Look Ma, no hands!

[Mark Blacknell]

Practice, really. ElCee’s point about knees is hard to explain, but I’m certain it’s critical to keeping things upright. These days, I can take off and put on jackets while moving. But, well, is that really worth the risk? Probably not (tho’ I ride w/o hands all the time). Funny enough, I find it much tougher to do on an MTB than a road bike (cf. Jabber’s experience).

~

Entirely unrelated.

[PotomacCyclist]

I can ride no-hands on the mountain bike but not on the triathlon bike. I don’t remember if I could ride no-hands a couple years ago when I first started cycling as an adult. I vaguely remember having some difficulties doing that, even on the mtn bike.

Core and balance training may help improve your ability to do this. Even if no-hands riding isn’t that important a skill, improved core strength and balance skills are helpful in avoiding overuse injuries.

[eminva]

Hey, I can do it!

Was coming back from Purcellville on Saturday, got bored, and decided to practice. I continued this afternoon on the commute home (the rain had stopped by the time I left work) and lo and behold, I could do it! So, that was me sitting up with the silly grin on all the straightaways I could find.

Thanks for all the tips.

Liz

[Dirt]

Awesome to hear it Liz!!!!! Congrats! Just remember that each bike you ride behaves a little differently when you ride no hands. Even with as much no-hands riding as I do, there are still bikes that I don’t hardly try it on.

Rock on!!!

[DCLiz]

Interesting thread, and thanks to mrkenny83 for starting it! I actually still need to practice taking ONE hand off too signal — I have trouble with that. I found that riding CaBi really helped there. It’s much easier to balance on those things. They also helped me learn how to start and stop properly. And slowly allowed me to raise my seat to the proper height. All skills which more or less translated to my hybrid. Now I’m working on remembering to downshift at stops.

But, wouldn’t be able to squeeze the top bar on a CaBi!

[mrkenny83]

I felt the need to post an update. I have OFFICIALLY learned to bike with no hands!

What should my next goal be?!

[americancyclo]

@mrkenny83 20198 wrote:

What should my next goal be?!

No feet.

[pfunkallstar]

@americancyclo 20210 wrote:

No feet.

I’ve done the quad pump (no feet no hands) but just for fun, and ALWAYS with a helmet – 29er required.

[GuyContinental]

@americancyclo 20210 wrote:

No feet.

36″ Commuter Unicycle.

http://www.unicycle.com/36-nimbus-impulse-disc-unicycle-with-shadow-handle.html/

There’s at least one in Arlington already, why not two?

[Lt. Dan]

When I was younger I could do it all day long… Now? I’ll crash so hard I’ll leave a crater….

I think it has to do with the extra- Uhm- “baggage” I have now… LOL

[mrkenny83]

@pfunkallstar 20214 wrote:

I’ve done the quad pump (no feet no hands) but just for fun, and ALWAYS with a helmet – 29er required.

WHAT?! I’m nervous to ask what exactly you’re using to peddle…….

[KLizotte]

Whoohooo. I figured out how to ride with no hands tonight. Even managed to pull a drink out of my back pocket, unscrew the top, take a swig and put it back without crashing.

Now I’ll have to try sticking my feet out at the same time.

Hey, I had Hain’s Pt to all to myself tonight; what else was I going to do for entertainment?

[PotomacCyclist]

You all just need to do the proper training. Something like this:

[off2ride]

In an emergency (like I had to do a few days ago) I removed my helmet and glasses to make sure this bee or wasp was out of my helmet while going 18 mph. Not a good feeling when that buzzing sound doesn’t go away while riding. Try that. Just like playing Wii, “MAKE SURE YOUR IMMEDIATE AREA IS CLEAR OF OBSTACLES.”

@mrkenny83 20198 wrote:

I felt the need to post an update. I have OFFICIALLY learned to bike with no hands!

What should my next goal be?!

[jordash]

When I think about the different bikes I’ve tried riding without hands on, the bike’s weight distribution, tire width, and rider skill are most important.

At school I rode a beach cruiser with gigantic tires, which allowed me to go from door to door without touching my handle bars for 15 minutes.
My road bike has 32mm tires and it took some getting used to riding without hands. It takes practice to get used to your bike and using your legs and weight to keep the front wheel straight.

And please don’t practice on bike paths with people coming at you (or behind you because they’ll likely want to pass). It’s awfully intimidating to know the rider pedaling at you doesn’t have complete control of the bike.

[Author]

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