Look Ma, no hands...I wish... [Archive] - Women's Cycling Discussion Forums

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MommyBird

11-05-2009, 05:35 AM

Sorry for bringing up something that may have been thrashed over in a hundred other threads, but I just can't seem to find this and I need some help.

My husband can't seem to help me because this comes so naturally to him that he doesn't even think about how he does it.

Here's my dilemma:
I cannot even take a drink on my new road bike while I am moving.

Hubby can drink, eat, change clothes, stretch and any other maneuver you can think of while riding up-hill, down-hill or on the flats. He even offers to peddle over, remove my water and give me drink while we are rolling. I think he's crazy but he is serious.

As a kid I could ride w/o hands. Even now, on my mountain bike I can take a drink. I could roll and drink when I was on my road bike 20+ years ago.
On my current road bike I finally summoned the courage to itch my face on my 6th ride! I can't get beyond the reach down and practice tap my bottle maneuver.

The bike shop guy put really sleek looking cages on my bike. Completely different shape than the standard version I am used to. The removal process doesn't feel the same and they are tight. That does not help. Hubby stretched them out for me, which is an improvement.

I dream of someday being able to quench my thirst and pull up my arm warmers while rolling along. Is that too much to ask?

Any suggestions on how to develop or redevelop these skills?

Biciclista

11-05-2009, 06:09 AM

I'm not here to teach you how to ignore your instinct for survival. i have the same instinct, and henceforth, cannot ignore it and let go of the handlebars (well, i can, one at a time)
You know, some bikes are less stable in the front and that MIGHT be why you can't let go.
One more not helpful piece of information; women are by nature more cautious than men.
Not helping? Ok, there is a thread somewhere telling you how to ride without holding on. It's not for me though; i figure I can always stop if i need both hands; i'm not in THAT much of a hurry.

OakLeaf

11-05-2009, 06:19 AM

Yes, there are a lot of possibilities. Fit is another one - if you're putting excessive weight on your hands, it could be difficult for you to smoothly shift your weight back onto your butt.

Whether or not you ever achieve (or decide you want to achieve) riding with no hands, you definitely need to be able to let go with one hand so you can drink water, signal for turns, stops and obstacles, etc.

LAB's skills course comes highly recommended - I haven't taken it, but one of these days I'll devote the time. I wish it weren't twice as long as the motorcycle skills course... :( it makes it hard to find the time.

MommyBird

11-05-2009, 06:30 AM

My hubby is definitely not wired the same as me. Last summer we camped in Moab and took our bikes to Red Rocks. Hubby purposely rode into one of the few puddles of sand just to fly over his handlebars and make us all laugh. He loves a good controlled fall here and there. I avoid falling like the plague. Even the thought of falling scares me.

Biciclista

11-05-2009, 06:33 AM

a controlled fall? :eek::eek::eek::eek: uh, no thanks. give yourself a pat on the back for being sensible. Maybe his lack of fear is pushing you in the other direction!

Eden

11-05-2009, 06:57 AM

Riding without hands (and to a lesser extent one hand) take a few things

Core strength - you really don't steer a bike with your hands/handlebars, you steer it with your legs and core.

The ability to relax - if you let go with one hand and take a death grip on the handlebars with the other you will be very shaky. Relax your body, relax your arms, relax your hands. You will actually be in more control and it will be less tiring for your upper body.

No loose parts! - if your headset on your bike is loose or sloppy the front wheel will want to move around when you let go - not too conducive for riding no handed and sure to induce nerves.. Cable housing that are pulled a bit tight or too short could pull the handlebars to one side or the other too.

Correct bike geometry - some bikes have a twitchy front end. I can ride no handed no problem on my road bike, but not on my TT bike. It's just not the right geometry to do it on. I can however still let go with one hand and drink, signal, etc.

Remember your bike even without you on it really wants to stay upright as long as its moving forward. Keep moving forward and the tendency for your front wheel will be to stay upright and straight. You can test this out by grabbing your bike and walking it by only touching the saddle - like riding no handed without any chance of falling down...

