Look Ma! No Hands!

[Mr. Bloom]

I can't do that yet

[Aggie_Ama]

I can't do that yet

Pretty much once you figure out the balance you are good to go. I had to figure out what to do with some top weight I didn't have when I was 10 , but now I am able to ride hands free like I did back then. Nothing like V though!

Veronica- that looks really pretty, where there any cars?

[Veronica]

Very little traffic. I'm not sure we had any going down.

V.

[velogirl]

the secret to riding no-handed is commitment. you can't lift your hands and hover over the bar -- your weight will be too far forward on the bike. over the years we've taught this skill to 100s of men and women. many of them say they'll never be able to do it. but in all these years, no one has failed this skill.

here's how I teach this skills:

1. put your hands on the tops
2. sit very upright on the saddle -- really up on your sitbones (not forward on your soft tissue). this centers your weight over the bottom bracket.
3. release one hand from the bar and place it on your thigh. I don't recommend holding your hands to the side or above your head (changes balance -- more advanced skills).
4. release the second hand and place it on your other thigh.
5. keep looking up. never look down at your bike.
6. try this pedalling (in a variety of gearing choices) and coasting. my experience has been that when folks are just learning this skill, they feel more stable slightly overgeared, pushing a lower cadence.
7. smile (it keeps you relaxed).
8. use your hips to steer. for more agressive steering, you can push your thigh agains the nose of the saddle.

[lph]

1. put your hands on the tops
2. sit very upright on the saddle -- really up on your sitbones (not forward on your soft tissue). this centers your weight over the bottom bracket.
3. release one hand from the bar and place it on your thigh. I don't recommend holding your hands to the side or above your head (changes balance -- more advanced skills).
4. release the second hand and place it on your other thigh.
5. keep looking up. never look down at your bike.
6. try this pedalling (in a variety of gearing choices) and coasting. my experience has been that when folks are just learning this skill, they feel more stable slightly overgeared, pushing a lower cadence.
7. smile (it keeps you relaxed).
8. use your hips to steer. for more agressive steering, you can push your thigh agains the nose of the saddle.

coool. I would LOVE to learn this. I'm guessing it depends a little on how twitchy a bike you have, and how well it's fitted?

I've tried, and can feel myself doing all of the above steps ;-) but haven't been able to really commit for more than a few seconds. I'm a bit too freaked out by the possibility of a sudden swerve and endo while I'm sitting back there without control of my front wheel.

But a bit of speed and overgearing does help that swervy feeling.

I need to find somewhere soft to land!

[DirtDiva]

In my experience, it's an easier trick to pull off on a heavier bike too.

Cool photos, V.

[Jiffer]

[QUOTE=DirtDiva;214845]In my experience, it's an easier trick to pull off on a heavier bike too.

I agree. I haven't even thought of trying it on my new Cannondale. 16.60 lbs. It just doesn't seem like it will be nearly as easy to do as it was on heavier bikes I've had. Plus, I so don't want to risk injuring my pretty baby! She dents easily because she's so light! (Not to mention I dent easily too!)

But good for you with the no hands! I think I must have had a Polish moment when I was a kid riding in my neighborhood and decided I should try riding with my eyes closed. My face ran right into the mirror of a pick up truck! In thinking back on this pure lapse of judgement, I decided I must have confused the skill of riding with no hands with the stupidity of riding with no eyeballs!