The trackstand is one of the best-known tricks in fixed gear. We’d almost call it a basic building block rather than a trick: something well worth getting comfortable with. Whether you want more control of your fixie or a way into freestyle, you’re in the right place.
What you need
- A fixed gear bike.
- …and that’s pretty much it!
Note: You don’t need straps to learn this trick. Once you have it down, using them can help you feel more in control and more confident on the bike.
The idea
A trackstand means bringing the bike to a stop and keeping your balance without putting a foot on the ground. On a fixed gear, you can make small corrections both forward and backward.
Turning the front wheel is the other part of keeping your balance from side to side.
Find your balance
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Work out which foot is dominant. If you’ve skidded on your fixie, it’s the foot you put in front and use to pull upward on the strap.
It might be the same foot you kick a football with, or the one you prefer to start pedaling with. Not sure? Try one side, then the other if it doesn’t feel comfortable.
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Start pedaling slowly, then try to stop with your cranks horizontal: pedals at nine and three on a clock.
Keep your backside on the saddle as much as possible. It will feel strange at first. Keep repeating it.
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Once you can slow down and find your balance point through the pedals, turn your front wheel toward the side of your dominant foot.
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Look ahead, keep the front wheel turned and the cranks horizontal, and stay seated. Alternate gentle forward and backward pressure without shifting off the saddle. Moving your body away from that position can make the balance point hard to recover.
It’s strange, but briefly losing the balance point is part of learning. Finding it again, over and over, is a good exercise.
A few things to remember
Don’t forget to correct with the rear pedal. If trackstands are giving you trouble, try riding fakie. Getting used to riding backward can help you feel more comfortable with backward corrections. At first, you’ll move too far in both directions; gradually, you’ll fine-tune it until you can stand still.
A common mistake is losing your balance while making a forward or backward correction. Keep your backside on the saddle as much as you can, especially when correcting backward. Relax your front foot: tensing up can pull you away from your balance point.
See you balanced on your bike at the next red light!
If this tutorial helped, follow @after.spin on Instagram.
Video tutorial
Here’s a video tutorial by Jackson Radshaw, founder of FOAD Gang.