HoosierGiant

11-05-2009, 07:06 AM

As for removing a water bottle to drink while still pedaling, are you moving the hand that's remaining on the bars to a position closer to the stem rather than keeping it on the hood? Seems like a simple thing, but the physics behind it make for a much more stable ride.

MommyBird

11-05-2009, 07:35 AM

Eden-
Thank you for the helpful advice.

Even hubby had a Giant MB that he could not take both hands off of.
I am pretty sure my bike is stable. My skill is just lacking.

As for removing a water bottle to drink while still pedaling, are you moving the hand that's remaining on the bars to a position closer to the stem rather than keeping it on the hood? Seems like a simple thing, but the physics behind it make for a much more stable ride.

I keep my left hand on the hood. Can't get too far from the brake! I know, braking with one hand can lead to disaster (been there on my MT) but it's a mental crutch. I will ask hubby what he does.

Did I mention I sometimes steer slightly towards where I am looking...another major newbie problem that I am working on. Should I start another thread?

Hubby is keeping me safe on our 8 mile park loop and one lightly traveled "real road" until I graduate.

Thanks to all for the support!

staceysue

11-05-2009, 07:51 AM

LOL that's how I crashed my bike. I was trying to take a drink and just went right off the road into the grass, really slow. It was embarassing.

PscyclePath

11-05-2009, 08:43 AM

LAB's skills course comes highly recommended - I haven't taken it, but one of these days I'll devote the time. I wish it weren't twice as long as the motorcycle skills course... :( it makes it hard to find the time.

We actually teach this skill in the (3-hour) Group Riding Workshop, not in the (9-hour) Traffic Skills 101 ;-) That's the one set up to teach riders how to survive the huge, mass-start rides like the Houston MS-150 (or the Hotter 'n Hell 100), so not only do you learn to fish your bottle out of the cage, take a swig, and put it back -- you get to practice it riding shoulder-to-shoulder,3, 4, or more abreast! In a couple of the clinics I've done, we've practiced handing the bottle down the line, and back to the owner ;-)

The secret is to be confident with your balance on the bike. Ride along straight and steady. Use your left hand to handle the bottle (your right hand on the hood so's you have quick access to the rear brake should you suddenly need it).

Tom

Kalidurga

11-05-2009, 09:52 AM

Did I mention I sometimes steer slightly towards where I am looking...another major newbie problem that I am working on.

As I understand it, that's exactly what you're supposed to do. The trick is making sure that you're looking towards where you want to steer. That's how you avoid obstacles-- Notice the obstacle, then look for a line around it and focus on that. Your wheels will follow where you look. Perhaps noticing where your eyes are going would also help when you try to take a hand off the bar to reach for your water bottle or tug your arm warmers.

And, contrary to that, practicing keeping the bike straight while looking behind you could also help with figuring out the right place to put one hand on the bar and how to shift your weight.

pfunk12

11-05-2009, 10:27 AM

I don't have any advice for you other than - maybe with time it will get easier?? I started riding a bike less than 2 years ago (after not riding for 17 years). I remember my first time out. I was going up a hill and a guy went to pass me on the left. I went to reach for my water bottle and I swerved into him :eek: but I didn't hit him. I apologized and told him that it was my first ride in 17 years! Balance was a HUGE issue for me early on. I also remember riding with some random guy and I tried to blow my nose and I swerved into him, too! I can't remember how or when it got easy for me. It just did with time. I also marvel at cyclists who can take clothes off while riding with no hands. I am so jealous.

Grits

11-05-2009, 10:35 AM

It took a while for me to develop that skill.

Practice in safe places - on nice, flat, straight stretches maybe in a neighborhood as opposed to the road so less traffic. Try riding one handed for stretches of time to develop the strength and steering capability of that arm. Don't try to get your water bottle while riding until you feel comfortable riding one handed for a little while.

Do it in steps.

Glance down quickly, see exactly where your hand needs to go. Look back up!

Reach down while still looking ahead and get your water bottle. Hold it, make sure you are balanced.

Take a drink. Make sure you are balanced.

Glance down, see where it needs to go. Look back up.

Reach down and put it in the holder.

