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

[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