STANDING UP...Whats the secret??

[sundial]

I struggled with standing on the pedals on my road bike until I got the mountain bike. I quickly honed this skill on the trail. Then when I got back on the road bike it was so much easier.

My hubby said it also helped him considerably.

Maybe it's time to shop for a mountain bike.

[RoadRaven]

I have been thinking about this thread over the past day or so, and just want to reassure those of you who are trying to master standing that it does come together...

When I first started cycling, I couldn't stand, and when I started it felt scarey and insecure and uncontrollable.

Now (2 years later) I stand with ease to go up slight inclines... and what initially might have been only 1-2 metres of standing is now 30-40 metres.

I can stand at the top of a steep inclines just to keep my speed up for the last 10 metres or so to get over the top.

And when I start in a time trial, I stand immmediatley and the bike gets "thrown" from side to side as I power up to a good speed.

It has become part of what I do, and I know I am going to get better.

Take heart and trust yourself and allow time... it'll happen.

[lph]

I'd like to add - pull. Use a gear big enough that you have to pull with your arms to help, that will give you tension in your whole body. Lean your butt back a bit and yank on the bars to move forward and push down, lean your bike from side to side if it helps. Don't put too much weight straight down on your hands though, it will feel wobbly. hth.

[BeeLady]

Standing on my loaded Big Dummy was/is soooo easy. Then today I'm back on my Volpe for the first time in a week and almost lost it twice. The rear wheel felt like it was so wobbly. I kept practicing and finally got more comfortable standing on the last hill on the way home but will really need to work on it.

I re-read some of the posts on this thread and will keep practicing on the Volpe. I know once when I stood I was going way too fast (just off a descent and an immediate uphill).

Will work on keeping more weight back rather than over the handlebars. That seemed to be the main issue.

[bounceswoosh]

I'd like to add - pull. Use a gear big enough that you have to pull with your arms to help, that will give you tension in your whole body. Lean your butt back a bit and yank on the bars to move forward and push down, lean your bike from side to side if it helps. Don't put too much weight straight down on your hands though, it will feel wobbly. hth.

As long as you're not on a mountain bike and pull so hard you unweight the front wheel -- that can be not so great =P

[lph]

like this, you mean?

(my dh showing off)
Yeah, I know, no helmets. Rental bikes, on a small island with sandy roads and no cars

[bounceswoosh]

Is he just pulling up the wheel or actually doing a wheelie?

[lph]

He's doing a wheelie, as we ooh and aah