Track stands 'n stuff
Penn, you can try these steps:
Trackstands:
1. Stand on your bike with the cranks horizontal. (Track stands can be done sitting, but start out by learning to do them standing.)
2. Coasting very slowly to a stop, apply the front brake with one finger and hold it. (You can use the back brake too if you want to.)
3. Turn your handlebars about 45 degrees to whichever side feels most comfortable. (Some people prefer to always turn the front tire toward the leading foot. Also, you'll eventually discover the angle that's suits you personally.)
4. Adjust your weight so that your chest is fairly far over the handlebars.
5. Twist your body parallel to the turned handlebars.
6. Keep your legs outstretched and solid on the pedals, but not too stiff. The front foot should always put some pressure on the forward pedal, so that the bike would move forward if the brake was released.
7. Stick your hip out to the opposite side of the turned handlebars.
8. Stay relaxed (but not too much - there will always be some body tension due to the pedal pressure and the forward lean). Avoid any stiff or cramped position. Don't have a death-grip on the handlebars, or an overall rigidity will set in.
9. Make slight adjustments to keep balance.
A list like this is useful at the start because it helps us try to do it the same way every time, but once our instincts take over we'll never think about these points again.
Tips:
- pick a spot to focus on, perhaps five feet ahead on the ground, or out ahead, such as a point on a tree or on the horizon. Keep you head up, and don't look down at the bike. Try for a feeling of inner calm. .....OOOOoooooommmmmmmmmmmm....
- you'll be more confident if you practice on grass or soft, level ground.
- practice you track stands un-clipped until you get the hang of it. If you can't stand comfortably on your clipless you can just screw on some cheapie platform pedals. A few bucks at Wal-Mart will do it.
- You can practice track stands in your back yard, living room, or anywhere there's a three-by-six space. Indoors, cover the carpet or nice flooring with something first, and always hold the brakes so you don't shoot forward if you have to dab with your back foot. Doing it in a doorway or a hallway gives you something to put a hand on to steady yourself, but be aware that your hands and handlebar ends will put some blemishes on the surfaces. Just be sure to wear your helmet and move anything to the sides and ahead of you that you could bash your head on. It's a good rainy day activity too... just like riding small figures in your basement to practice your slow-speed handling. (pays off in technical terrain, switchbacks etc., produces higer ROI on that $6.50 you spent at Wal-Mart.)
- some people do a track stand without the brakes on, and keep the same weight on the pedals to avoid moving forward. You can always try that later, after getting good at doing them with the brakes on.
- after you learn to do a track stand with, say, your right foot always forward and wheel to the right, then practice it the opposite way (left foot forward, wheel to the left, right hip out). It won't take long to learn to trackstand on the new side, and you'll be more comfortable in the variety of situations that can happen on the trail.
About wet stuff:
Wet rocks are tricky, and wet roots are worse. Try to take both wet and dry roots at 90 degrees when you can. When rocks are wet try not to pass over their sloping sides if you can help it. Especially, stay off the sides of round, wet rocks.
