Dirt Rag Skill Series,Part 1: Balance
Balance is also the first chapter of Ned Overend's "How to Mountain Bike Like a Champion."
We use balance on a bike all the time, side to side on cornering, front and back on climbing and descending.
As the bike speed slows and we have less giroscopic affect, things become more wobblely. Most falls on the bike occur at slow speed.
To reduce slow speed falls, all we need to do is practice. I practice by going slower and slower until I need a slow half pedal stroke to gain balance and then slow down again. Also come to a straight stop and keep feet on the pedals and hold the position until needing to unclip and put a foot down. These develop a feel and for the balance point. I think these moves are a prereq for the more advanced moves in the Dirt Rag article above.
Track stands are useful in singletrack when coming to an unknown ttf, allowing one to survey the situation and then choose a course of action without unclipping.
They also come in handy when the rider in front of you stalls out. You can wait for them to resume or clear the trail, or see which way they are falling and ride on the other side. 8-)
They are very handy for commuting - waiting at stoplights or for a gap in traffic so you can cross a street or pull into the lane. The gap needed in traffic is probably one third or less what is needed from a footdown stop.
Balance is also the first chapter of Ned Overend's "How to Mountain Bike Like a Champion."
We use balance on a bike all the time, side to side on cornering, front and back on climbing and descending.
As the bike speed slows and we have less giroscopic affect, things become more wobblely. Most falls on the bike occur at slow speed.
To reduce slow speed falls, all we need to do is practice. I practice by going slower and slower until I need a slow half pedal stroke to gain balance and then slow down again. Also come to a straight stop and keep feet on the pedals and hold the position until needing to unclip and put a foot down. These develop a feel and for the balance point. I think these moves are a prereq for the more advanced moves in the Dirt Rag article above.
Track stands are useful in singletrack when coming to an unknown ttf, allowing one to survey the situation and then choose a course of action without unclipping.
They also come in handy when the rider in front of you stalls out. You can wait for them to resume or clear the trail, or see which way they are falling and ride on the other side. 8-)
They are very handy for commuting - waiting at stoplights or for a gap in traffic so you can cross a street or pull into the lane. The gap needed in traffic is probably one third or less what is needed from a footdown stop.
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