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Just learned how to do a track stand!

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Just learned how to do a track stand!

Old 10-11-19, 01:09 PM
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bedtime
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Just learned how to do a track stand!

I was practicing doing a standing track stand for about 15 minutes, and then a huge 'click' happened. Strange how that comes about! After that I could do them for about 5 seconds persistently. After another 45 minutes I could hold for about 15-30 seconds persistently.

Anyways, I'm feeling quite good about this; so thought I'd brag a little!
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Old 10-11-19, 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by bedtime
I was practicing doing a standing track stand for about 15 minutes, and then a huge 'click' happened. Strange how that comes about! After that I could do them for about 5 seconds persistently. After another 45 minutes I could hold for about 15-30 seconds persistently.

Anyways, I'm feeling quite good about this; so thought I'd brag a little!
Yup! That's exactly how it happened for me.
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Old 10-11-19, 03:59 PM
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Now practice at a busy intersection with people looking at you and waiting behind you
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Old 10-11-19, 04:45 PM
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The secret, I think, is not to think about it. I find that I have much better results if I stare at the ground a few feet ahead of me, and not at the traffic light that I'm waiting for or whatever. In any case, well done for getting it to click.
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Old 10-11-19, 05:41 PM
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Originally Posted by caloso
Yup! That's exactly how it happened for me.
I thought it would take weeks. Also, I thought it would be extremely difficult to maintain. It's not really that much to keep up; the brain seems to do it automatically.

Originally Posted by GnipGnop
Now practice at a busy intersection with people looking at you and waiting behind you
I practice my tricks at the (generally busy) skate park with people of all ages watching, kids zooming by on scooters out of nowhere, and always having to look around to make sure I'm not in anyone's way.

As for people staring, it happens all the time. Several people at the skate park were staring at me at one time or another today. All these challenges add up to make one a better rider.

Originally Posted by Chinghis
The secret, I think, is not to think about it. I find that I have much better results if I stare at the ground a few feet ahead of me, and not at the traffic light that I'm waiting for or whatever. In any case, well done for getting it to click.
Thanks. I've tried looking at the ground, at a distant, still object, and at the moving riders at the skate park. All seemed to yield the same result for me.

Valid point about trying not to think about it; the mind will do the trick far better than I would had I consciously tried doing it.

Last edited by bedtime; 10-11-19 at 05:45 PM.
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Old 10-11-19, 05:51 PM
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Congratulations, that is an accomplishment. I can still do a trackstand, but not as well as I could not that many years ago. I now only use them on occasion and for short durations, like seconds. My age is showing in balance and perception. My knees do not like them all that well either. But that is OK, still getting a lot of miles and time riding and working on and looking at bikes/bike stuff.
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Old 10-11-19, 05:57 PM
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Originally Posted by delbiker1
Congratulations, that is an accomplishment. I can still do a trackstand, but not as well as I could not that many years ago. I now only use them on occasion and for short durations, like seconds. My age is showing in balance and perception. My knees do not like them all that well either. But that is OK, still getting a lot of miles and time riding and working on and looking at bikes/bike stuff.
I've been dealing with sore knees as well. I find standing to be a lot less stressful on my knees when doing the track stand than sitting and attempting it.
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Old 10-11-19, 06:57 PM
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Congrats!
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Old 10-12-19, 06:57 AM
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Originally Posted by woodcraft
Congrats!
Thank you!

...

In case anyone is interested, the track stand in artistic cycling is called a stillstand on pedals (#1141a, 1pt). A freehand stillstand on pedals is done hands-free (#1141b, 1.2pts). I hope to learn this move next (ffwd to 33secs):


It must be held for 3 seconds to be valid. Looks as if she may be stabilizing the bars with her leg?

Can anyone do this move or something close to it? Any advice?
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Old 10-12-19, 10:40 AM
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I do a track stand at every stop light on my trike.
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Old 10-12-19, 12:36 PM
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Congratulations, track standing is a nifty skill.

The being said, my only fall of 2019 (so far) was while attempting a track stand. I didn't notice that my chain had dropped, until it was too late to clip out. Fun fact: it's really hard to do a track stand without a chain.
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Old 10-13-19, 07:13 AM
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Originally Posted by rydabent
I do a track stand at every stop light on my trike.
Clearly you're a natural.

Originally Posted by terrymorse
Congratulations, track standing is a nifty skill.

The being said, my only fall of 2019 (so far) was while attempting a track stand. I didn't notice that my chain had dropped, until it was too late to clip out. Fun fact: it's really hard to do a track stand without a chain.
Sounds embarrassing. I couldn't imagine doing a track stand without the ability to pedal. Though, perhaps it can be done with one foot on the front tire, rocking the tire back and forth.

* progress *

Today I practiced for about 90 mins at the skate park. I worked on holding the bars with as gentle a grip as possible. Was able to go hands-free .5-1.5 seconds.

Noticed that I'm much better at recovering from a botched track stand by peddling backwards (I ride direct drive) and weaving, sharp turns. I can now re-position the peddles and my body while in the track stand. This is helping with getting the handlebars to rest on my thigh, so I can go hands-free as in the video above.
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Old 10-13-19, 12:20 PM
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Nice work!

I can still, to this day, only execute a track stand on a fixed gear bike. Sadly, I rarely ride fixed anymore, so there's just a lot of clipping in and out.
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Old 10-13-19, 06:36 PM
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Originally Posted by wipekitty
Nice work!

I can still, to this day, only execute a track stand on a fixed gear bike. Sadly, I rarely ride fixed anymore, so there's just a lot of clipping in and out.
Thanks. It seems that it takes a lot longer to learn to track stand on non-fixie bikes.

...

The next adaptation will be a reverse handlebar seated track stand. The issue will be how to have the bars turned to a 45 degree angle but still have both legs on the pedals; when the bars are turned in such a way, there is less room for the legs and things become quite cramped, causing the bars to straighten up. The key will be to find a way to keep that 45 degree angle.

Not sure how doable it is for me, but I will try.
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Old 10-14-19, 11:22 AM
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Congrats! I still can't do them
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Old 10-14-19, 11:54 AM
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On a freewheel bike, you can use the crown of the road: turn into it and rock back and forth.
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Old 10-14-19, 07:42 PM
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Congrats! I aspire to do one myself. Perhaps I'll make it my winter learning activity.
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Old 10-15-19, 04:44 AM
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Originally Posted by insideimoutside
Congrats! I still can't do them
Have you put some time i to try?

Originally Posted by caloso
On a freewheel bike, you can use the crown of the road: turn into it and rock back and forth.
I'm just thankful I ride fixie, lol.

Originally Posted by NoWhammies
Congrats! I aspire to do one myself. Perhaps I'll make it my winter learning activity.
A great trick to learn over the winter!

...

It's cool how learning one trick opens a pathway to others; the track stand helps with many tricks that involve biking backwards (fixie) or preparing for a trick from a standstill.
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