Standing at stops still clipped rather than duckwalking - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

03-09-2005, 01:13 PM

I've been cycling for almost a year now. Right now I stop by unclipping
both pedals while remaining on the seat and letting my two feet balance
me when I reach a complete stop. If I need to move I 'duckwalk'.

A lot of riders I've seen will keep one foot clipped in and stand over
their bike (unseated) while stopped. Is that an easy habit to get into?
Should I just accept that I will fall a few times if I try to learn
that? Any suggestions for ways to master that habit?

Thanks,

Roger

03-09-2005, 01:51 PM

In article <d0notn$fim$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].ti.com>,
Roger Daniel Pease <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
> I've been cycling for almost a year now. Right now I stop by unclipping
> both pedals while remaining on the seat and letting my two feet balance
> me when I reach a complete stop. If I need to move I 'duckwalk'.
>
> A lot of riders I've seen will keep one foot clipped in and stand over
> their bike (unseated) while stopped. Is that an easy habit to get into?

That's how I've always done it (only with toeclips these days),
but it really should be quite easy. In fact, probably easier
than having to reconnect to both pedals at once on the fly.

> Should I just accept that I will fall a few times if I try to learn
> that?

I don't see why anyone should fall by uncoupling one cleat/pedal.

> Any suggestions for ways to master that habit?

If you're having trouble lifting off the saddle, you could
practice standing on the pedals while coasting. It's easier
to lift off the saddle if it's set at the right height. Then
it's just a matter of anticipating your stops, disconnecting
(from the pedal) the foot you want to put down, lifting off
the saddle, and ... stopping. Rather than just flopping over
and sticking your foot out to break your incipient fall, bend
your knee -- the one attached to the leg that's still attached
to your bike -- and gently lower yourself down.

The next trick is reconnecting to the pedal when you get
going again ;-)

cheers,
Tom

--
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03-09-2005, 02:25 PM

Wed, 09 Mar 2005 15:13:26 -0600, <d0notn$fim$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].ti.com>, Roger
Daniel Pease <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>I've been cycling for almost a year now. Right now I stop by unclipping
>both pedals while remaining on the seat and letting my two feet balance
>me when I reach a complete stop. If I need to move I 'duckwalk'.
>
>A lot of riders I've seen will keep one foot clipped in and stand over
>their bike (unseated) while stopped. Is that an easy habit to get into?
>Should I just accept that I will fall a few times if I try to learn
>that? Any suggestions for ways to master that habit?

Practice.

I also suggest learning how to do it backward in case some idiot
decides to back-up.

I generally un clip one foot and dab the other. Which foot depends on
road crown. As opposed to track stands, I believe a dabbed rider is
easier for drivers to "read". They're less hesitant about taking their
right of way and replacing your foot on the pedal sends the message
that you're going to move.

Sometimes, in some locations, I'll leave both feet on the pedals (one
un clipped) and do a track stand or stabilise my self by hanging on to
a convenient post, pole, news paper box, litter bin etc.
--
zk

03-09-2005, 02:46 PM

On Wed, 09 Mar 2005 15:13:26 -0600, Roger Daniel Pease <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

>Is that an easy habit to get into?
>Should I just accept that I will fall a few times if I try to learn
>that? Any suggestions for ways to master that habit?

there is a knack to trackstanding.. and best practiced on soft grass
without being clipped in.. then once you have it down pat, you can
trackstand remaining clipped in..

here are some tips on how to get going:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

charlieb in ct.

03-09-2005, 03:33 PM

In article <d0notn$fim$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].ti.com>,
Roger Daniel Pease <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:

> A lot of riders I've seen will keep one foot clipped in and stand over
> their bike (unseated) while stopped.

D'oh! Now I'm confused. Are you talking about trackstands
(stopping with both feet remaining on the pedals,) or stopping
with one foot on the ground?

cheers again,
Tom

--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

03-09-2005, 03:45 PM

Wed, 9 Mar 2005 15:33:41 -0800, <l41o0d.rqe.ln@bud.garden.local>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Tom Keats), responded to Roger:

>> A lot of riders I've seen will keep one foot clipped in and stand over
>> their bike (unseated) while stopped.
>
>D'oh! Now I'm confused. Are you talking about trackstands
>(stopping with both feet remaining on the pedals,) or stopping
>with one foot on the ground?

It sounded, to me, like they're questioning the difference between
double dabbing from the saddle as opposed to single dabbing while
straddling the top tube.

Their statement:
>>Right now I stop by unclipping
>>both pedals while remaining on the seat and letting my two feet balance
>>me when I reach a complete stop. If I need to move I 'duckwalk'.

makes it sounds like the saddle is too low.
--
zk

03-09-2005, 03:48 PM

One foot clipped in is easy to do. I keep my right foot clipped in and at
the 10 o'clock position so I can take off quickly. What's really neat is
trackstanding, which is keeping both feet clipped in and balancing the bike
at a standstill. I'm afraid to pull one in traffic, but I've seen an oral
surgeon friend of mine do it in a turning lane. He's the man, because if he
screws up and falls it's on a busy two lane highway... :-)

03-09-2005, 04:00 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
Zoot Katz <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
> Wed, 9 Mar 2005 15:33:41 -0800, <l41o0d.rqe.ln@bud.garden.local>,
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Tom Keats), responded to Roger:
>
>>> A lot of riders I've seen will keep one foot clipped in and stand over
>>> their bike (unseated) while stopped.
>>
>>D'oh! Now I'm confused. Are you talking about trackstands
>>(stopping with both feet remaining on the pedals,) or stopping
>>with one foot on the ground?
>
> It sounded, to me, like they're questioning the difference between
> double dabbing from the saddle as opposed to single dabbing while
> straddling the top tube.

That's how I originally read it.

> Their statement:
>>>Right now I stop by unclipping
>>>both pedals while remaining on the seat and letting my two feet balance
>>>me when I reach a complete stop. If I need to move I 'duckwalk'.
>
> makes it sounds like the saddle is too low.

I had the same inkling. If it really is too low, that would
make lifting off of it in order to stand more difficult,
hence the original poster's reservations.

Maybe there's a 'bike fit' issue here?

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

03-09-2005, 04:07 PM

On Wed, 09 Mar 2005 15:13:26 -0600, Roger Daniel Pease <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>I've been cycling for almost a year now. Right now I stop by unclipping
>both pedals while remaining on the seat and letting my two feet balance
>me when I reach a complete stop. If I need to move I 'duckwalk'.
>
>A lot of riders I've seen will keep one foot clipped in and stand over
>their bike (unseated) while stopped. Is that an easy habit to get into?
>Should I just accept that I will fall a few times if I try to learn
>that? Any suggestions for ways to master that habit?

Don't fall. This is no harder than gettig off an escalator.

As you approach the stop coast while standing on one foot with that pedal down,
unclip the other. As you come to a stop put the free foot down on the ground
with a bit of a forward "step" motion that puts you in front of the saddle.
Done.

Only in a world of undersized frames can people not know this drill.

Ron

03-09-2005, 05:28 PM

"Gooserider" (clip) He's the man, because if he screws up and falls it's on
a busy two lane highway... :
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Not only that! He's got to be able to put his fingers into a patient's
mouth. Not too easy with bandages.