Getting on a bike

[basstrials]

Hi there,a bit strange question maybe but how do you get on a bike on uneven or flat ground in order to trackstanding?What exactly do you do to stay in desired position without or little movement?Both brakes or not?What foot positioning? Correction hops?

Any tips would help.

Have a nice time.

[stirlingpowers]

Pressing the front tire against something fixed, then steer. Standing really steep, or with an obstacle wedged between the wheels or even hooking makes it a lot easier, to the point where you can do it on flat walls. Put the front wheel on a wall of 30 to 70 cm, wheels straight, use the front brake to stop again when you roll forward, back brake open. Stand straight but relaxed, and correct your balance by steering a little.

[basstrials]

Thank you.I did find what i look for, luckily.The video of Adri Bielsa(Spanish trial and mtb rider) showing balance techniques,here it is(strating at 8 minute):

I am sorry to not to put this thread on beginners trials chet,if mod decides to move it away,go on.

All the best to anyone.

[La Bourde]

On 12/24/2024 at 2:12 PM, basstrials said:

Hi there,a bit strange question maybe but how do you get on a bike on uneven or flat ground in order to trackstanding?What exactly do you do to stay in desired position without or little movement?Both brakes or not?What foot positioning? Correction hops?

Any tips would help.

Have a nice time.

It is easier when you face a gentle slope uphill:

Mastering the Art oft trials is really a good  video to learn trials.

 

There are 4 possibilities to regain balance:

- use your foot pressure (release or add pressure with both brakes open), this is the most efficient way to maintain balance (but does not work when it goes downhill. The better you get, the less you move. Stand straight and tall, but relaxed, as strilingpowers wrote.

- turn your wheel less or further (that is not something that one uses really, it is more a recovery move or setup move if you face against an obstacle and want to lean against for example)

- pivoting on one wheel (like front then rear): used to setup correctly in front of an obstacle, to move laterally. Commonly used to align when your front wheel is on a rail or before a big move in front of an obstacle when the approach is short.

It is a load transfer. When pivoting on the front, straight your arms but your shoulders over the bar, like a gymnast on a bar.

When pivoting on the rear, you can first maintain the rear brake closed, but when you get better you can slightly open the brake and use your pedal to ease the rotation.

- hop both wheels at the same time: cost a lot of effort, mostly used as a recovery or on really uneven surfaces (small pebble, cobble stone). Most of the time, use both brakes.

 

When you get good at riding, try to reduce as much as possible the rear brake usage. Use the pedal pressure instead, find some egdes, find some holes or slopes, etc.

 

 

[basstrials]

The problem i have is not trackstanding itself,i can tell that i do it well but when i getting on my comp bike from the even flat ground i loose balance and have to move the bike a little bit forward to get balance back and do trackstand(i am talking about when the bike is on even ground,on uphill is different,it is more easier).This is very annoying because most of the times i have to do correction hops immediately to not moving bike at all but obviously most of the rider do it. Strangely i can do it rightly on my other bikes but comp one... Maybe because it is BB is higher.

So i did find this clip of Adri Bielsa and help me a lot mostly because he explaining more details about.He is not using his brakes but i would like to know how other riders do it,what brakes they use on what kind the terrain,stuffs like this.

Otherwise,La Bourde this links are very helpful.Ryan Leech is one of my old school heroes and very good teacher,i guess.

So if any comp riders share their experience would be great.

P.S. Apologies gor any misunderstanding. English is not my native language.

Have a nice time.

[La Bourde]

It is neither my mother tongue, so the issue may come from my side !

 

High bottom brackets and steep head angles make track standing much more difficult.

As already written, try not to brake, try to find some uneven surfaces...

But when the surface is really flat, open both brakes, try to turn your shoulders as much as your front wheel and put your chest above the bar. When I get back on the comp bike I find me having the bad habit to stand not straight enough, too much on the rear.

Also pulling the front brake and moving your hips rearwards give a backward impulse that you can use to get back (and forth by counteracting with the pedal pressure).

Furthermore, improving your body English and your fitness are two other areas of progression.

I forgot also three advises :

1. Have your head straight, it is really really helpful.

2. Try to look at the horizon. According to some, it helps too.

3. Some argue that training by night improves your proprioception too.