I ride with one friend who has been riding a little less than a year and only drinks when we stop, so you are certainly not the only one! It will be second nature before you know it.

lph

11-05-2009, 12:42 PM

Owlie

11-05-2009, 03:33 PM

I have a death grip on the handle bars because I don't have the core strength yet (working on it!) to keep my weight off my arms. BF's advice was to start by releasing the grip and just rest my palms somewhere on the bars so I could grab the brakes if need be, then start moving my hands around to other spots. I'm finally okay with adjusting my glasses or brushing wayward strands of hair out of my face, but I still can't grab the water bottles out of their cages. I'm thinking of investing in a Camelbak for the time being.

tctrek

11-05-2009, 04:23 PM

I would add - practice thinking it before doing it. Try thinking of riding with one hand, steering with one hand, and just relaxing the other, or removing it briefly from the bars without doing anything with it. Just feel what it feels like, you may feel that you have to use your core more to stay in balance.

Once you have a feeling for how you actually ride your bike with only one hand without veering or wobbling you can start thinking about what you want to do with that spare hand :)

Try isolating the leaning forward movement too, try practicing it while riding without actually touching the bottle or removing your hands. It helps if your body recognizes part of the movement pattern from before.

+1 on breaking down the action into it's smallest parts. just riding with one hand, but not going for the bottle. Then riding with one hand and just trying to touch the bottle. Progressing up to removing the bottle just a touch and pushing it back into the holder, etc. I was riding for a year before I figured out how to do this. And I started out, just drinking when I was on a piece of road where I could coast without pedaling. I got the bottle out and drank while coasting and just steering with one hand. Worked my way up to pedaling while drining.

So, take baby steps. The worst thing you can do is allow yourself to get dehydrated on the bike!

MommyBird

11-05-2009, 05:58 PM

Wow, lots of good information. I will be rescanning this a few times to absorb it all. Thank you so much.

I had a few breakthroughs on my ride this afternoon.
I concentrated on centering my weight. That helped a lot.
I was able to ride a short distance with my weight on my right hand and my left off but still close to the bar.
I moved my hands around the bars instead of staying on the hoods close to the breaks.
I reached for my left rear jersey pocket to check for the truck keys. This was preformed like second nature after all the little experiments I had been doing throughout my ride.

I also glanced behind myself to check for traffic and held my line.

My stopping was more efficient and comfortable as well.

I feel ready to work on that rolling drink next ride.
I know I will never be as adept as my husband but I am pretty sure I can regain the skills I had 20 years ago on a road bike and still have today on my mountain bike.

zia

11-06-2009, 05:20 AM

Thank you for posting this. I have the same problem, and went my entire first Olympic triathlon dry mouthed because I was too afraid to grab my drink. Core strength is definitely my issue... and my general lack of coordination. :eek:

MommyBird

11-08-2009, 04:25 PM

tctrek

11-08-2009, 04:36 PM

Crankin

11-09-2009, 02:44 AM

Eden

11-09-2009, 05:40 AM

One way to improve your balance and core strength is to get a stability ball (aka yoga ball, exercise ball, etc). An exercise on it that is very similar to riding a bike no handed is to balance kneeling on the ball - but don't expect to start there. At first just practice sitting on the ball and try the exercises that are usually packed with the ball (or find some online).

When you feel ready try balancing on the ball in stages. The first step is to be able to balance on all 4's on the ball. When you can do that work on holding one arm at a time out for a few seconds. When you can do that work on holding one leg out at a time for a few seconds. When that is comfortable try holding out the opposite arm and leg at the same time for a few seconds. If you can do that try sitting up kneeling on the ball (shins on the ball, thighs extended, butt off your calves). Work your way up to being able to kneel on the ball for up to 2 minutes. You probably will fall off the ball at some point in time, so practice this in a safe place.

My coach started me on ball exercises a few years ago for core strength. I got my husband to start doing it too and not only did his occasional back issues clear up, he's pretty sure that the balance exercises have saved him in races a few times, when he's been bumped hard.

MommyBird

11-09-2009, 06:28 AM

My DH can do all of that. It's amazing to watch him take his jacket off, fold it, and put it in his jersey pocket, when he is riding.
Me, well, after almost ten years, I can (sometimes) grab a drink when rolling on a straight road, with no cars, and I've slowed my speed...

