The goal is to be able to have a controlled start from a stop. You can do this from a sitting or standing position, but we are going to focus on a standing position here. Once you get good at this, try to hold a standing position for a few seconds before pulling away.
Start with the bike turned off and located on a flat horizontal surface. Push yourself up and stand on both pegs. Initially you will stay on it for less a second before you start losing your balance. Catch yourself on the side to which you end up leaning, and do not wait for the bike to lean a lot. Catch it with your foot, as described in BALANCE – STOPPING. If it leans too far, there is typically no saving it, especially while beginning to learn. Depending on your physical fitness, do from 5 to 15 attempts. Remember to breathe and look at a far away object, not at the ground right in front of you. After doing an initial set, walk away for a few minutes. Repeat one or two sets. You should not make yourself very tired. This trains your knees and your vestibular system. You can do this every day and after the first week, you should be able to balance on it for at least a second or more. Progress as far as you like. There is no upper limit. The next level will be to have a controlled start going uphill. Then – going downhill.
Prerequisite: Breathing, Looking Ahead, Balance – Stopping.
Homework: every time you leave from a quiet intersection, when you don’t have cars behind, stand on pegs, feel the balance before pulling away.
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