The Importance of Balance

As we get older we tend not to practice balancing or playing on anything really. If we play a sport where sideways and turning motions are required then we do practice our balance skills to a degree, which can transfer to the bike.

 

Many cyclists just ride and don’t play other sports and any prolonged linear activity can sometimes have a detrimental effect on our ability to move like we used too.

 

Obviously age related factors and fear of damaging ourselves increases as we get older and as we become more aware of what can go wrong. That’s just natural.

 

A key message here is to get off the bike and play some balance games. Low beams, or lines on the floor, one/two legged standing on flat ground or on a wobble board or Bosu.

 

Practice a couple of times a week, spending just a few minutes trying something different to enhance your personal balance.

 

As you get more competent, close your eyes and try to balance – really hard to do at first. Proprioception is the technical term for understanding where your body is in time and space and it needs practice.

 

This will help you on the bike.

 

Obviously jump onto your bike and practice balancing too. You can do this in your back yard. Just place some objects on the ground and form a narrow passage. Look for the exit and ride slowly through. Keep doing this and then add some bends/corners.

 

Start real low level and build up. Stay unclipped to start with then develop to your clips, if you use them.

 

A key and advanced skill is to learn how to ‘trackstand‘– standing still on the bike without putting your foot down – we will explore that another time.

 

Have fun and enjoy the ride!

 

Chris