I have a stability ball. We have about a 25sf area of rubber floor in our exercise room. I will try the balance routine out today.

I will probably use the elliptical today instead of ride anyway. I need to get back into my Pilates routine. It does amazing things for a bad back as well.

My husband says he had what he calls an embarrassing fall in front of a rest area when he was doing Six Gaps last month. He was passing by the stop and a guy to his left turned into the rest area in front of him and clipped his front tire. He was falling to the left (not his good side) and he was able to unclip and put his foot down. He slid down the road in a near split on his left foot while still clipped in on the right with his bike tipped low to the left. His hard sole sliding made a huge racket and he felt like he was the center of attention. He righted himself, clipped in and continued on red-faced.

I think anyone who saw him was more likely impressed with his save.
I need to get some of what he's got...

OakLeaf

11-09-2009, 06:29 AM

Starting with a slightly deflated ball will make it easier.

A "safe place" could be next to a couch or chair with no hard edges, that will let you catch yourself with a hand when you need extra stability.

I don't know about progressing from bird-dogs on the ball, though. I think it's a lot easier to kneel than to do a bird-dog. JME.

Once you've got basic balance, some sports conditioning trainers will bump you from various directions while kneeling on the ball, standing on one leg, etc., to develop your reactive balancing skills. These can be done easily as partner exercises - and would apply directly to bike handling skills.

velogirl

11-09-2009, 08:36 AM

Here are the fundamental skills as we teach them in our clinics:

From a bike fit POV, make sure your saddle is level. If your saddle is nose-down, it will push your body mass forward onto your hands/upper body and will also cause your center-point to be off. Imagine that your bike is a rear-drive vehicle (it is) and that your weight and energy are focused on the back of the bike. The bar will follow wherever the back of the bike directs.

Riding one-handed and no-handed:

Move hands to the "tops" of the bar as close to the stem (axis point) as possible with your thumbs wrapped under the bar. This will assist you in holding your line even if you put energy/movement into the bar.

Visualize four points (eyes) on your core -- your hips and your shoulders. These four points should be "looking" forward at all times. Your bike will move into the direction that these four points are "looking."

Center your body mass over the center of the bike (bottom bracket). Do not center your mass in front of this point.

Sit upright on your saddle -- almost like you're in a chair. This is different than the standard pelvis-tilting position we traditionally ride in. Visualize that your spine is a extension of the seat post.

Remove one hand quietly and place it on your thigh. Remember to keep the adjacent "eye" (your shoulder) facing forward. Do not hover over the bar.

To grab your bottle, do not look down. Lowering your head will affect your balance. You want to look where you want the bike to go (rule #1 in balance sports like cycling or skiing, etc).

Using the down tube as a physical guide, run your hand down the tube until you find your bottle. Remember, keep those four "eyes" facing forward.

To look behind your left shoulder, keep your right hand on the tops, move your left hand to your hip or thigh, isolate three of your four "eyes" (right shoulder and both hips) forward. Maintain a strong core and look over your left shoulder. Remember, your goal is two-fold: to actually "see" behind you and to hold a straight line.

To ride no-handed, start with your hands on the tops and sit in an upright position. Remove one hand and place it on your hip/thigh or at your side. Keep your four "eyes" focused forward. Remove the second hand and place is on your hip/thigh or at your side. But the real key is to really sit upright and move your shoulders back. You can't hover over the bar or be tentative. This skill is all about commitment. If you're hoving over the bar, your shoulder "eyes" will not be focusing forward. I always visualize the Fonz (remember Happy Days), leaning far back with my arms (thumbs up) almost behind the plane of my body. And keep looking forward with your four "eyes" plus your other two eyes. Keep your chin up! You should be looking at the horizon view and use your peripheral vision to see the road ahead of you.

So much easier to teach this in person rather than in text. Just yesterday I taught a group of 20 novice riders (who couldn't ride without hands) to ride no-handed around corners and through a slalom of cones -- on all types of bikes (road, mountain, hybrid, even a folder). Some bike styles are easier than others but it's possible to ride no-handed on any bike if your weight is in the correct place. If you're confident and measured in your actions, it's possible for anyone to ride no-handed (I promise).

Hope this helps!

