Just wondering, how many of you trackstand at lights without slipping out. I've been getting my abilities back over the last couple of weeks - my new saddle and switching to the clippless pedals made my trackstands complete crap. Now I'm back to being able to stand through most lights, even if I'm hitting the crosswalk right when it's turning yellow (yeah, I've been stopping on yellow to practice).

Anyways, I'm wondering if it's any easier to do clipped in - I did have a couple of 0mph falls when I was first learning to use the pedals, so I've been paranoid about anything that's going to be longer than about 15 seconds clipped in. It also seems a lot harder to clip out when you're not pedaling, so that worries me a little... The pedals I'm using (crankbrothers mallets) are really great for giving you a surface to stand on, but I will probably be wanting to switch to something smaller like eggbeaters in the future, which I think would make it more difficult...

Any advice on getting more used to it? I am thinking of getting some bmx or motorcycle pads for this winter eventually, those might help (getting sick of road rash - it's been a constant companion for a couple of months now. As soon as one spot heals, I do something stupid and get another ). I don't think going out and practicing on grass would really help me all that much since it's not a surface that I'm on all that much, and the grass and dirt would probably give extra support... It would be kind of like practicing without a bag - better trackstands, but then thrown off by the weight of the bag and a different center of gravity...

"Any advice on getting more used to it?"

Either practice more, or give it up.

Thanks for the constructive advice. I think I'll give up...

If you notice, I've been stopping at lights that I could make intentionally to practice, the problem is I'm paranoid about doing that clipped in. I'm wondering if it's any better/easier do do them clipped in (hopefully without falling over) and if it's harder to do them on the smaller/lighter pedals that I eventually want to put on my bike. I'm also wondering how many people actually do their trackstands clipped in, so I can k if it is something I should think about, or if I should go back to trying to do crop circles instead...

i unclip to trackstand at lights. i can trackstand easily for minutes, yet i don't have the confidence to do it clipped it. i hate earplants. i just unclip and move my feet back a bit so my eggbeaters are closer to my toes. but as stevo said, it just takes practice.

I used eggbeaters and I stay clipped in while doing trackstands at red lights all the time, it’s just one of the perks of riding fixed. In the rare occasions that I’ve lost my balance I was able to unclip in time(yeah after saying that I’ll probably fall down today on my way home ) Like Stevo said, just practice more. If you’re having problems doing a trackstand unclipped, (needless to say) doing it clipped in is just asking for trouble.

Yeah, the changes in my geometry and the weight of my bike took away/changed the sweet spot... it's different now, and I just can't quite find it...'

It's good to know others move more towards the toes too - I've been kind of wishy-washy as to which feels better - moving the pedals under the toes or putting them under the arch of your foot. Toes are easier for clipping back in, but do make the stand less stable...

It's not that I'm having trouble with them unclipped, it's just that it feels a lot different. I'm used to being able to stand for minutes at a time with bmx pedals and caterpillar steel toed work boots (even close to a min no handed that way!)... trying to do it with these cycling shoes just kind of feels wrong... I don't really know how to explain it correctly. I think a lot of it is the transition from 'riding' foot position to 'standing' foot position - it's about 3/4" difference, which changes the weight distrobution a lot... I'm still not used to that...

I'll get it eventually, I'm sure. I was hoping someone had some zen and the art of trackstands help on it.

Oh well

I'm going the route of getting used to my clipless pedals before trying to ride fixed gear. I predicted a 0 mph tip over within the first 3 weeks of going clipless, and I got that over with at critical mass on Friday :c) I had the right foot out, was in the process of getting the left out, and somehow ended up clipping the right one back in as I tipped to that side (and it seems takes me for friggin ever to get clipped in when I WANT to be...). It was pretty laughable, though, and I came out of it without so much as a scratch. Anyhow, I was able to do a half-a$$ed track stand with a freewheel before going clipless, and it does seem like my balance is off if I try to do it clipped in. I had some larger BMX pedals on it until I got some shoes for the SPDs. Now I'm just worried that if I'm trying to do a trackstand while NOT clipped in, and I have to bail, that I will have a repeat incident of getting my foot clipped back in by accident. Possibly a different pedal would would be better?

I have some cheap spd pedals and i stay clipped in when i trackstand. It makes it easier for me just in case i do mess up i can pedal away. I keep my tension set as high as it can go and i still have time to clip out if things get to hairy. I haven't had a 0mph fall since my first week of clipless. (insert prayer for ride home here)

Drink more alcohol

C'mon, do you really think that's possible for me?

Practice, practice, practice... and if that fails, give up and be happy with your ability. Everybody has their limits and we would all be wise to know them.

if you are asking (rhetoric or not), it means you can.

just get comfy with the pedals first. I got the hang of trackstands within a month. Try rolling back and forth on small slope, clipping and unclipping as necessary. I just switched from Eggbeaters to plain Shimano 540 spd's. You'll figure it out in no time!

