Practicing Technique

[pooks]

Okay, this is such a remedial question.

But my dismounts are still shaky enough to be dangerous if I have to stop fast (another reason why I'm scared of speeding up too much).

I realize in retrospect that both crashes I've had (into the CURB, ladies) are because I didn't know how to judge the U-turns I was making. (Once I was going too slow and in such a low gear I had no control of the bike; the other was unexpected and I didn't turn as sharply as I expected and was going too fast.)

I'm like somebody who was turned loose with a car and is fine on straight streets and has gotten okay on turning corners, but still has a lot to learn.

I am going to spend some time at the school parking lot. Off hand all I can think of to do are some figure 8s in both directions, and practice stopping and starting.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks much!

[im4smiley]

maybe this site will help
http://sheldonbrown.com/beginners/index.html

[Kalidurga]

The best thing you can do, really, is ride. The more you're on the bike, the more skill and comfort you'll develop. As the cliche goes, practice makes perfect.

I agree with im4smiley, too, that education can help to speed up the process. Sheldon Brown's site is a great spot to get tips that you can put into use in your practice, as are mags like Bicycling or various books on riding technique. Knowledge + practice = comfort = more fun!

[pooks]

Thanks -- I've been following Sheldon Brown's site. It's where I got the info on how to start/stop, mount/dismount that has helped me the most.

I do think I need to practice on the parking lot, though. Today we rode 6.5 miles taking a different route and it was really pleasant early -- in the low 80s and we were home by 7:00 a.m. I did make sure I stopped and started (the few times I had to) on level street w/o propping my foot on the curb, just to establish better habits and so I won't feel at a disadvantage w/o the curb. These are tall bikes!

[SadieKate]

Pooks, I think practicing in a parking lot is a great idea. Mtbikers do skills training drills all the time while roadies neglect it. Your list of drills is good.

Slow race a friend with your feet unclipped. Last one across the line wins. You'll learn great low speed balance and can eventually learn a trackstand. This means you can slow way down when approaching something (like a traffic light or foot traffic) and learn to balance for just a split second while you determine whether to stop or turn or just delay your progress.

Also, learn the high speed emergency stopping technique. Maybe someone will have a link to better directions but, essentially, platform your pedals (at 9 and 3), straighten your arms and throw your butt off the back of the bike and apply both brakes hard. DO NOT TURN IN THIS MANUEVER. You ever watch a sprint "throw" his bike at the line for the win, butt back and stretched way out low over the bike? It is the same manuever but you are adding the braking. Throwing your butt back means you won't go over the bars in the rapid deceleration. This skill can save you from slamming into something like a suddenly opened car door or a child running into your path. It is one of the most important skills for a cyclist to have because it can save your life - the ability to go from fast to stopped in a split second. Having the slow speed skill will help you with stopping and not falling over with this fast manuever.

If you have a nice dirt lot or grassy area - even better practice area.

[CycleChic06]

Also, learn the high speed emergency stopping technique. Maybe someone will have a link to better directions but, essentially, platform your pedals (at 9 and 3), straighten your arms and throw your butt off the back of the bike and apply both brakes hard. DO NOT TURN IN THIS MANUEVER. You ever watch a sprint "throw" his bike at the line for the win, butt back and stretched way out low over the bike? It is the same manuever but you are adding the braking. Throwing your butt back means you won't go over the bars in the rapid deceleration. This skill can save you from slamming into something like a suddenly opened car door or a child running into your path. It is one of the most important skills for a cyclist to have because it can save your life - the ability to go from fast to stopped in a split second. Having the slow speed skill will help you with stopping and not falling over with this fast manuever.

If you have a nice dirt lot or grassy area - even better practice area.

That's really great advice, SadieKate. Thanks for that post, it really helped me. As I've begun to ride in busier areas knowing how to stop short is something I've got to learn.

Emily

[SouthernBelle]

SadieKate,

Ditto the thanks for that post. If I had known that in April, it might have saved me from some broken ribs, or knowing me, not. :p

[pooks]

Thanks Sadie Kate -- I'm actually doing well with the trackstand -- as long as that doesn't mean balancing that way for extended periods. I slow WAY down and do pretty well at holding it until I finally do stop and have to dismount (unless of course the reason for the slow-down disappeared and I got to speed up and go on).

The high-speed stopping maneuver -- "Throw your butt off the back of the bike" -- you mean actually dismount? Or stand/raise up off the saddle but stay on the bike? (Hmm, my cute basket on bike is going to make it more difficult to do that, time to reconsider that set up.)

P.S. We don't have clips or cages -- just regular tennis shoes on pedals. I can't imagine how much trouble I'd be having if I was hooked onto the pedal in some way!

[SadieKate]

The high-speed stopping maneuver -- "Throw your butt off the back of the bike" -- you mean actually dismount? Or stand/raise up off the saddle but stay on the bike? (Hmm, my cute basket on bike is going to make it more difficult to do that, time to reconsider that set up.)No dismounting. Just learning to go from cruising speed to a trackstand in an emergency.

[SadieKate]

Watch the very end of this video. The sprinters are "throwing" their bikes across the line. Watch their body position. The emergency stop looks just like this but you come to a full stop and may or may not clip out. I know it seems contradictory but the manuever is much the same as an emergency stop. These guys are only accelerating until that split second when they throw their bikes. Because they are not braking their bikes get pushed in front of their bodies which are also continuing to travel forward. Because you are bringing the bike to a sudden halt, you must also stop the forward momentum of your body by making sure it stays behind the saddle.

http://www.eurosport.com/cycling/tour-de-france/2006/mc_vid27951.shtml

The video shows the manuever both from the front of the pack and from overhead.