Lorri

ps -- here's the cliff notes version:

1 -- hands on the tops for stability.
2 -- sit upright in the saddle (on your sit bones)
3 -- core focusing forward (your four eyes)
4 -- chin up
5 -- slow, measured movements

MommyBird

11-09-2009, 09:33 AM

Velogirl-
I put your web site into my favorites.
Some of your girls need to move to Augusta, GA!

We have the Masters!
Pretty much our only claim to fame.

I pictured my husband's bike positions as I read your tips. I will be analyzing his every move our next time out.

Thanks again

Eden

11-09-2009, 05:31 PM

I don't know about progressing from bird-dogs on the ball, though. I think it's a lot easier to kneel than to do a bird-dog. JME.

I was thinking something similar this morning - I haven't done ball exercises for a while so, I do remember thinking one arm or leg at a time is easier than kneeling, but opposite arm and leg... That was the order on my exercise sheet though.

featuretile

11-10-2009, 01:25 PM

I have a women's bike that only has room for one water bottle and you cannot reach it while you are riding. When I am riding with slower people, I always stop and wait for them so there is no problem getting a drink. When I am riding with faster people, I can't stop for a drink (because they don't stop) and if I do, I lose them and can't catch up.

So a few weeks ago I bought a Camelback water bottle that is made of hard safe plastic with a bite valve. It comes with a loop hook on the top. When I asked my husband (engineer) why there is a loop sticking up, he said maybe it's for hanging the bottle somewhere. So, he made a wire hook and attached it to my bike stem and the bottle just hangs there right in front of me at a place where it is easy to get. I still wait till I am riding pretty straight and level, but now I can get a drink. Yeah!

OakLeaf

11-10-2009, 02:22 PM

When I asked my husband (engineer) why there is a loop sticking up, he said maybe it's for hanging the bottle somewhere. So, he made a wire hook and attached it to my bike stem and the bottle just hangs there right in front of me at a place where it is easy to get. I still wait till I am riding pretty straight and level, but now I can get a drink. Yeah!

That's an ingenious solution! (I'd worry a little about it flying off on bumpy roads, though?)

You can hang the bottle from a backpack using a carabiner (too heavy for me). You can carry it with a finger. You can hang it from the purse hook in airport restrooms and not have to try to juggle it while you pee and risk dropping on the floor! Yay! :)

zia

11-10-2009, 05:17 PM

Is is in a spot where it can get into your front wheel and flip you? I was riding next to someone who had that happen with her U-Lock once. Not a pretty crash...

MommyBird

11-10-2009, 08:18 PM

I have some of those same CB bottles. We use them for hiking and my boys will take them rowing. We each have two in our family color code system. Hubby is green, Drew is blue, Nick is orange and I, of course, am pink.
Ours are too big for the bikes but we like them a lot for other applications.

There are some good alternatives for standard frame bottle cages out there. You can get a one or two bottle system that attaches to your seat. That homemade hook system sounds a bit scary to me. No picture and a minimal description leaves a lot to the imagination.

My bike is a 54 so there is plenty of room for two cages and extraction.

Selkie

11-11-2009, 01:06 AM

I told my husband about starting this thread and he got a kick out of it.

On today's ride he was a big show off. After eating a gooey energy bar he proceeded to wave his arms like an orangutan and then pat his head and rub his tummy. Later on he crossed his arms and sang a song from Aladdin. He executed a tight, middle of the road, one handed, full circle turn while drinking from a gel flask. He was taunting me with his superior balance. Is this normal?
.

It wouldn't be normal in my marriage for my husband to taunt me like that but each to his/her own.

If he keeps that up, he'll take a spill, which will be what he deserves.

I'm with Mimi on this one. Safety first. I don't care about being able to pull a bottle out of the cage and drink when I'm riding. I do have good balance and am an experienced rider; however, I am not inclined to tempt the fates. Having broken my clav and elbow in non-cycling athletic accidents, I'm content stopping to take a swig should I need one.

MommyBird

11-11-2009, 06:54 AM

It wouldn't be normal in my marriage for my husband to taunt me like that but each to his/her own.

If he keeps that up, he'll take a spill, which will be what he deserves.

