Advocacy & Safety - Bike handling skills

Can you ride no handed?
Can you take a sip from your water bottle without veering into traffic?
Can you bunny hop over a pot hole instead of swerving?
Can you turn your head and maintain your line?
Do you know how to take a turn at a decent speed?
What other bike handling skills do you have/recommend?

yes.

7. Can you ride a straight line?
8. Can you shift and brake in a fluid motion?

9. Can you do an emergency stop, using only your front brake, where your back wheel is just starting to come off the pavement.

10. Can you modulate a hand brake for maximum stopping power without skidding? How about a coaster brake?

8. Can you shift and brake in a fluid motion?
Modern integrated shifters/brake levers sure make this much easier!
And I really like my Shimano computer which displays my chain location graphically, which is much nicer than having to look at the actual chainring and cluster. I just wish I had it on my tandem, where it's particularly difficult to see the cluster.

I can ride no-handed.
bunny-hop- yeah.
turn head and maintain line-- to a point
turn at decent speed-- not really, I always slow for sharp turns.

emergency stop-- yes.

others I am not sure about...

I think learning how to stop effectively in various situations is the most important...
anybody have some tips?

How about you explain how to do these things? What is the point in asking the questions except to create a boring pointless thread so that you can show me and everyone else that the only good A&S threads are the ones with VC mumbo jumbo?

How about you explain how to do these things? What is the point in asking the questions except to create a boring pointless thread so that you can show me and everyone else that the only good A&S threads are the ones with VC mumbo jumbo?
Well, it does break the monotony of posting silly polls.

How about you explain how to do these things? What is the point in asking the questions except to create a boring pointless thread so that you can show me and everyone else that the only good A&S threads are the ones with VC mumbo jumbo?

explanations would really be helpful.

Can you take a sip from your water bottle without veering into traffic?
What works for me is to be sure to maintain my balance and remain centered over the bike. I just angle my head back and sideways. This allows me to still see ahead, drink my water, and maintain my line.

Can you bunny hop over a pot hole instead of swerving?
If you can't bunny hop you should learn. It really is a safety issue when you have the option to just sail over debris instead of chosing to either hit it or veer into traffic. Crouch down pushing your weight into your feet, then spring upwards evenly with your hands and feet and your bike will lift off the ground. Don't forget to maintain your speed to ensure you miss your hazard.

Can you turn your head and maintain your line?
The key is to turn your head and rest your chin on your shoulder. Don't try to turn your whole body.

What other bike handling skills do you have/recommend
Ride rollers to generally improve your handling skills. MTB if you can as well.

I'll admit to not being able to bunny hop at speed (I can do slow speed ones) but I've never found a use for it (aside from not having to brake to cross railroad tracks). Maybe I'll start practicing on my commute.

I'll admit to not being able to bunny hop at speed (I can do slow speed ones) but I've never found a use for it (aside from not having to brake to cross railroad tracks). Maybe I'll start practicing on my commute.


It does come in handy for nasty potholes and road kill or piles of sandy runoff. Sometimes you just can't swerve to avoid things and jumping them is the safer option. If you have clipless pedals it is really easy to master. It is also easier on the wheels than hitting a pothole straight on.

Modern integrated shifters/brake levers sure make this much easier!
And I really like my Shimano computer which displays my chain location graphically, which is much nicer than having to look at the actual chainring and cluster. I just wish I had it on my tandem, where it's particularly difficult to see the cluster.

One of my bikes has this - it does make it easier, but spendy. My commuter has downtube shifters.

Can you ride really, really slowly, 1 or 2 MPH, and continue in a straight line and not oscillate left and right, and not fall over? When you start from a stop, can you do it in a straight line and not oscillate left and right?

Can you ride really, really slowly, 1 or 2 MPH, and continue in a straight line and not oscillate left and right, and not fall over? When you start from a stop, can you do it in a straight line and not oscillate left and right?


Got any tips?

I do a really nice flying dive, face splat and bounce :eek:

I don't know if it's old age or what, but I lack the flexibility to turn and look behind safely now. Tried all the techniques - one hand off as you look, shift body weight, etc - and they work, seriously, but not for too long, so I guess it's just endless practice trying to get it right. Might try to resurrect the old 'glance under your armpit' technique, though the change in perspective used to mess with my head a bit (when I was younger and able to do it).

