Balancing on a bike for around 15 seconds

[Accy cyclist]

I was waiting for the traffic lights to change yesterday when another cyclist pulled up next to me. I'd had my foot on the ground since the lights turned red but the other bloke simply stood there for what i reckon was 15 seconds. He wasn't rolling the bike back and forth as i've seen before,but standing completely still. Anyone else seen this done or has anyone else done it? He had chrome toe clips not spd peddles on an old but expensive steel looking bike by the way.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Track stands are something I'd love to be able to do, but that must have been impressive to see!!

 

[berty bassett]

trike ?

 

[User33236]

I'm lucky if I can manage three seconds! Just as I think I'm doing well I lose my balance lol.

 

[summerdays]

I think I'm more of a balancer than a true track stand, as I don't turn my front wheel at such an angle as the good track standees and I can't keep going so long because I'm not using their technique. But it could be that he was extremely good at it, I thing it's a great skill to see when they can keep it really motionless (the idiots who just keep moving forward cos they can't do that need to learn to put their foot down when it isn't working).

 

[young Ed]

was it a fixy as i am led to believe this makes it easier but still WOW!
Cheers Ed

 

[DCLane]

I can track stand for 5-10 seconds but then it all goes a bit wrong

 

[summerdays]

I can track stand for 5-10 seconds but then it all goes a bit wrong

But that can be long enough to be useful

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

There's a set of traffic-lights on my commute that are either side of a (narrowed to single-lane, due to weight restrictions) hump-back bridge over the Aire & Calder Navigation Canal, I can generally stop & 'track-stand' for about 15-20 seconds whilst waiting for them to change

However, that's by taking advantage of the slight uphill gradient, & standing up on the pedals - I can't do it sitting

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/957523

Digressing, & just out of pure curiosity;

Cheers Ed

Ed, is the mileage figure in your signature block for commuting, or general riding this year???
I'm on 1,130-'odd' running this year so far

 

[luckyfox]

I bet he can bend spoons too

 

[swee'pea99]

was it a fixy as i am led to believe this makes it easier but still WOW!
Cheers Ed

Have to say I find it more difficult since I went fixed. This is because the easiest way to do it is with your pedals at 9 o clock & 3 o clock, and the ratchet mechanism lets you make constant adjustments to maintain this as you creep slightly forward. On a fixie, you can quickly end up trying to keep your balance with your feet at 5 o clock & 11 o clock, which I for one find way more difficult. Of course if you can genuinely remain motionless, like the rider in the OP, this is not a problem. But that's always remained out of reach, for me at least.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

my OH can manage 5-10 secs even on a fully laden touring bike (toe clips). I have once seen him track stand for several seconds without a chain on the bike (it had just come off and took him a few moments to realise why he was no longer going uphill, he only had to put his foot down when gravity took over and he started to roll backwards whilst still frantically pedalling forwards!) - that was absolutely hilarious. Sorry can't give him any sympathy...

Sadly I can only manage a up to around 5 seconds. enough to see of a junction is clear to proceed, and for 1 car to go through but not much more than that...

 

[young Ed]

There's a set of traffic-lights on my commute that are either side of a (narrowed to single-lane, due to weight restrictions) hump-back bridge over the Aire & Calder Navigation Canal, I can generally stop & 'track-stand' for about 15-20 seconds whilst waiting for them to change

However, that's by taking advantage of the slight uphill gradient, & standing up on the pedals - I can't do it sitting

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/957523

Digressing, & just out of pure curiosity;

Ed, is the mileage figure in your signature block for commuting, or general riding this year???
I'm on 1,130-'odd' running this year so far

all riding both commuting and leisure riding
and i have been busy recently thus explaining the lack of miles
Cheers Ed

 

[hopless500]

Mr Hop is pretty good at doing this. And he knows it

 

[young Ed]

Ed, is the mileage figure in your signature block for commuting, or general riding this year???
I'm on 1,130-'odd' running this year so far

is your 1,130 for commuting, leisure or both?
Cheers Ed