand... https://www.63xc.com/gregg/101_1.htm It helped me when I was first learning but, just like others have been saying nothing works better than just simple practice, pratice, practice.
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Old 03-02-08 | 01:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Zombie Carl
Sure? I think most people stand as they would on a skateboard (i.e. strong foot back).
I trackstand with my dominate foot forward.

as for how I learned, cold snowy winters and a small dorm room.
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Old 03-02-08 | 01:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Zombie Carl
Sure? I think most people stand as they would on a skateboard (i.e. strong foot back).
i guess I should have specified that my encounters with other fixed gear riders are pretty minimal and that my friends who ride all use their dominant foot forward for the most part, under the logic that you can push down with this foot when you start and get a quicker start than with their other foot forward.

it really doesnt matter that much either way, its about what you feel comfortable with.
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Old 03-02-08 | 01:52 PM
  #33  
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it just hit me one day, trying in the living room of my apartment during a blizzard. i think once i figured out where to put my weight i figured it out. within a half hour i could do a no-handed trackstand for a good amount of time.
 
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Old 03-02-08 | 02:12 PM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by reedreeder
it just hit me one day, trying in the living room of my apartment during a blizzard. i think once i figured out where to put my weight i figured it out. within a half hour i could do a no-handed trackstand for a good amount of time.
yeah, once you get that its just as much about balance as adjustment of pressure on the pedals you're golden, that realization usually comes with practice. After that the no hands trackstands are a blast.
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Old 03-02-08 | 02:22 PM
  #35  
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Once I started commuting with a fixed wheel, it just developed on its own. Eventually it kind of becomes second nature.
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Old 03-02-08 | 02:25 PM
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Originally Posted by ianjk
Once I started commuting with a fixed wheel, it just developed on its own. Eventually it kind of becomes second nature.
Pretty much same story here. Just riding around and waiting behind cars at stoplights.
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Old 03-02-08 | 02:28 PM
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I used to ride as slow as I could up to red lights hoping they would turn green before I had to put my foot down. Eventually my slowness got so slow that I was trackstanding. I like to trackstand the same way I skate, goofy. I can do it regular too but it makes me slower off the start.
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Old 03-02-08 | 02:38 PM
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From: four 1 OHHH , Maryland

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i learned by spending time on my bike, which seems to work best

what i don't get is how people say "i can't skid, i can't trackstand, etc" and they literally ride 5 minutes a day....
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Old 03-02-08 | 02:40 PM
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I'm still in the process of getting it down. For me on the road due to the crown I am hit or miss, some lights no, some I just do it. I think i'm still learning how to track stand with a crown on the road.

I really started improving once I got playing polo, that really will bring your low speed handling and track standing skills up. Once I started getting much more competent at track standing on level surfaces my defensive skills shot through the roof.
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Old 03-02-08 | 02:52 PM
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The UK is a right footed track stander's paradise because we drive on the left side of the road and so your front wheel is generally pointed uphill when it's turned to the right. I dig it here, since my only bike right now has a freehub and gears.

On topic, hip movements help a lot when learning seated track stands.
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Old 03-02-08 | 03:19 PM
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I pretty much just hopped on and did it after a few tries. I guess I'm naturally inclined.
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Old 03-02-08 | 06:26 PM
  #42  
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Old 03-02-08 | 06:49 PM
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doin it takes time- +1 for the rolling up to stop lights progressively slower till you eventually get used to being upright
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Old 03-02-08 | 10:53 PM
  #44  
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A couple tips:

*When you're first starting out, it helps to practice while talking to a friend (preferably a friend who tolerates your eccentricities and/or is a fixed gear rider also). You'll be able to hold it longer while looking at your friend (instead of the wheel) and thinking about the conversation (instead of thinking about falling down).

*Practice trackstanding after making a stop, rather than just jumping on the bike and trackstanding right away. Try this: once you come to a complete stop, turn your wheel in the proper direction, and...don't do anything with your pedals yet! You'll probably find that it takes you at least a full second before you really start to fall over. This is a good thing to teach your body. Beginning trackstanders often panic and overcompensate with the back-and-forth on the pedals, which causes wobble, which causes them to lose the trackstand. When you learn how little you really need to do to stay upright, you'll get much better at staying upright.
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Old 03-02-08 | 11:02 PM
  #45  
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Originally Posted by j0e_bik3
I can trackstand WAY longer if I DON'T look at the wheel, just keep my eyes level and straight ahead (like watching the signal light)

I have no idea why tho
+100

My track stands have always been sub par and I would put a foot down if anyone was around to save myself the embarrassment, but tonight I tried looking forward and keeping the bars and wheel out of my vision and I could track stand with very little wobbling at all for as long as I wanted!
 
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Old 03-02-08 | 11:34 PM
  #46  
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Originally Posted by j0e_bik3
I can trackstand WAY longer if I DON'T look at the wheel, just keep my eyes level and straight ahead (like watching the signal light)

I have no idea why tho
It has to do with your equilibrium and your head being more level. Its one of those things almost better executed when your not concentrating too hard.

If you want to tracstand, practice consistently. If it isnt working, trying something a little different and dont lose hope. Thats a pretty general rule to learn anything in biking.
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Old 03-02-08 | 11:39 PM
  #47  
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learned in my room. now i dont ever step off my bike until i get to my destination. but i really like trackstanding.
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Old 03-03-08 | 12:27 AM
  #48  
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Originally Posted by TimArchy
I knew I'd heard "chocolate foot" before.
...I watched an old Hans Rey video with the people I was staying with.
He had an orangutan that rode around on a bike.
It was awesome.
Yea that video was pretty amazing, I used to have it on VHS but it has since disappeared. He does totally teach a chimp to ride though.
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Old 03-03-08 | 12:30 AM
  #49  
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i learned a bit like the op...tiny circles in my living room on a ss. slight inclines at reds was enough to stand still after that. my housemate thought i was nuts though- "wtf are you doing laps in the living room for?"
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Old 03-03-08 | 10:06 AM
  #50  
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Originally Posted by climbhoser
I learned riding track on the track
did they teach you how to be a d-bag too?
 
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