"Look Ma, no hands!"

[pooks]

As a kid, I rode a lot but NEVER was I able to ride "no hands." (I also was never able to turn a cartwheel or other stuff that probably relies on balance. I also can't dance.)

I still can't.

I'm not sure whether riding "no hands" is something I can "train" myself to do, or something that will come naturally as I become more experienced, or --

Whether some of us are just balance-impaired, and I shouldn't waste any time worrying about it.

What say y'all?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Don't forget that some bikes are easier to ride no-hands than others.

[pooks]

I did wonder about that.

[mimitabby]

I'm with you Pooks, never did it. i can take my hands off t he handlebars for only an instant. but Lisa's right; some bikes are easier than others.

[Zen]

Yup.
I can easily ride single handed on my mountain bike (haven't tried hands free yet) but on the road bike, forget it.

Depends on the frame geometry, I suppose.

[Kimmyt]

I think you can definitely teach yourself! I never was able to ride without hands, and just recently found myself realizing that as I've put more and more hours in the saddle (particularly commuting, which gives me alot of bike handling skills) I've gotten more and more comfy on my bike. So the other day I just tried to ride without hands, and while I couldn't do crazy stuff, I found I could ride for short periods of time without hands. So now every day on my commute in at one particular part of the trail I try and ride a bit with no hands, figuring that with time it'll get easier and easier!

[rapid cycler]

I had always been in awe of the pro tour riders and their victory hand throws, so I wanted to see if I could do it. I did laps on a quiet block in my neighborhood and practiced. Each lap when I hit the slight decline (I still don't think I can do it while pedaling) I loosened my grip a bit more on the bars, then re-gripped them as usual to hit the incline. Soon I was able to feel secure enough hovering above but not touching the bars, then I began lifting them a little more each lap until I was able to lift them above my shoulders for a proper victory throw. It took me a while—about an hour—but I did get there. I'm still not comfortable throwing my arms completely in the air, but I did become much more comfortable sitting straight up in the saddle with my hands hovering just over the bars, which has become a valuable new stretching position for me.

[lauraelmore1033]

I could do it as a kid (along with wheelies, jumps and other fool headed acrobatic tricks), but the grown-up bike is too twitchy. I think it's all about the bike. I see people doing it occasionally, and I find myself wondering what the advantage is--other than looking confident and smug

[Eden]

having a strong core helps - you really steer the bike with your hips and abs (not by turning the handlebars!), so if you are strong there you can sit up and still steer pretty naturally. Going no handed very slowly is harder than if you are moving a bit faster.

[Velobambina]

Why would you want to ride "no hands?"

I think it's each to her own on this one. After having broken my clavical and my radius (separate times, thank goodoness), I play it safe in the saddle, since I'm loathe to lose any riding time due to a broken bone or other injury. That's just me.

I know that some folks feel very comfortable going hands free. I'm amazed at Veronica's ability to remove a bolero while riding, as I have problems taking mine off when I'm standing on solid ground. LOL. I cast no aspersions on those who can do it safely and with confidence. I don't like riding near them, but that's due to my own fear of a potential wipeout.

[spokewench]

Anyone can train themselves to ride no hands. It does take some work however. I ride no handed in order to stretch my back, to zip a jacket, to take something off or put a jacket on, so, no it is not just to look Smug!

Remember that no matter what bike you are riding, you do not steer with the handle bars, you steer with your weight shift and your body - so you turn comes from your hips not your hands. Once you have developed a smooth pedal, you should be able to ride no hands with absolutely no hands.

Yes, some bikes are easier, but I have yet to ride one that you can't ride no hands -

spoke

[Tuckervill]

A lot does depend on the bike. I've never ridden nice, spendy bikes until now. So, all the bikes I've ridden no hands on have been poorly maintained junkers or the '70s ten speeds that always got stolen. If something's out of whack on your bike, you'll know it as soon as you let go (if you're experienced at riding no-handed). Still, there's a point where you can balance even an out of whack bike and go no handed. It's about the hips and core and maybe being willing to sit cockeyed on the saddle! A perfectly balanced bike is a thing of beauty, though. I had a 10 speed in the '70s which was so sweetly balanced I could hook a finger behind the back of the saddle and push it down the sidewalk and it would just go perfectly straight.

There are plenty of reasons to ride without hands, and being smug is only one of them. I fixed my ponytail while sitting straight up, yesterday. It's a useful skill, but I don't think it's a requirement to be good cyclist. Don't hate me because I can.

Karen

[Deanna]

I could ride with no hands when I was a kid, but that was on a little heavy bike with thick wheels. Then my mom put a stop to it by singing:

Look ma - one hand!
Look ma - no hands!
Look ma - no teeth!

[Zen]

Look ma - one hand!
Look ma - no hands!
Look ma - no teeth!

Good point!
I may not be able to ride my road bike with no hands, but I've spent a LOT of money on dental work in the past year and my teeth look great.

I choose teeth

[Tuckervill]

I think that's kind of like saying "I choose not to get hit by a car, so I don't ride."

Risk vs. benefit. It's worth the risk to me to readjust my gloves, sit up and stretch my back, open my water bottle, etc., with no hands, based on my knowledge of my ability to do so.

Karen