Bunny hops ... on a fixie? Yeah, it can be done ... so I'm told. One day.

Riding the fixie has improved my drink bottle technique because you can't coast and it's during the coasting phase that you tend to veer off line. Keep pedalling boys, it adresses a heap of sins (when not on your fixie I mean).

Similarly, when riding downhill on a loose surface, ride the brakes and keep pedalling - it's counter intuitive but it keeps the whole system under tension and improves your control dramatically.

Richard

1. Can you ride no handed?
I could easily untill my car door incident. Now the bike pulls to one side if I let go of the bars so it is difficult. (fork ends slightly bent).

2. Can you take a sip from your water bottle without veering into traffic?
Yep, not a problem. I live in a hot climate so get plenty of practice.

3. Can you bunny hop over a pot hole instead of swerving?
Not of the fixie, at least not with any assurance. Even if I get airborn, it is very difficult to keep the pedals moving while in the air and maintain balance.

4. Can you turn your head and maintain your line?
Yes, though looking backwards while riding straight took quite a while to master.

5. Do you know how to take a turn at a decent speed?
Yes though I always slow down on the fixie as pedal strike is an issue. Roads angled the wrong way are particularly nasty.

7. Can you ride a straight line?
Yes.

8. Can you shift and brake in a fluid motion?
No gears :) I also find I do not do this any where near as much on the road bike anymore as I am comfortable taking off in a high gear, so don't bother.

9. Can you do an emergency stop, using only your front brake, where your back wheel is just starting to come off the pavement.
Getting pretty good at this as I only run a front brake on the fixie. Is a bit trickier than on a free wheel to do a proper emergency stop as when your legs are in the 12 / 6 o'clock position you lose the brace position and weight tends to go forwards.

10. Can you modulate a hand brake for maximum stopping power without skidding? How about a coaster brake?
I can skip and skid the rear wheel, does that count? Have not ridden a coaster break in many years.

Can you ride no handed?
Can you take a sip from your water bottle without veering into traffic?
Can you bunny hop over a pot hole instead of swerving?
Can you turn your head and maintain your line?
Do you know how to take a turn at a decent speed?
What other bike handling skills do you have/recommend?


What about the classic... can you wheel stand or "track stand?"

And beyond turn your head... can you look over either shoulder and maintain your line?

And the classic that my wife usually missed... can you anticipate the grade of a hill and shift before loading down. Of course that probably fits into Brian's "smooth shifting" catagory. And these days with index shifting, I believe it is probably easier. (I still friction shift, so I don't know how "index" really is... heck one of my bikes is a downtube shifter... try shifting that and keeping your fingers out of the spokes... GRIN. I bet John E. can do it.)

Oh here is one that is not really a riding skill, but is good for any cyclist to know... can you fix a flat?

I love trackstanding. I think there are some who consider it needless showing off, but I consider it a valuable skill, especially if you ride in city traffic.

I thought of some others:

Can you stand to sprint or climb smoothly?

Can you transition from pavement to dirt and back again?

Can you switch hand positions smoothly?

Can you ride no handed?
Can you take a sip from your water bottle without veering into traffic?
Can you bunny hop over a pot hole instead of swerving?
Can you turn your head and maintain your line?
Do you know how to take a turn at a decent speed?
What other bike handling skills do you have/recommend?


While no expert....


1) no handed. NOPE! not me. my mountain bike is too twitchy, so is my cross bike. actually, I am too twitchy, and tend to wobble.

2) water bottle sip: yah, no biggie. One thing to remember is that where you look is where you go (which is why "WATCH THE CURB" is perhaps the dumbest thing to say to someone vearing towards a curb... get it? ;p) The "trick" I use is to just keep my eyes where I wish to go, and let the bike go there. If I want to stay straight, I just look up ahead, straight, and the bike tends to go there. Hard to explain really; it is a kinesthetic thing.

