Track stand

The track stand is a technique that bicycle riders can use to stay balanced on their bicycles by holding their weight equally on both feet 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 maneuver across the track in an effort to get their rival to take the lead so that they can then draft or slipstream behind, conserving energy for the final sprint.

Other cyclists also use the technique: road cyclists use it to stop in traffic, mountain bikers use it in terrain to determine a path and BMX cyclists use it in preparation for tricks. The track stand is most easily accomplished on a fixed gear bicycle.

Details of a track stand

A cyclist executing a basic track stand holds the bicycle's cranks in a horizontal position, with his or her dominant foot forward. Track stands executed on bicycles with a freewheel usually employ a small uphill section of ground. The uphill needs to be sufficient to allow the rider to create backward motion by relaxing pressure on the pedals, thus allowing the bike to roll backwards. Once the track stand is mastered, even a very tiny uphill section is sufficient: e.g. the camber of the road, a raised road marking, and so on. If a fixed gear or fixed wheel bike is being used a slope is not needed since the rider is able to back pedal to move backwards. Forward motion is accomplished simply by pedalling forwards. The bike's handlebars are held at a 45 degree angle, converting the bike's forward and back motion into side-to-side motion beneath the rider's body. This allows the rider to keep the bike directly below his or her center of gravity.

Those proficient at the track stand can maintain the position for an indefinitely long period of time. More difficult variations, mostly for show or track stand competitions, involve complications such as putting the non-dominant foot forward, sitting down, or taking one or both hands off the handlebars.

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.Fact|date=February 2007

References

External links

* [http://www.teamestrogen.com/articles/asa_trackstand.asp Learn How To Track Stand] freewheel specific from Team Estrogen
* [http://www.63xc.com/gregg/101_12.htm Trackstands--Part Eleven of Fixed Gear 101] fixed gear specific from Greg Goode
* [http://www.morrispost.com/images/events/cmwc05/Track%20Stand/ Track stand competition, with fancy variations]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkkTSVVrPYk&NR Classic match sprint bicycle race, featuring strategic uses of the track stand]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK1kw4o6nWI An example of linking together several increasingly technical track stand variations]
* [http://draco.acs.uci.edu/rbfaq/FAQ/9.16.html Rec.Bicycles FAQ trackstand entry taken from a 1991 rec.bicyles posting]