Balance recommendations

General
1

These are from Mountain Bike magazine (Liegh Donovan and Elke
Brutsaert–Schwinn-Toyota Downhill racers):

Start on the Wall: Face a wall (or a curb), and place your front tire against
it. “Then just sit, put your feet on the pedals, and try to balance,” suggests
Donovan. As you feel more confident, get tricky and take one hand off the
bar, then the other. Fall over. Keep practicing. (This would be nice to see
on a unicycle).

Take it to the street: “I like to sit and balance in the street,” says Donovan.
“It’s really hard. But when I started racing, I would draw a line on the street,
and I would sit and try to balance on my bike as my dad gave me a start count.
That kind of practice makes you a really fast starter.” (Or you can do this with
a unicycle on a four-foot high hand rail as in the Universe video)

Get some balls: You know those big inflated balls the gym rats use for ab
crunches? Used a little differently, they can make you totally balanced on your
bike says Brutsaert, who can actually stand on one. “First, just sit on the ball
and pick u your feet to find your center of gravity. When you feel confident
sitting, try balancing on your hands and knees. Then try kneeling–no hands.”
Once you get to the point where you can stand on one, there’s no trail twisted
enough to throw you.

David Maxfield Bainbridge Island, WA

2

RE: Balance recommendations

> Start on the Wall: Face a wall (or a curb), and place your front tire against
> it. “Then just sit, put your feet on the pedals, and try to balance,” suggests
> Donovan. As you feel more confident, get tricky and take one hand off the bar,
> then the other. Fall over. Keep practicing. (This would be nice to see on a
> unicycle).

It’s actually pretty easy (unless you mean the letting go of the handlebar
part). Keep some tire pressure against the wall, and your forward-backward
balance is covered. For side to side, you now have a little triangle of
stability down there, between your ground and wall contact points. Draw a line
through those and that’s the axis of rotation as you try to maintain your
balance. It should be good practice for a unicycle as well.

> When you feel confident sitting [on the gym ball], try balancing on your hands
> and knees. Then try kneeling–no hands." Once you get to the point where you
> can stand on one, there’s no trail twisted enough to throw you.

I don’t know. I can balance pretty good, but I’ve still been thrown off, on
those rare occasions when I venture out on two wheels… :slight_smile:

John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone Convinced that those two-wheelers are dangerous!

3

RE: Balance recommendations

>Convinced that those two-wheelers are dangerous!

I agree, but I don’t think it has so much to do with the number of wheels in
contact with the ground, but the freely rotating wheel that bikes have and
unicycles do not.

jl

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

4

Re: Balance recommendations

all right, I know we’re getting off topic here, but I’m just curious about
this… (and since I don’t yet own that coker, I’ve been known to use one of
those two wheeled oddities when riding distances)

Could you explain what is involved in a trackstand? How does one go from riding
to trackstanding? Is balance primarily gained from moving the front wheel, or
shifting your weight around?

Idling I can do until my leg falls off… I take it this would not be the case
for even those who are very good at doing a trackstand?

thanks, jeff lutkus

>Sorry…as a bicycle trials rider I just have to mention the fact that
>balancing a bike is also quite do-able without a wall (and, yes, I can take one
>or two hands off as well). It’s known as a trackstand. But all of you who have
>“Evolve” on video are probably quite familiar with all that…
>
>On a more related note, I would have to agree that trackstands on a bike are
>easier to balance than standstills on a uni.
>
>Finally, I think that trackstands on a bike are definitely less energy-
>consuming than idling on a uni (contrary to what someone else suggested
>earlier). YMMV.
>
> --Jason

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

5

Re: Balance recommendations

A trackstand on a bike is most easily entered on a slight uphill grade- emphasis
on slight. A well curved street works well for me. The front wheel should be
turned to about a 45 degree angle, and most body weight should be over the front
wheel. Balance is adjusted with micro pedal strokes, and using the hill to push
you backwards when you let up pressure on the pedals. Brakes help to control
your motion at first, though they are only neccessary on downhill grades- the
hardest to do, since moving backwards requires a body lunge backwards and a
coordinated release and re-grabbing of the brakes.

Once you are good at a trackstand, it is much easier than idling, and can be
done with 1 or no hands on the bars. You can also go directly into a nosestand
or tailstand from a trackstand, and work your way sideways; or, you can bunnyhop
from a standstill, similar to hopping a uni. You can also hold a trackstand for
as long as you feel like- and as long as boredom permits. Unlike idling, you
don’t have a perpetual rocking motion to keep you entertained- it’s more like
standing on your feet.(gasp How could you POSSIBLY do anything
so…mundane!?!) :slight_smile:

>all right, I know we’re getting off topic here, but I’m just curious about
>this… (and since I don’t yet own that coker, I’ve been known >to use one of
>those two wheeled oddities when riding distances) Could you explain what is
>involved in a trackstand? How does one go >from riding to trackstanding? Is
>balance primarily gained from >moving the front wheel, or shifting your
>weight around? Idling I can do until my leg falls off… I take it this would
>not be >the case for even those who are very good at doing a trackstand?
>thanks, jeff lutkus
>
>>Sorry…as a bicycle trials rider I just have to mention the fact >>that
>>balancing a bike is also quite do-able without a wall (and, >>yes, I can take
>>one or two hands off as well). It’s known as a >>trackstand. But all of you
>>who have “Evolve” on video are probably >>quite familiar with all that…
>>
>>On a more related note, I would have to agree that trackstands on a >>bike are
>>easier to balance than standstills on a uni.
>>
>>Finally, I think that trackstands on a bike are definitely less >>energy-
>>consuming than idling on a uni (contrary to what someone >>else suggested
>>earlier). YMMV.
>>
>> --Jason

Do you hate clowns? Get Free Email & Free Websites at http://www.ihateclowns.com
Buy Anti-Clown, Mugs, and Mousepads at http://www.cafepress.com/ihateclowns

6

Re: Balance recommendations

Sorry, all- I forgot to sign that Re: .

Keep on riding! Jeremy Chrisman unicycle@ihateclowns.com

Do you hate clowns? Get Free Email & Free Websites at http://www.ihateclowns.com
Buy Anti-Clown, Mugs, and Mousepads at http://www.cafepress.com/ihateclowns

7

RE: Balance recommendations

> on the subject. I couldn’t help noticing some people practicing on an artistic
> bicycle in the background of "One Wheel, No
> Limit." Is there a group of artistic cyclers in the Twin Cities area? I’ve
> searched the web for artistic cycling resources, but none of them are in
> the US. I’m actually really interested in owning one of these bikes.
> Anyone out there have any info?

I am one of the few Americans who has gone to Europe and been “trained” on the
artistic bike. I used to have a few, but now I’m down to one and a quarter
(parts), and I’m keeping it. I would also be very interested to know if there’s
a source for these bikes in the US because every once in a while I run into
someone who wants one. I think a relationship needs to be set up with someone in
Germany (or other artistic bike-producing country) to export them.

I wonder if Roger Davies has any leads on this?

These are some brand names I know of: Bauer (up to 1980 or so) Walther (replaced
Bauer) Langenberg Imholz

Stay on top, John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone http://www.unicycling.com

“I didn’t know popcorn was a diet… No wonder I weigh what I weigh!” – Brett
Bymaster (6’-4" and 160lbs fully clothed) on the concept of popcorn as a
volumetric diet

8

Re: Balance recommendations

>Alright…just one more two-wheeler question while we’re kinda on the subject.
>I couldn’t help noticing some people practicing on an artistic bicycle in the
>background of "One Wheel, No
>Limit." Is there a group of artistic cyclers in the Twin Cities area? I’ve
> searched the web for artistic cycling resources, but none of them are in
> the US. I’m actually really interested in owning one of these bikes.
> Anyone out there have any info?

The Twin City Unicycle Club has four German artistic bicycles that were given to
us as a gift in 1994. We have two adult bicycles and two child bicycles. Parts
are really hard to come by. Osells found us a source in Canada where we get the
odd size tires and rims. As you can guess, the parts are expensive. We plan on
having them available for people to use at the up coming Mondo
juggling/unicycling convention here in Minnesota - http://www.mondo-fest.org/

-Andy

Andy Cotter - Andy.Cotter@OutTech.com Unicycle Video “One Wheel - No Limit” -
http://www.tcuc.org/nolimit/ Twin City Unicycle Club, Pres - http://www.tcuc.org

9

Re: Balance recommendations

John Foss wrote:
>
> > Start on the Wall: Face a wall (or a curb), and place your front tire
> > against it. "Then just sit, put your feet on the pedals, and try to
> > balance," suggests Donovan. As you feel more confident, get tricky and take
> > one hand off the bar, then the other. Fall over. Keep practicing. (This
> > would be nice to see on a unicycle).
>
> It’s actually pretty easy (unless you mean the letting go of the handlebar
> part). Keep some tire pressure against the wall, and your forward-backward
> balance is covered. For side to side, you now have a little triangle of
> stability down there, between your ground and wall contact points. Draw a line
> through those and that’s the axis of rotation as you try to maintain your
> balance. It should be good practice for a unicycle as well.

Sorry…as a bicycle trials rider I just have to mention the fact that balancing
a bike is also quite do-able without a wall (and, yes, I can take one or two
hands off as well). It’s known as a trackstand. But all of you who have “Evolve”
on video are probably quite familiar with all that…

On a more related note, I would have to agree that trackstands on a bike are
easier to balance than standstills on a uni.

Finally, I think that trackstands on a bike are definitely less energy-
consuming than idling on a uni (contrary to what someone else suggested
earlier). YMMV.

    --Jason
10

Re: Balance recommendations

Jeff Lutkus wrote:
>
> all right, I know we’re getting off topic here, but I’m just curious about
> this… (and since I don’t yet own that coker, I’ve been known to use one of
> those two wheeled oddities when riding distances)
>
> Could you explain what is involved in a trackstand? How does one go from
> riding to trackstanding? Is balance primarily gained from moving the front
> wheel, or shifting your weight around?

