The best way to improve your balance on a bike is to learn how to do a "track stand," which basically means looking cool while staying in one spot. Here are six steps to mastering this essential skill.
1. Ride casually, and when your bike is almost coming to a stop or you lightly brake the front wheel (gently grip the handlebars, with elbows and knees bent), whichever feels more relaxed. A slightly sloped surface is actually the best place to practice.
2. Place your "strong foot" (the one you prefer, usually on the same side as your dominant hand but not always) forward, keeping both pedals level (like the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions on a clock). If you're not sure which is your strong foot, think about which foot you naturally put forward when... gliding — that’s your strong foot. Gently apply pressure to the pedal with this foot — just enough to move the bike forward slightly.
3. At the same time, firmly squeeze the front brake to prevent any forward motion.
4. At the same time, turn your front wheel toward your strong foot. At first, you might oversteer — don’t worry, just aim for enough angle to keep the bike balanced. You’ll start to feel that balancing point.
5. Maintain balance under all these forces. You’re trying to hover between moving forward and falling, much like muscles working against each other in an isometric exercise without actual movement.
6. If you start to fall toward your strong foot, straighten the wheel and release the brake and pedals. This will slightly relieve your weight (sometimes the bike’s too) and help you regain balance. If you start to fall the other way, press harder on the pedals and grip the brake more firmly — this can create forward momentum.
When you feel confident, try practicing on flat ground to learn how to use your knees for balance. Without this, even if you’ve ridden a bike before, it’s hard to understand — don’t expect to hold a track stand for long during your first twenty or thirty tries. When trying to balance while stationary, you might instinctively move your head and handlebars back and forth — that’s bad and can cause something called steering instability. Instead, turn your head and arms slightly to the side to control the bike — you’ll find it feels pretty awesome.
Typical weight distribution on the bike: 60% of your body weight in the back, 40% in the front. This setup generally provides the best propulsion and control in most situations.
2. Place your "strong foot" (the one you prefer, usually on the same side as your dominant hand but not always) forward, keeping both pedals level (like the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions on a clock). If you're not sure which is your strong foot, think about which foot you naturally put forward when... gliding — that’s your strong foot. Gently apply pressure to the pedal with this foot — just enough to move the bike forward slightly.
3. At the same time, firmly squeeze the front brake to prevent any forward motion.
4. At the same time, turn your front wheel toward your strong foot. At first, you might oversteer — don’t worry, just aim for enough angle to keep the bike balanced. You’ll start to feel that balancing point.
5. Maintain balance under all these forces. You’re trying to hover between moving forward and falling, much like muscles working against each other in an isometric exercise without actual movement.
6. If you start to fall toward your strong foot, straighten the wheel and release the brake and pedals. This will slightly relieve your weight (sometimes the bike’s too) and help you regain balance. If you start to fall the other way, press harder on the pedals and grip the brake more firmly — this can create forward momentum.
When you feel confident, try practicing on flat ground to learn how to use your knees for balance. Without this, even if you’ve ridden a bike before, it’s hard to understand — don’t expect to hold a track stand for long during your first twenty or thirty tries. When trying to balance while stationary, you might instinctively move your head and handlebars back and forth — that’s bad and can cause something called steering instability. Instead, turn your head and arms slightly to the side to control the bike — you’ll find it feels pretty awesome.
Typical weight distribution on the bike: 60% of your body weight in the back, 40% in the front. This setup generally provides the best propulsion and control in most situations.