indyfabz

I went to T-Town last year. I think they sell beer there.

SoSmellyAir

I hate to break it to you, but I am afraid that the latter is already the case regardless of your inability to perform the former.

SoSmellyAir

You forgot to mention the questionable sources for vodka and organic produce.

Sorcerer

I admire anyone who rides. I admire riders who ride with consideration of traffic lights, and stop at them too. To those who occasionally sprint across red lights I still admire them, especially when they get away with grace and speed, but I don't recommend the behavior.

Track stands do confuse some drivers. I do it anyway.

Track stands didn't come easily over the first 5 years of bike commuting, but I always aspired to it. I never thought I would become as proficient as I am.

It started with keeping an eye on the traffic lights and trying to time them so I would either sprint to make them or slow down into them so that I would be able to staypinted and coasting in slow and arrive just as the light turned green.

Most of the roads and intersections, not all, have a crown, a higher altitude, in the center. It's subtle, and makes water drain and not pool in the important intersection..

As I began to see it, I could use the slight hill as something to push against with my dominant leg on the pedal. I slowly developed a technique of coasting up to the line, clocking my right crank around 3, and turning the handlebar left into the slight uphill grade, and letting the bike rock back into my right leg.

At first I had difficulty finding the right gear ratio to do this in. I also had trouble moderating the strength output of my leg. I found it easier to do a track stand standing in the pedals.

​​​​​​Wanting to sit and track stand forced me to start working on that. At the same time I wanted to be able to do it on both legs with equal facility.

Eventually I mastered this skill. I believe track stands have made me a stronger climber and a better mountain bike rider.

If I can do, most can I bet.

I'm 64 and have been bike commuting for 40 years and I track stand at every light and do not usually put a foot down until I get to work or get home, unless I stop to get groceries, pay a visit, or something like extend the ride into the hills on the way home.

I'm still working and bike commute. Been riding a fixed gear bicycle to work forany years now. I think track bikes are easier to track stand on by a long shot.
​​

mstateglfr 

No

mstateglfr 

You identify a problem but don't offer a solution.
Cool, it's the wrong term, but what is the accurate term then?

LarrySellerz

To clarify, if you cannot track stand on a slight downhill, in my view you are doing fake pseudo trackstands.

Sorcerer

Yes I can track stand on a downhill on the brakes too and much easier on the fixed gear bike.

A practical thing is that there is no time spent putting the standing foot in the pedal and if needed seating the cleat before actually applying full power.

Really though, being in a hurry and racing is not a what I aspire to on my commute. If I catch myself being in a competitive mood I try to moderate it because it generally makes the ride a suffer fest for me, especially if I attempt to close with an eBiker and keep the behind me!

freeranger

I'm just glad I can still keep my bike moving forward! I've never been too concerned with being able to stay still, and I can stay still forever with one foot down! Can't track stand-not for more than a few seconds anyway.

Trakhak

Another cool, albeit useless technique is one that a guy in my local cycling team/club dreamed up, and the rest of us then imitated, back around 1965. Instead of coming to a complete stop and swinging your leg over the top tube or back wheel to get off the bike, you would (1) stand on the left pedal as it came up and past 12:00 and (2) let the bike shoot forward out from under you, putting your right foot down and grabbing your saddle just in time.

One of the clumsier riders once had his bike get away from him before he grabbed the saddle, to much merriment from the rest of us.

It was easy to learn that dismount technique on a track bike (which was all I owned at the time), but it was only a bit trickier on a road bike. Anyone posting here could probably learn it in about two minutes.

As far as I know, we were the only riders anywhere who used what I guess I can therefore call the "New Haven dismount."

Could come in handy for cyclocross, I imagine.

Edit: I haven't tried it in at least 40 years. Forgot to mention: loosen your toe straps first!!! And it might not work reliably with clipless pedals, to put it mildly.

Trakhak

BTW, the cool kids track stand no hands, with one foot on a pedal and the other on the front wheel behind the fork. Amaze your friends!

SpeedyBlueBiker

I don't really have any need to track stand as I ride on the roads or mtb trails. Hence, I'm not on a velodrome track. It's easier to just unclip and put my foot down and wait like everyone else. It also doesn't put any unnecessary strain on the chain.

Eric F 

Someone being able to ride away from me is more of a testament to their legs than doing a track stand. A track stand is a party trick.

rsbob 

Another blow to my self esteem.

I cannot trackstand on a flat,
I cannot trackstand with a bat, 🦇
I cannot trackstand on a hill,
I cannot trackstand near a mill,
I cannot trackstand heading down,
I cannot trackstand with a clown. 🤡

spelger

you forgot to mention the red and blue fishes.

Eric F 

That's a different book.

indyfabz

That does it! I have failed at life. Think I will go jump in front of a bus.

indyfabz

ScottCommutes

I learned this as never race when the other guy doesn't know it's a race and there's no finish line.

ScottCommutes

I think it depends. If you ride in an urban environment, for example, all the pedestrians and vehicles can already "track stand". The ability to at least poke forward dead slow is helpful.

Good balance also helps when you are trying to ride between two vehicles without touching either.

rsbob 

This is my faux approach. Slow to an almost stop and very slowly creep forward. Have tried to do TSs over the and never quite got the hang of it, but falling now is not worth it. Sorry Larry, but I am not worthy.

Eric F 

Riding really slowly is a different animal than a full-stop track stand to wait out a light. Don't get me wrong. IMO, a track stand is a useful skill, and I'm moderately good at it, but it has pretty much nothing to do with one's ability to pedal a bike (as Larry alluded to).

Eric F 

On the road, the trick is to find a slope to work against (road crown, for example). Slight variations in pedal pressure adjusts your balance by moving your turned front wheel up and down the slope. Once you get a feel for the pedal pressure adjustments, you're gold. It does take some practice.

Trakhak

There should be a massive increase in the number of "I dropped a fool in full Lycra!!" threads showing up in General and C&V in the spring, now that 80% Zone 2 training plans have become widespread.

LarryMelman

You don't say.