In article <[email hidden]>,
Bill said:I'll take one shot at this silliness. Can you balance while backpedaling
at 20 MPH? I can't even do it at 3 MPH.
If anyone can then they get the big res S on their chest.
Actually (said the pedant <g>😉
a very little bit of backpedaling is a component of trackstanding
a freewheeled bike. It's really more like ratcheting than
backpedaling, to return the cranks to the sweet spot. The trick
is to find a little slope to slightly pedal up & forward, then
roll back down a little, pedal up & forward again. Repeat and
ratchet the cranks as necessary. If you turn the front wheel so
you're pedaling up and rolling back down a curve rather than a
straight line, it makes trackstanding easier. Style points are
lost for wildly jerking the front wheel around.
I find it's more easily accomplished while standing on more-or-less
horizontal cranks, I suppose because it allows better microadjustments
of weight distribution. Maybe also because the tension on both legs
helps with balance. I dunno. But that's how it works for me.
Anyways, bunny hopping is a more useful skill than trackstanding.
At least, it sure gets tailgating drivers to back off. Especially
if you can do it with a heavy, accessory-encumbered bike that makes
a loud crashing noise when it touches down.
Today I learned to not bunny hop with my reading glasses in my
tee-shirt pocket. They're now pince-nez. I was coming home from
the bank after cashing my paycheque. It was a bittersweet ride.
cheers,
Tom
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