Practicing Technique

[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.

[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/tou...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!