I just started practicing <backward seat in front figure 8s>. It seems
that when my right hand side is inclined toward the center of the circle
I’m fine, but for the other half of the figure 8 (where the left side
leans toward the center), I’m not so fine. Should I switch to the left
hand when my left side is on the inside of the circle? Or in the long run,
does this not matter so much?
In general it would seem useful to be ambidextrous with seat out skills. I
wondering if this is considered essential, or if there are those who
haven’t bothered with ambidexterity and mastered backward figure 8’s (both
seat in front and in back) with just their dominant hand.
In theory it shouldn’t matter which hand is out. The issue is probably
that you’re better turning in one direction than the other while going
backward. The key is to turn your upper body in the direction you want to
go. In other words, the outside shoulder should be pointed more in the
direction of your path, while the inside shoulder points more toward the
rear. This helps to angle the rest of the body in a way that will make the
turn easier.
Practice seat out with each hand, turning in both directions. After a
while you should be able to tell which is your better turning direction
(and which needs extra practice) and which hand you prefer for holding
the seat. Switching hands is something I would allow in a Standard
Skill figure 8.
Stay on top, JF
> I just started practicing <backward seat in front figure 8s>. It seems > that when my right hand side is inclined toward the center of the circle > I’m fine, but for the other half of the figure 8 (where the left side > leans toward the center), I’m not so fine. Should I switch to the left > hand when my left side is on the inside of the circle? Or in the long > run, does this not matter so much?
harper writes: > >Is this also true of riding backwards in a circle? I have trouble turning >sharply and smoothly going backwards.
If Foss says it’s true for 8s, then it’s true for circles. I wish I could
answer more from personal experience, but I have no idea what I am doing
when I do it – I just mastered this one recently and have never analyzed
it. – David Stone > > >John Foss wrote: > > The key is to turn your upper body in the direction you want to go. > > In other words, the outside shoulder should be pointed more in the > > direction of your path, while the inside shoulder points more toward > > the rear.
Co-founder, Unatics of NY
1st Sunday / 3rd Saturday
@ Central Park Bandshell
> Is this also true of riding backwards in a circle? I have trouble > turning sharply and smoothly going backwards.
Yes. I was taught this on my trips to Germany in the 80’s to learn
artistic bicycling. The same is true going forward, but your body seems to
figure it out more easily.