Originally Posted by
streetcore
To clarify, the author below is talking about practicing things like dismounts and trackstands.
The Drill is how we practiced Starts lined up shoulder to shoulder in road & 'cross racing "back when" and will provide a sure, dependable, repeatable and wobble free start from your driveway or a stoplight regardless of drivetrain flavor. It's the same process over & over until completely smooth & automatic. FG is particularly demanding of a dedication to technique & proper set-up, including a smooth Start & Stop routine.
The Stop & Dismount:
Look where you need to stop
Loosen the weak side toestrap w/o looking down (it should not be
tight in traffic)
Ask yourself why you aren't riding Clipless pedals with positive foot retention and quick/easy release instead
Estimate # of crank revs to the stop point
Unclip/ease weak side foot out, look where you want the bike to go
Apply front brake and ride strong side down easing off the saddle and setting the off side foot firmly down
Your strong side is still firmly secured to it's pedal by it's retention system, you are in charge for a Start
Although we all learned track stands on the Velodrome the 1st priority for a new FG rider should be command and control of the machine and adapting to it's uncompromising nature.
Why all the emphasis on Proper Secure Foot Retention and the recommendation for Clipless riding in road FG in mundane Starting/Stopping and just bopping along?
If you ride FG on the road descents are
inevitable whether trivial/minor/holy-S_it they will
Require a supple higher RPM pedaling technique that most FW riders
never experience and don't have the technique for.
The Downside?
W/O proper foot retention the dreaded "Cuisinart" effect where the pedals get-away from the rider with Very-Bad-Things happenings: Not excluding a Loss of Control and the Much, Much Worse things that happen as a result.
Good luck.
-Bandera