It just takes time and practice. I used to unclip to even think about a trackstand. The first few times I did a trackstand clipped in on the street was terrifying. However I'm slowly getting used to it and I usually stay clipped in for most of a ride. I'm still no pro... I can only trackstand consistently on one side with my butt out of the saddle, and I guarantee there was still some zero-mph tipovers in the cards for me.

good luck=]

Well, I can tell you this...

I have the good old vintage stuff (clips and toestraps). Ive never had the clipless stuff. Its funny, Im almost 23 yet I still prefer the old stuff. ANYWAY...

I can stand for a few minutes with my clips. I dont see the differance with clipless. To me its all about the balance. The only tip I have is of course practice, but I found that, for example like me, when I have my left foot front, I keep my right inner thigh touching the right side of my seat and hover over your bars like there is no tomorrow. Keep it steady and dont budge and youll be fine. If you want it more in depth...

https://www.63xc.com/gregg/101_12.htm

Good luck, and a few cold ones dont hurt

I'm going clipless from doing big BMX platforms w/ no straps and steel-toed boots for the last couple of years. I think one of the main things that's been getting me is the paranoia of falling over, even at 0mph. I want to get as much life out of my clips as possible, too, so it seems better to clip out as little as possible.

But I do have the tendency to hurt myself while riding, so avoiding it when I can is a good thing.

I did a couple of short ones on the way home this morning - kind of had too. There was a cop going down nicolette mall with his lights on at about 10mph, and he kept stopping behind the busses (still not sure why he had his lights on) and I tried to be good and wait behind him. Got bored on the fourth light and just passed him and the bus while they were stopped on the right. Didn't seem to concern him

Best position seems to be leaned forward, with the wheel to the left, left foot forward, and bike leaning to the right w/ the top tube leaned against my right thigh... Only stepped of my pedals twice on the way to work last night, but I did clip out about 8 times... only probably 4, maybe 5 lights that I didn't clip out for, and those were ones where I knew when it was going to change and just slowed down so I'd be moving really slow when I hit it at green, not trackstanding...

As far as the drinking more thing goes - I have noticed that it relaxes you a bit more, and that helps, clipped or not. I can usually stand OK drunk because I'm not all twitchy and thinking about it - it's very relaxed, which is what's getting too me... If I stay clipped, I'm nervous knowing that I have to not only hold the stand, but be ready to clip out, too.

Another problem is that I can't go slow drunk... Gotta get them gyroscopes in the wheel moving fast to keep me vertical. I did pick up a 1.75 of Jameson and a 12 of PBR on the way home, but I've been awake 25 hours now, so I don't think riding is a good idea. Maybe tomorrow...

Thanks all for taking such an interest in my poor cycling skills

I usually try to trackstand at lights while clipped in, but I use clips and straps (mostly so I can wear ultra-hip shoes while I ride, but also cause it's cheap). So anyway, I don't know about unclipping in time cause I just slide my foot out. However, for me, trackstanding is a lot easier while clipped in. Why don't you try this: when you trackstand at lights, try doing so next to something that you could probably grab onto if things get messed up: a lamp post, a parking meter, a street sign, even a car if need be. That way you can build your confidence and have the advantage of being clipped in and more connected to your bike.

Well, take advantage of empty parking lots. Maybe one thing is that in traffic, you worry about the cars and people.

And try not to worry so much about falling, its gonna happen... believe me. Just relax and try to remember what youre doing thats making you stand so you can apply it next time. But yeah, you should practice without being clipped in just in case you do fall. Plus, girls dig scars.

So after you get the hang of that, try it with one hand.

I still can't track stand. But I'm not worried. I'll get it eventually. I'm curious to see if clips do make a difference. Did you adjust the float?

The clips just made me more paranoid - I was doing them before the pedals. There isn't any way to adjust the float on my pedals, so I don't know if that would make a difference...

I would say try getting used to clipping out really fast. I just got my clips on my new bike like a couple weeks ago and I haven't fallen once on them and I can only do trackstands for like 30 seconds. I'm sure racing bmx for 7 years on clipless pedals didn't hurt. But everytime I start to fall over I clip out in time to catch myself.

i always practiced my trackstands in a parking lot with a large load in my bag. it helps me balance better and if i earplant, no one is there to watch at 2 am.

Sometimes I'm so dense I even surprise myself.

Stopping at the light right up by the crosswalk was my mistake. Much better when you stop about 12ft before the crosswalk. That way when you roll out of it, it's not strait into traffic.

D'oh.

gotta say both apply to me... I started fixed with SPD's because that was what I was used to. Now I do one handed stands without even thinking about it (clipped in) at any redlight I feel a threat to my safety.

For some reason, I just can't go on a red light once I stop and get into a stand until it turns green!

I think I learned to trackstand because I was clipped in. Never really had a problem finding the 'sweet spot' as you refer to it, I can do it on my roadie, HT, duallie, even the kids bikes, as long as the surface I am on is right. I think alot of it is mental, if you're worried about it you'll have problems.