Do you stand??

[Zephyr]

Brake stand, on your bike at red lights, or do you put a foot down?  I have never been able to do it, it pretty much takes full use of my semi circular canals just for me to walk upright most days, let alone stay upright on a bike sitting still

Yesterday I approached a light that I thought was about to change so I just slowed and never unclipped.  It didn't change and I ended up stopping and waiting and I was doing a break stand for about 30 seconds  

I never even realized it until I was going again. I have no idea how or what I did and i tried it on the way work today and am back to my old self. 

Why do superpowers have to be so fleeting??

[Randomguy]

Bike talk?  Here? 

[Guest]

I could, for like .0001 seconds

[jsharr ★]

I like to brake stand.  It is fun.  I vary from ride to ride.  If I need to hydrate, etc I will unclip.

[Road Runner]

I usually slow way down.  As long as I have some forward motion, I'm pretty good at balancing the bike.  No motion, I put a foot down.

So if I see the light is red, I will reduce speed with the hope I can maintain balance until the light changes.  Works 9 times out of 10, maybe.

[Zephyr]

2 minutes ago, Randomguy said:

Bike talk?  Here? 

I like @airinpie, bike talk will keep her here.  

[2Far ★]

I am similarly afflicted.

But, I can ride for long distances no-handed, curves & all.

[Road Runner]

Sometimes when I get near the light and I am barely moving, people in cars will start staring at me, wondering why I don't fall over, I guess.  

[Wilbur ★]

Yes, I like brake stands.  I learned by doing it against a building pinning the front wheel. Then gradually switched to using brakes and pedal pressure. 

[Road Runner]

1 minute ago, 2Far said:

 I can ride for long distances no-handed, curves & all.

Me too.  At the park trail (paved), I used to regularly practice riding with no hands.  It seems that if I don't do it for awhile, I start to suck at it.

[Zephyr]

1 minute ago, Wilbur said:

Yes, I like brake stands.  I learned by doing it against a building pinning the front wheel. Then gradually switched to using brakes and pedal pressure. 

You mean like 'practice'??  I'm out.  This is probably why I suck at golf too.  

[Kzoo]

I have fairly good balance for an old dude and sometimes can manage a stand for a few seconds.  Truth be told my brain always tells me it's wiser to unclip.

[Square Wheels]

Never tried, probably won't.  I feel safer just unclipping.

[ChrisL]

For those of you who rode in toe clips & straps, you learned how to brake stand ,or track stand as we called it.  I still do if it looks like the light may change soon but if it's gonna be a while I'll unclip.  I used to be really good at it back in the day.

I can also ride no handed really well and wish my wife would learn.  Getting both hands off the bars and stretching every now & again does wonders for the hands, arms & shoulders.

[Road Runner]

1 minute ago, ChrisL said:

Getting both hands off the bars and stretching every now & again does wonders for the hands, arms & shoulders.

Definitely.  With my bad back and shoulder, riding for a while sitting up is a big help.  

[maddmaxx ★]

I can barely ground stand and you want me to do what?

[airinpie]

I didn't know that anyone could balance on a non moving bike ?

[Thaddeus Kosciuszko]

3 hours ago, Zephyr said:

or do you put a foot down?  I have never been able to do it

I've always been able to put my foot down, and I am never afraid to do so either.

Unless Mrs. TK tells me not to.

[ChrisL]

4 minutes ago, airinpie said:

I didn't know that anyone could balance on a non moving bike ?

Go on YouTube and look up track stand.  It's something sprinters do when racing in a velodrome and a skill that was used often with roadies pre clipless pedals as it was a PITA to pull out and back in a pedal with clips & straps.  With modern pedals it's so easy to clip in and out very few roadies do it anymore.

[Zealot]

I do both. If I'm really tired or the stop looks like it will be a while I put my foot down.  

But I like brake stands.  I also practice them now on mtb venues like downhill switchbacks.

[Ltdskilz]

Nope. Skilz are limited.

[ChrisL]

Is it really called a brake stand?  Isnt that what its called when you give your car gas and apply the brakes so you stay in one spot and smoke your tires?  

We always called balancing in one place on a bike a track stand???

[Zealot]

1 minute ago, ChrisL said:

Is it really called a brake stand?  Isnt that what its called when you give your car gas and apply the brakes so you stay in one spot and smoke your tires?  

We always called balancing in one place on a bike a track stand???

Yeah, i think you are correct.

[airinpie]

50 minutes ago, ChrisL said:

Go on YouTube and look up track stand.  It's something sprinters do when racing in a velodrome and a skill that was used often with roadies pre clipless pedals as it was a PITA to pull out and back in a pedal with clips & straps.  With modern pedals it's so easy to clip in and out very few roadies do it anymore.

Get outta town! I'm gonna have to try this. With just regular shoes I think. ?

[Zephyr]

9 minutes ago, ChrisL said:

Is it really called a brake stand?  Isnt that what its called when you give your car gas and apply the brakes so you stay in one spot and smoke your tires?  

We always called balancing in one place on a bike a track stand???

SEE!!  This is how bad I am at it, I don't even know what it is called.  

[ChrisL]

9 minutes ago, airinpie said:

Get outta town! I'm gonna have to try this. With just regular shoes I think. ?

I've often mentioned this to my wife but since I say it she wont do it.... But anyone can ride fast. A skilled rider can ride slowly.  I cant tell you how many times I've avoided falling due to being able to balance or control my bike in tight turns or nearly stopped.  Much of police bike patrol training is slow speed drills.as well as it's such a valuable skill.

Yeah try it in sneakers on grass!

[shootingstar]

Um no, I don't track/brake stand at a red traffic light.  Foot down on pavement.  Also I'm usually riding with panniers full of stuff..my clothing (from work) or groceries. As for no hands on handlebar riding, I guess I'm getting abit old to try that now.  I was really impressed when a young lady trackstanded in front of me without her hands. She also had several hula hoops wrapped around her body.  So she must have had some trained/natural acrobatic skills...which might have included a bike. She would have been great in bike polo games.

[MickinMD ★]

I'm too unskilled. I put my foot down. Once I was on a path that sloped from right down to left. I put my left foot down and by the time it touched ground I was already falling over. Of course, the bush on the left side of the path had thorns.

[Dirtyhip]

I track stand.  Sometimes, it works beautifully.  Sometimes, I have to plant the foot.  

You just balance and move the front wheel side to side a bit.  Your body is in a standing position.  This is from years of commuting and practicing. 

[Road Runner]

It would seem to me that if you were standing and you began to lose your balance, you might not be able to unclip in time and you would fall over.  Does this ever happen?

[donkpow]

On 9/29/2017 at 5:07 PM, ChrisL said:

Go on YouTube and look up track stand.  It's something sprinters do when racing in a velodrome and a skill that was used often with roadies pre clipless pedals as it was a PITA to pull out and back in a pedal with clips & straps.  With modern pedals it's so easy to clip in and out very few roadies do it anymore.

It was actually the cleats that made it so difficult to pull out. I run clips and straps now and getting in and out is easy.