[pooks]

Thanks -- this has all been SO helpful!

[Bikingmomof3]

Being new to biking, I have learned a lot from this thread and now have many resources to read up on and skills to practice. Thanks to everyone on this board for the great advice, suggestions, and links.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Instead of only doing figure 8's in the parking lot, try doing a small circle about 3 times around in the same direction, then alternate. It's a slightyly different skill than a figure 8. Then do some slolum type zig-zags as well. And of course keep practicing mounting and starting, and stopping and dismounting. Way better to do all this in an empty parking lot and get your wobbly-ness over with there where you're safe.
Lisa

[pooks]

Thanks, Lisa. When I crashed and got all bruised up, it was because I'd been riding straight lines, turning corners, but not much else. When I decided to do a U-turn in the middle of a street that was plenty wide enough but I didn't have the experience to turn well enough to make it -- saw the curb coming -- tried to brake -- slowed down but still hit the curb and fell over.

So yes, circles and figure 8s are definitely on the agenda.

I've definitely gotten better at stopping, though.

And a guy at REI who was adjusting my handlebars told me to use my right brake to stop instead of both of them, but I've also read to use both. What gives there?

[eclectic]

Great ideas everyone - always new tips to pick up

Hey Pooks I can relate to the U turn - hit the sidewalk trick. I did the EXACT same thing. The BF was along and we hadn't been dating for long:o

I have fallen a couple of times around him and when I decided to go clipless his only comment was "Are you sure that's a good idea? you fall"

Well I went clipless and have only fallen once and even then it wasn't so bad :)

A drill I like is to weave in and out of something like you are a slalom skier, put sidewalk chalk circles in the parking lot in varying patterns

another idea is to draw a line (or use a parking spot line) and ride up to it at varying speeds and try to stop exactly at the line.

if I am coming to an iffy situation (no matter what type of pedal) I stand on one foot, get off the seat, hang my other foot so it is ready to come down in an instant if I make it through whatever, (gate, gravel, sharp turn, stop light) I can just hop back on the seat and start pedaling again. Sometimes I have slowed enough I have to put my foot down and push off again, but I feel better safe than sorry

[Kano]

Happy Thursday!

I kinda figured this fit here, even if it didn't have much to do with stopping and tipping over....

On my ride today, I discovered that I'm learning from watching those dudes on the TV. Thing learned: even pros fall down. Haven't done this in years myself, don't care to, but even pros fall, so okay....

Thing learned: Heels down. Watched Floyd. Heels are down. Tried this. Went faster with no extra work. Gonna keep my heels down! (not like DOWN, but flat feet, yes?)

Thing learned: Knees in. Those guys knees are in, tight to the bike, almost all the time. The big curves going down the mountain today, saw some knees veer out a bit, but Knees in. Tried this. Went faster with no extra work. Gonna keep my knees in!

Thing learned: Shoulders down, butt up (well, not quite). Sorta kinda tried this. Bike not designed for it, DH hollered at me to QUIT IT! Went faster with no extra work. Wanna do this! DH will keep hollering quit it, no more Tour for you! To quote grandson: like it, want it, NEED it!

Cool thing learned: put these things together, go faster, even up hill!

Nother thing learned: dump water on head. Wished for water to dump on head today in the 100+ sunshine!

And yet another: I missed my bike!

Top speed today, small downhill grade: 22+mph!!! Best ever for that little hill!

Karen in Boise

[pooks]

Why does your husband tell you to cut it out? Does it make you faster than he is? <g>

I've learned the water on head -- and jersey and arms!

I'll pay more attention to the other stuff, too. Thanks for passing it along!

[eclectic]

Hey Kano I was watching that on tdf too re: the knees in, heels down etc. been trying to remember to do everything at once.

Pooks as I was riding today I thought about turning ( I was weaving in and out of pebbles, shadows etc on quiet sections - practicing what I preach)

First of all are you turning by shifting your balance or by moving the handlebars?

I was trying to see how I do it and I turn by shifting my weight but I have no idea how it works - I just do it.

Secondly before hitting the streets practice going into turns using one hand and signalling with the other - I still have trouble with that at times - sometimes my signals are pretty quick and I pray whoever is behind me notices :(

Keep up the great work and I have to practice those fast stops! ! !

[pooks]

eclectic -- I know what you mean about "quick signals." I read that you should put your other hand closer to the center of the handlebar so you have more control when you use your free hand to signal, but even though that makes sense, it made it more complicated, too!

I'd read about using your body to turn rather than turning the wheel itself. I do that on corners. When I was doing that U-turn, oddly enough, what was going through my head was, "Um, am I supposed to lean with my body or turn the tire --"

Next thing I knew -- CURB in front of me. <g>

So I will practice more on those skills for sure so it becomes second nature.

[Kano]

Why does your husband tell you to cut it out? Does it make you faster than he is? <g>

I've learned the water on head -- and jersey and arms!

I'll pay more attention to the other stuff, too. Thanks for passing it along!

I've decided he gets "scared" that I'll hurt myself -- so I should be careful, you know? But, of course, that does NOT apply to him!

Water on head -- need to carry a water bottle for that, instead of the camelbak. Or, maybe in addition to: water bottle for head, camelbak for innards!

Karen in Boise