I’ll try to be brief.

There are basically two different types of trackstands. The first (and oldest)
kind was done with actual track bikes on actual tracks…hence the name. These
track bikes are special in many ways, one of which is their fixed gear. This
feature means you can pedal a track bike forwards and backwards, just like a
uni. Thus, by turning your front wheel 45 degrees and rocking back and forth,
you can stay balanced in one spot…this is analagous to idling a uni. Since
most bikes don’t have fixed gears, you can easily simulate this trick by
balancing your bike at a diagonal on a hill, rolling minutely up and down. In
fact, this is how most people learn trackstands. Once you’re better you can rock
back and forth on flat ground with subtle weight and brake techniques. For this
method, you usually keep your body as motionless as possible and achieve balance
by small front wheel motions and that all important pedal technique. This
trackstand is often performed seated and by roadies.

The second type of trackstand is best illustrated by trials riders, who ride
standing up on smallish bikes with very low seats, high wide bars, and lots of
maneuvering space for your body. A trials-type trackstand is performed standing
up, with both brakes locked, front wheel turned to the side, and weight rather
far forward. Balance is achieved by many means, usually by adjusting that front
wheel angle or by leaning the bike side to side. Because of the way a trials
bike is designed, these balancing maneuvers can be quite extreme, especially
when the rider is on something narrow, high, or dangerous (I like all three).
Because the bike is stationary (and because of all the bodily contortions
involved), this would seem analgous to a standstill on a uni. Also, you hardly
need a trials bike (or a track bike for that matter) to learn these skills. Any
old bike will do just fine.

Once you’ve got either method down, switching between riding and trackstanding
should be a no-brainer.

> Idling I can do until my leg falls off… I take it this would not be the case
> for even those who are very good at doing a trackstand?

I’ll admit that I’m a better two-wheeler than one-wheeler (heresy!), so I can’t
say for sure. But once you get into a zone trackstanding a bike, it takes almost
no effort and minimal concentration. Idling for long times on the uni wears me
out much faster…maybe I’m just not zoning enough. :slight_smile:

    --Jason

(We now return you to your regular one-wheeled program…)

11

Re: Artistic cycling (was Balance recommendations)

John Foss wrote:
> I am one of the few Americans who has gone to Europe and been “trained” on the
> artistic bike. I used to have a few, but now I’m down to one and a quarter
> (parts), and I’m keeping it. I would also be very interested to know if
> there’s a source for these bikes in the US because every once in a while I run
> into someone who wants one. I think a relationship needs to be set up with
> someone in Germany (or other artistic bike-producing country) to export them.

Right on. If you don’t mind, could you tell me some of the moves you learned
(especially those on one wheel)?

    --Jason
12

Re: Balance recommendations

I learned to track stand on my bike (only after learning to ride a unicycle). It
is not that hard - I now do it at every red light, seated, and practice by
taking one hand off at a time - haven’t really got both hands off yet. I try to
have no forward/backward motion of the tires at all, but sometimes have to rock
an inch or two. Brakes are off.

Compared to a still stand on a unicycle, it’s got to be easier, not that I can
do a still stand for more than a few seconds. Yes, it’s a very low energy thing
to do - once you sink into it and relax, it takes almost nothing to maintain.

—Nathan

“Jason Stetten” <jason@crosstor.com> wrote in message
news:3A64C527.A3038335@crosstor.com…
> John Foss wrote:
> >
> > > Start on the Wall: Face a wall (or a curb), and place your front tire
> > > against it. "Then just sit, put your feet on the pedals, and try to
> > > balance," suggests Donovan. As you feel more confident, get tricky and
> > > take one hand off the bar, then the other. Fall over. Keep practicing.
> > > (This would be nice to see on a unicycle).
> >
> > It’s actually pretty easy (unless you mean the letting go of the
handlebar
> > part). Keep some tire pressure against the wall, and your
forward-backward
> > balance is covered. For side to side, you now have a little triangle of
> > stability down there, between your ground and wall contact points. Draw
a
> > line through those and that’s the axis of rotation as you try to
maintain
> > your balance. It should be good practice for a unicycle as well.
>
>
> Sorry…as a bicycle trials rider I just have to mention the fact that
> balancing a bike is also quite do-able without a wall (and, yes, I can take
> one or two hands off as well). It’s known as a trackstand. But all of you who
> have “Evolve” on video are probably quite familiar with all that…
>
> On a more related note, I would have to agree that trackstands on a bike are
> easier to balance than standstills on a uni.
>
> Finally, I think that trackstands on a bike are definitely less energy-
> consuming than idling on a uni (contrary to what someone else suggested
> earlier). YMMV.
>
> --Jason

13

Re: Balance recommendations

Alright…just one more two-wheeler question while we’re kinda on the subject. I
couldn’t help noticing some people practicing on an artistic bicycle in the
background of “One Wheel, No
Limit.” Is there a group of artistic cyclers in the Twin Cities area? I’ve
searched the web for artistic cycling resources, but none of them are in
the US. I’m actually really interested in owning one of these bikes.
Anyone out there have any info?

    --Jason