Yeow...
I hope he never changes, he makes me laugh.

He is a huge risk taker but he has incredible control and agility. He broke his first bone at 46 years of age and it took an 80 foot flight on a motocross bike to do it.
My younger son has the same talent. I have to close my eyes and pray when he gets the notion to do some crazy stunt. Which is often.
My older son is not so lucky. He is more cautious in his actions but he is the one who gets hurt. He spent two months in a body cast with a broken femur at age 4 from a bike accident and broke 3 metatarsal on a motocross bike in his early teens.
Me, I avoid falling, I have nightmares about falling, I am a huge chicken.

OakLeaf

11-11-2009, 12:26 PM

I don't care about being able to pull a bottle out of the cage and drink when I'm riding.

But you need to be able to take a hand off the bars and signal that you're stopping or slowing or turning, or signal obstacles to other riders. Sometimes you need to be able to signal stopping/slowing very quickly in an emergency situation. And you need to do it with your right hand on the brake, not in the center of the bars.

Being able to do a slalom course with no hands isn't a specific skill you'll ever need, but being able to handle your bike when you're bumped by another rider or a vehicle, or if something/someone runs out in front of you suddenly, those are skills that can save your life, and balance drills are how you get there.

Crankin

11-11-2009, 01:21 PM

Oy, I tried some of the stuff on the ball. I can't do any of it. Well, I can lay prone over the ball and balance with one hand out and the opposite leg out, for about 3 seconds. Kneeling on the ball? I don't see how I could ever do this.
I know I have horrible balance, always have; it's not a function of age. I never thought I had a weak core, as I can do lots of crunch type stuff on the ball, but nothing with balance in any position, with or without the ball.
It's amazing I can even ride, when I think of it. I didn't learn until I was 10 and I remember one time finding myself drifting across a street and running into a parked car, with no control over what was happening. I still get that feeling in the beginning of a ride, especially if it involves a downhill.

shootingstar

11-11-2009, 01:33 PM

I haven't gotten around to training myself to take water bottle from cage and drink from it, while riding.

While cycling, I can easily reach down to pull up a ankle sock, or scratch my ankle or adjust an ankle elastic.

But I can only do it with my left-hand, while hanging onto handlebar with right. Haven't gotten around to make myself more ambidextrous.

redrhodie

11-11-2009, 01:43 PM

I can ride no hands, but have always felt my alu bike was twitchy when I did so. Well, I followed Velogirl's advice to look at the horizon, and suddenly, the bike's not twitchy anymore. Thanks Velogirl! I was too focused on the road.

Selkie

11-12-2009, 12:46 AM

But you need to be able to take a hand off the bars and signal that you're stopping or slowing or turning, or signal obstacles to other riders. Sometimes you need to be able to signal stopping/slowing very quickly in an emergency situation. And you need to do it with your right hand on the brake, not in the center of the bars.

Being able to do a slalom course with no hands isn't a specific skill you'll ever need, but being able to handle your bike when you're bumped by another rider or a vehicle, or if something/someone runs out in front of you suddenly, those are skills that can save your life, and balance drills are how you get there.

Never fear, I do signal and am able to ride one handed if the situation warrants or I want to flex my fingers/wrist. I ride over 10K miles a year and have tested/solid bike handling skills. I can also do a track stand, so my balance is fine.

I just don't like messing around, trying to pull a bottle out of the cage. I've had rabbits come out of no where and run in front of me, so I keep my attention on what's ahead.

cylegoddess

11-13-2009, 12:12 AM

It took me time too! Now I can do it like the pros! You will too!

OakLeaf

11-13-2009, 03:45 AM

I never thought I had a weak core, as I can do lots of crunch type stuff on the ball, but nothing with balance in any position, with or without the ball.

Just as with standing balance, it's not muscle strength, it's the receptor organs in the tendons, and just as they've found that strengthening the muscles alone doesn't rehab the tendons after an ankle injury, I'd be surprised if it's any different with the core.

Standing balance (to me) is mostly about the feet, ankles and knees, and I'm pretty good at that... kneel on the ball and it's a whole 'nother "ball" game.

