[2020/05/21]

Session 17: duration 60 minutes

Shruti shot some videos which show my updated progress. I can now change directions multiple times, and I hope to be able to learn to idle soon. video update

[2020/05/14]

Session 15: duration 70 minutes

Practiced for a hour, trying to get better control while rolling backwards. While it is important to sit straight or slightly lean backwards while riding backwards, if one picks up more speed than one wants, it can be fixed by tilting forward, but just for a little bit. A brief forward tilt, followed by straigtening out allows for one to roll backwards for longer distances, without having to stop. If the straightening is done for even the tiniest bit longer than a very brief instant, we tend to get off. These moments can be used to change direction, and roll forward instead, and that’s what I’d like to practice some more. Here’s a video of my current progress.

[2020/05/13]

Session 14: 60 minutes

More slow speed control practice. I’ve been practicing a lot on the 36-er, and found that my low speed control on the 20” was now much better than ever. I no longer need the use of a pole as I’m no longer nervous about riding or leaning backwards. I practiced both riding backwards, and trying to switch directions, i.e. rolling forwards and attempting to roll backwards, and vice-versa.

[2020/04/19]

Session 13: duration 45 minutes

The biggest gain from the video recording from the previous session was that I realized I needed to remember to lean back more, or at any rate, at least maintain a straight profile, instead of leaning forward, when I pedalled backwards. This coupled with using my left hand to wave, instead of holding my saddle meant a much improved form. I was able to be more relaxed and found it a lot easier to rack up more and more consecutive revolutions. I was listening to an audiobook as I practiced, and I find that listening to a book is a means to ensure that one is reasonably relaxed, instead of over-focusing on the task. I find that it helps with the muscle-memory development also, to learn to do something while the brain handles a secondary task, such as listening to a book. The fact that I’m more relaxed now means that my muscles are relaxed instead of tense, and this significantly reduces fatigue, allowing me to get the best out of my training session, without running out of steam barely a few minutes into it. I think I made it upto eight half-revs in a row, and made it to six quite a few times. I hope to be able to cross ten half-revs soon, and go further, after which the next target would be to nail turning while riding backwards.

[2020/04/18]

Session 12: duration 60 minutes

Used my Garmin Virb to shoot a few videos while I practiced, the reasons for which were two-fold; I wanted to grab footage of things I got right, for bragging rights, and also stuff that I didn’t get right, to analyse. The footage was quite revealing; it showed me that many of my attempts ended simply because I stopped leaning back. As we roll backwards, the body pitches forward and one needs to compensate for it by learning to lean slightly backwards. The exact opposite is done while riding forward, as we need to overcome the tendency to pitch backwards, by leaning slightly forward. Since my confidence was increasing, I experimented by letting go of the saddle, allowing the use of my free hand to stretch and wave around, allowing for fine adjusments to balance/weight distribution, and it resulted in some immediately noticeable improvement.

[2020/04/17]

Session 11: duration 90 minutes.

Spent time trying to figure out how to be more stable as I rolled backwards, with focus on trying to track a straighter line. I found that the results were best when I consciously leaned backwards, as the backward distribution of the weight seemed to ensure a straighter line.

This video shows my current progress.

[2020/04/16]

I’ve now trained for ten days in a row, training for at least an hour each day, trying to learn to ride backwards, and to idle by rocking back and forth. Here’s a short summary of my learning outcome from each of those sessions.

Session 10: practiced looking up instead of looking down, while continuing to practice with a pole. Am able to track a straighter line as I roll backwards. Managed up to six revolutions. Hope to be able to extend it to ten and beyond soon. Looking also to be able to switch directions without stopping in between.

Session 7-9: gained more confidence rolling backwards and experimented with trying to toggle directions.

Session 6: outdoor session with the pole. Started using the pole for the assisted mounting, and started experimenting with pedalling backwards. I found the best results when I rolled backwards up a slight incline, as I’d not accelerate very fast, but encountered some decent resistance. Got a lot of confidence.

Session 5: Started getting more comfortable with the pole. Didn’t practice any riding backwards, but practiced making stops with the pole, and continuing. My confidence with the pole by now was far better, so I could use the pole to make an assisted mount, eliminating the need for the wall. Pole assisted mounts are now super stable, and allow me to adjust my feet to the best possible positions before launching off.

Session 4: Started using a walking pole. Needed a bit of time to figure out the length of the pole, and was quite ginger with it. Needed to support myself against a wall and grab the pole as I pushed off. Found that I could not remain stable enough to launch off with the pole instead of the wall. Spent all of the time practicing with the pole, and none, trying to ride backwards.

Session 3: Third session in a row using the wall for support. Found myself able to go backwards much more smoothly, but the proximity to the wall meant it was very hard to not use the wall, even if I didn’t need it. Wondered if the wall was actually slowing my progress rather than enabling it. Decided to try to experiment with a walking pole, to see if it helped.

Session 2: The legs felt a bit more steady, but I still found myself tiring soon. Experimented for a bit with my 36er, for a change of pace.

Session 1: using a wall for support, I tried to get comfortable riding backwards. I found the going hard as my legs trembled with anxiety when I tried inching backwards. I had to stay in contact with the wall constantly.