Track stand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The track stand is a technique that bicycle riders can use to stay balanced on their bicycles without putting a foot down and while moving only minimal distances. The term originated from use of the technique by track cyclists prior to starting, or as a tactic in track sprinting whereby riders will initially ride very slowly and manouevre across the track in an effort to get their rival to take the lead so that they can then draft or slipstream behind.
Other cyclists also use the technique: road cyclists use it to stop in traffic, mountain cyclists use it in terrain to determine a path and BMX cyclists use it in preparation for tricks. Nonetheless, the track stand is most easily accomplished on a fixed gear bicycle (also called a fixed wheel bicycle).
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[edit] Performing a track stand
To perform a track stand, while riding along stand up on the pedals out of the saddle with the cranks horizontal, placing the "good" foot forward. Lean forward. Find a slight uphill and slowly roll to a stop. When completely stopped, the front wheel should be turned about 45 degrees towards the riders "good" foot, and pointed roughly uphill.
The uphill allows the rider to create backward motion by relaxing pressure on the pedals, thus allowing the bike to roll backwards; if a fixed gear bike is being used the slope is not needed; the rider is able to back pedal to move backwards. The 45 degree angle converts the bike's forward and back motion into side-to-side motion beneath the body; it permits the delicate balancing that is the essence of the track stand.
Now the rider is ready to do the track stand. If the body starts to lean in the direction the front wheel faces, a forward rotation of the cranks will bring the bike back under the riders center of gravity. If the body starts to lean the other way, a backwards rotation of the cranks will likewise bring the bike back under the riders center of gravity. It is also possible to keep the body in one place and use its inertia as a brace to push the bike forward or back, and hence left or right beneath the body. In achieving a good, stable track stand, the most important thing is to practice.
Those proficient at the track stand can maintain the position for minutes on end. More difficult variations involve putting the non-dominant foot forward, sitting down,or taking one or both hands off the handlebars. Even a basic track stand is more unusual than dismounting and straddling the bicycle, and is almost guaranteed to impress pedestrians and motorists at stop lights.
[edit] Zen connection
Some who are able to track stand believe there are certain supposed Zen-like aspects of the trick. Such cyclists say it is a way to stand in one spot while nevertheless maintaining a fluid, dynamic state of motion. They assert that, in contrast with the "broken-up" feeling associated with standing on the ground in the middle of a bike ride, the trackstand fundamentally links time spent "stopped" with time spent cycling. The Zen connection is also mentioned by some because track stands are easier to perform on a fixed-gear bike and one of the purported features of riding fixed-gear is the supposed Zen connection the rider feels with the road and the bike.
[edit] Muscles involved
In maintaining a track stand the cyclist varies contraction of the extensor muscles of the thigh and leg of the foot which is forward. These muscles are the soleus, gastrocnemius, and the rectus femoris.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Some very good track standers
- Learn How To Track Stand from Team Estrogen
- Team Riding Demonstration Championnats du Monde de Cyclisme en Salle 2003, Schiltigheim, France