Seriously, try it with a deflated ball; if you have access to an assortment, a larger deflated ball will be the most stable. I'm so far from being able to kneel on a fully inflated ball that it's just frustrating and I make no progress. With my husband's 65 cm ball, with just enough air in it that I can sit on it and barely get my feet flat on the ground, I'm getting somewhere.

Another option is to use a fully inflated ball, but do it as a partner exercise. Balance has that tipping point where it's all or nothing, and if you're approaching that from the "nothing" end, it's often closer than you think. I can easily kneel on a fully inflated ball with a little help from a standing partner to get into position, and just a light touch of their hand to correct myself. Doing it unassisted, as I said, I can't even think about doing that yet.

velogirl

11-14-2009, 06:17 PM

Being able to do a slalom course with no hands isn't a specific skill you'll ever need......

probably not, but it's one of the best drills to illustrate the ability to steer your bike with your core/hips/saddle instead of your hands. and it's fun, mostly because many riders don't believe they can do it!

Lorri

owlice

11-17-2009, 04:19 PM

Where do I go to learn how to steer my bike with my core/hips/saddle? I'd like to do that!

velogirl

11-18-2009, 07:54 PM

If you're in Northern CA (or just want to take a nice vacation in Northern CA) come to one of my clinics. We've had participants from all over the US and Canada. We're pretty much finished for 2009 (one last climbing + descending clinic this weekend), but will commence again in March 2010.

If you're elsewhere, check with your local cycling association for coaches who present cycling clinics.

Lorri

drdwin

11-20-2009, 02:24 PM

MommyBird,

I am having similar issues also. Along with my clipless issues I'm also having one-handed issues as well. I did it all the time on my MTB - no hands too - but the road bike is sooooo different. I can take off one hand to wave, unzip my jacket a bit or scratch an itch but I find myself death gripping with the opposite hand - if I really concentrate on lightening up my grip and making sure my posture is correct I can do it - grabbing a water bottle however will require that I actually move my upper body a bit more than just from the elbow down and that freaks me out. I've also been practicing changing my hand positions frequently going in and out of the drops and this seems to be helping me feel more comfortable. I'm also keep my head straight and focus on the road ahead because turning my head while riding one handed really messes me up. Good thing I don't do group rides yet!!!!!

owlice

11-22-2009, 07:55 AM

Lorri, thanks! I'm on the opposite coast, and though I've LOVE a nice vacation to northern CA (or anywhere!), such a thing is unlikely while my spawn is in college.

I'll look locally; thanks!

(Or maybe you need to travel east... be a guest instructor out here! :D )

MommyBird

11-22-2009, 07:57 PM

I am making small improvements.
I feel comfortable doing small things like toggling through my computer, checking time, and making small adjustments.
Still have not attempted to remove my bottle or sit back and remove both hands.
I would love to take a class.
No certified instructors in my area but Atlanta has some listed.
A class would be a nice Christmas present.
Balancing on the ball is still quite difficult for me but not for hubbie. Go figure?
We are going to Pittsburgh for Thanks Giving. Weather will be cold and rainy.
We are not taking bikes but we will take our erg.
I'll be free to concentrate on some core work as well. Pilates mat work.
Thanks again to all who have contributed their knowledge and experience.

bikerchic

01-08-2010, 07:26 PM

learning new tricks, but maybe you simply need to feel comfortable on the bike for a while before doing other things. That takes time so be patient with yourself.

Have you ever thought of getting a camelbak (http://www.camelbak.com/) hydration system? Then you can drink on the fly and don't have to reach for anything!

Have fun, learn at your own pace, but do strive to better your skills as best as you can.

Happy pedaling!

moderncyclista

01-09-2010, 12:58 PM

Core strength is important, but also what gear are you riding in?
Your small ring, and middle ring (in front) aren't usually sufficient for riding no hands and maintaining balance whilst doing so. Switch to the big ring in front and a small ring in back and pedal at a decent speed. That is the only way I know of to get it done.

You can leave one hand on the bars (nothing is wrong with safety), which I recommend in urban areas. Master pulling the water bottle out one-handed and replacing it at low comfortable speeds. Not everyone needs to ride "no hands." Hydration and your personal safety are more important than looking cool. ;)