Bike Drills/Goofing off

[Kitsune06]

I'm working on the no-hands thing... just playing around. It really depends (for me) how my saddle's tipped. I think it might be somewhat easier for men because men are generally more comfortable with saddle tipped upward. I like saddle tipped down, but when I'm going hands-free, I feel like I slide forward on the saddle.

I manage to be incredibly ungainly sometimes trying to jump things. I get the front over just fine. Then the rear wheel hits and no matter how I try to unweight it or jump or whatever, somehow I always hit either the top tube or the stem. I mean OW. GEEZ already! Anyone have this problem?

[Eden]

I'm working on the no-hands thing... just playing around. It really depends (for me) how my saddle's tipped. I think it might be somewhat easier for men because men are generally more comfortable with saddle tipped upward. I like saddle tipped down, but when I'm going hands-free, I feel like I slide forward on the saddle.

I manage to be incredibly ungainly sometimes trying to jump things. I get the front over just fine. Then the rear wheel hits and no matter how I try to unweight it or jump or whatever, somehow I always hit either the top tube or the stem. I mean OW. GEEZ already! Anyone have this problem?

I'm just the opposite - if I try to bunny hop I can get the rear wheel up fine, but I'm not strong enough in the upper body to get the front wheel high enough. If you can't get the rear wheel up high enough you may not be using your legs enough (I'm assuming you have toe clips or clipless pedals - since I'm not sure how its done without - but you must be able to do it since I've see those with trials bikes doing it seemingly not clipped in... massive upper body strength maybe?)

As for riding without hands - no problem I can ride forever, over bumps, steer - as long as the corner isn't too tight or fast. I don't really like taking off or putting on my jacket, though I can do it, mainly because it often acts like a sail and can jerk me left or right. When I was doing the weekday women's rides I would circle the parking lot no handed just to kill time since I was usually early. -- I do have good balance to start with, one of the core exercises my coach has me do is balance kneeling (not sitting on heels, but knees on ball, thighs vertical) on an exercise ball and I've worked up to a point where I can do it for over 5min at a time now - I tried juggling while on the ball, just to amuse the husband who tells me to run off and join the circus, but my juggling skills are poor...

[HipGnosis6]

You can bet I'll start out with more of this type of stuff when I get back on the bike.... Right now I can't even get my bike shoes on, let alone ride no handed!

[LadyinWhite]

You can bet I'll start out with more of this type of stuff when I get back on the bike.... Right now I can't even get my bike shoes on, let alone ride no handed!

The shoes I've got down, the no handed? Not even close!

[Kitsune06]

I do best pedaling Miz Cakes. The 'seat tilt' thing actually comes in partially b/c of the slipperiness of my brooks...

[Julibird]

You are women who have wisely decided not to leave childhood all the way behind! If this stuff isn't fun, then why do it?

I was reminded of one summer day, when I wasn't allowed to drive or date, my sweetheart (Parisian exchange student) and I went secretly cruising on our bikes all around the back roads so as not to get caught, and making out while riding no handed until we were startled by the horn of an on-coming car. Never stopped to think we were flirting with danger. Aah..take me back to those effortless joys of immortal adolescence.

I can't ride no-hands like that anymore, but I think she's still in me somewhere. When this snow clears, I think I'll try no-handed again. Then add in the making-out stuff when I get really good.

Julie

[Trekhawk]

You are women who have wisely decided not to leave childhood all the way behind! If this stuff isn't fun, then why do it?

I was reminded of one summer day, when I wasn't allowed to drive or date, my sweetheart (Parisian exchange student) and I went secretly cruising on our bikes all around the back roads so as not to get caught, and making out while riding no handed until we were startled by the horn of an on-coming car. Never stopped to think we were flirting with danger. Aah..take me back to those effortless joys of immortal adolescence.

I can't ride no-hands like that anymore, but I think she's still in me somewhere. When this snow clears, I think I'll try no-handed again. Then add in the making-out stuff when I get really good.

Julie

LOL - good luck Julie!!! Let us know how you make out......umm I mean get on with the no hands riding hee hee.

[HillSlugger]

I'm working on the no-hands thing... just playing around. It really depends (for me) how my saddle's tipped. I think it might be somewhat easier for men because men are generally more comfortable with saddle tipped upward. I like saddle tipped down, but when I'm going hands-free, I feel like I slide forward on the saddle.

I rode no-handed all the time growing up but almost went down the first time I tried it on my road bike. When I sit up and unweight the front wheel the handling and control fall apart. I will probably try it again now that I'm much more used to this bike.

[Eden]

If your front wheel really wobbles around when you are no handed check your headset - it may be loose or the bearings may need replacing.

[HillSlugger]

If your front wheel really wobbles around when you are no handed check your headset - it may be loose or the bearings may need replacing.

I bought it new in September and it only has about 400 road miles on it so too loose seems much more likely than worn out. I'll have my LBS check it out when I bring it in for its tuneup.

Thanks

[Kitsune06]

Yeah, no clips. I can get the rear wheel to leave the ground by jumping and pulling the bike up with me (just a little) and using forearm and wrist to move it forward a bit, but I need a lot more practice on that b/c I lose balance a lot on landing. Trials riders just blow me away. I think I read somewhere that trials riders use pressure back against the pedals to grip (hence 'shinburger' pedals) because you don't want to do real trials clipped in (you'd eat it in fantastic ways if you couldn't bail right)

[maillotpois]

Kit - intreresting comment on the "how the seat is tilted" affecting your no hands ability. My riding partner says it's all about how your pelvis and lower abs are positioned/tilted/whatever. She's better at it than I am and tried to get me to practice at the end of our 85 mile ride (during which I pretty much bonked). Not likely!

But it's all got to be connected - weight, balance, abs, pelvis.

[Tuckervill]

Yes, riding no-hands is all in the hip flexors--the front and outside ones. It's subtle and takes finesse, and just thinking about it I can feel those flexors twitching. Sometimes a little glute squeeze, a knee moved in or out. Never like balancing a book on your head, with your hands out. Your head and arms follow the hips, the hips counterbalance the bike.

I've ridden for miles with no hands (not all at once!). When I first started riding again 3 years ago, I never thought I'd get back to the point where I could ride no-hands like that again. But...it's like riding a bike. You never forget.

Karen