2 skill questions

[Andrew Arhelger]

1) When learning to idle with 1 foot what should you do with the other foot?

I have been putting it up on the frame. Doing this I can now idle with 1
foot pretty well. I can't always go into and outof a standard idle yet but
it is comming.

2) Any hints for riding with the seat in front or behind? I have been working on
riding with the seat in front for some time know and don't seem to be making
any progress.

I start with pedals horizontal, seat in front and holding on to an object
then just start out. I can't get past 1 or 2 revolutions of the wheel,
usually falling off to the left. How far in front do you hold the seat? How
fast do you go? I feel like I am try to go to fast. Do you stand up straight
and keep you knees pretty straight or stay low and keep them bent. Nothing
seem to work for me.

Andy Arhelger awa@vnet.ibm.com

[Bill Gilbertson]

>
> 1) When learning to idle with 1 foot what should you do with the other foot?
>
> I have been putting it up on the frame. Doing this I can now idle with 1 foot
> pretty well. I can't always go into and outof a standard idle yet but it is
> comming.
>
Putting your foot on the frame is the most solid position. You need to lift it
high enough so that it doesn't rub on the tire. Foot extended forward or to the
side is a more advanced skill. Then comes leg crossed. But the really awesome
skill is free leg and foot pointed high and touching your toe with your hand. It
sounds like you are doing it right, just give it time.

> 2) Any hints for riding with the seat in front or behind? I have been working
> on riding with the seat in front for some time know and don't seem to be
> making any progress.
>
> I start with pedals horizontal, seat in front and holding on to an object
> then just start out. I can't get past 1 or 2 revolutions of the wheel,
> usually falling off to the left. How far in front do you hold the seat? How
> fast do you go? I feel like I am try to go to fast. Do you stand up straight
> and keep you knees pretty straight or stay low and keep them bent. Nothing
> seem to work for me.
>
First learn to ride without any weight on the saddle. Ride normally then extend
your ankles and legs raising up off the seat. Practice until you can ride around
barely touching the seat only occasionally. To do this you need to be riding on
the balls of your feet, too many people ride flat footed (a result of too low a
seat height which I decried in a prior message). Then learn to stall, then pull
the seat out slightly while in the stall. Hold the seat with only one hand up
tight against your body (if you are learning seat in back you can even sit on
the front of it). This all will require more than normal tension in your legs.

Now I will add to the question:

3.) How do you do chin on seat? I never appreciated how difficult this was till
I tried it.

4.) Are their any tricks to seat dragging? I can go seat in front holding with 2
fingers fully away from my body, but can't even get close to suceeding if I
drop the saddle.

Come up smiling, Bill Gilbertson