a small accomplishment but "." mine very own

[marni]

I have always been envious of those who can do track stands and even more envious of those who can ride a bike for extended distances hand free. I saw plenty of the latter while living in Holland where everybody grows up on a bike but I am 65 and only come to biking in the last 7 years.

Feeling all inspired by a bunch of the TDF riders casually riding along zipping up or down, stuffing things in their pockets and taking them out etc. I decided to try yet again, a slight bout of insanity I indulge in, usually with panicky results I indulge in about once a year.

Well yesterday things gelled, (blindfolded stability with weights on a bosu ball at the gym)the fates smiled, the road was actually paved, not chip seal, and I had a slight tail wind. I rode a full mile by the odometer, while pedaling along at about 13 mph. Always in the past the handlebars have wobbled back and forth severely enough to throw the balance off. Yesterday they sort of roc ked slightly with the sine motion in sync with the legs. Obviously in addition to improving my balance, I have evened out my motion.

Anyway, its silly little things like this that make me happy. Now all I have to do is learn a track stand stable enough to do hand free side torso arm stretches while stopped both feet clipped in, at a light as I saw a guy doing the other day. It could happen.

[Penny4]

Congratulations! I'm impressed. I can't seem to ride hand free myself, though I could do it as a kid with no problem.

[DebSP]

Congratulations Marni! Now I can be jealous of you! I can take my hands off the bars for short periods of time on a smooth surface, but I can't pedal at the same time! Good luck with the track stand. I just looked it up on YouTube because I didn't know exactly what it was! LOL

[AppleTree]

I am so impressed!! How many times do I wish I could do that to give my hands a break on long rides?! Way to go!

[thekarens]

That's awesome Marnie at any age! I can't even drink and ride.

[OakLeaf]

Very cool.

[roo4]

Awesome! I'm too much of a chicken to try that.

[murielalex]

Fun fun!

[hid558]

OH how I wish I could do it too. Have been trying, have fun.

[Melalvai]

In the last couple years I've gotten pretty proficient at that. I'm getting good at track stands too. Riding hands-free is really easy if you're going fast enough. I imagine those TdF riders are going a wee bit quicker than me. I can't do it at slow speeds. A descent, tail wind, smooth surface, get me over 13 mph and it's no problem. I bet 13 mph is the slowest those TdF riders ever go!

Track stands are something I picked up because I stop at every single stop sign. I can't hang out in a track stand indefinitely and I don't actually recommend it the way I use it because it is confusing to drivers--they can't tell that you are stopped or stopping unless your foot is on the ground. And there are times that I put the foot down in order to send the right message instead of track standing. It's fun to stop at the stop sign in front of the police station and cease all forward momentum without putting my foot down. I doubt that the officers could tell that I came to a full and complete stop. (I've never gotten a ticket. and I highly respect & value our officers. It's just my own little rebellion.)

I didn't try hands free until I'd been biking daily for years. I didn't even like to try to drink from my water bottle. Now I'll text, drink (water), bike, rummage in my seat pack, eat a cheeseburger... (ok mostly joking. With the new touch screen smart phone I can't even text & walk much less text & bike.)