3) bunnyhop: yep. To bunny hop over hole, shift weight back a bit, pull up on bars, as the front lifts up off the ground PUSH the bar straight out infront of you and shift your weight back a bit more. This usually (if your weight distribution is right) causes the back end to lift. Next, shift your weight forward a bit and land on the other side of the hole. It has to be one fluid motion.... I more or less suck at it but have done it before. (This works well for clearing logs on a trail at low speed too). You know you screwed up if you land in the hole and commense swearing. Or, you can cheat and pull up hard on the bars at the same time you yank your feet straight up, lifting the back of the bike with your cycling shoe cleats. I am NOT an expert at this, but have friends capable of bunnyhopping about 2 to 3 feet straight up unclipped. Kinda always annoyed me that I could not do it so well.

4) turning head. Quick glances is all I do and remember, be relaxed as this reduces swerving chances.

5) high speed turns: lean!!!!!!!!! and pick a graceful line. DO NOT DO THIS if you cannot see the road surface and the whole turn as you will run the risk of wiping out hard if you have to change course mid turn. Just ask any motorbike rider...



One thing that works well for low speed sharp turns is to weight up the end of the bar on the outside of the turn as this tends to counter act the natural tendancy for the bike to tip in the direction of the turn at low speeds where the bike is angled. For example, if you are turning sharply right at low speed, and the bike is feeling slightly slippy, put a lot of pressure on the LEFT side of the bar with your left hand and keep steering. The bike should stay stable and make the turn. (again, a useful skill off road, but I have used it on switchback turns on MUP and can see it being useful in tight places like parking lots etc).

Can you ride around in circles within a marked parking spot in (an empty portion of) a parking lot? Hint: if you have troubles, work inside a handicapped spot first!

And the classic that my wife usually missed... can you anticipate the grade of a hill and shift before loading down. Of course that probably fits into Brian's "smooth shifting" catagory. And these days with index shifting, I believe it is probably easier. (I still friction shift, so I don't know how "index" really is... heck one of my bikes is a downtube shifter... try shifting that and keeping your fingers out of the spokes... GRIN. I bet John E. can do it.)



One great way to get up a sharp grade without breaking stride is to pick a cadence you like (90 rpm for example) and blast up it spinning at that rpm. As soon as you feel your cadence drop a bit, down shift one gear. Keep the effort up, and your cadence should stay at 90 or so. As soon as it drops again, down shift again and so on. The fast cadence is a good idea since it does not load the chain up as much as a slow cadence does making shifting safer and easier on equipment.

Again, this is a technique that works great on trail riding, but I have used it road riding on climbs and while your speed drops, your effort remains fairly static.

Can you ride around in circles within a marked parking spot in (an empty portion of) a parking lot? Hint: if you have troubles, work inside a handicapped spot first!

Yep, loading up the bar on the bike REALLY helps for such things.

9. Can you do an emergency stop, using only your front brake, where your back wheel is just starting to come off the pavement.

Yep. The trick here is weight distribution. On my mountain bike (which has xtr rim brakes - much more powerful than my cross bike) I get about 2 or 3 fingers on the front lever, lean WAY back (ass over the rear wheel) and crank on the front brake. The pressure is quick, but smooth, and near the end, pressure increase is gradual. 80+ % of your stopping power is front brake anyway, so you can stop quickly with it IF you hold your weight back to prevent painful endos. With practice, you can come to a complete stop on a steep (35 to 45 degree) loose dirt slope without skidding using only your front brake (imo, this is a must have skill for mtn bikers, since significant erosion happens when doorknobs skid their bikes in a fragile forest...)

this is really helpful. please keep the advice coming! maybe we should start a thread, How-to, or have a thread for each individual thing, ex-- how to emergency stop, how to turn at speed, etc. but thanks to all for the advice, please keep it up! this is the kind of stuff I want to know.

this is really helpful. please keep the advice coming! maybe we should start a thread, How-to, or have a thread for each individual thing, ex-- how to emergency stop, how to turn at speed, etc. but thanks to all for the advice, please keep it up! this is the kind of stuff I want to know.


Braking and turing all you ever need ....

http://sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html

1. Can you ride no handed?
Yes. I learned one winter day when my hands were so cold, I needed to hold them together for warmth. I think I rode a straight mile no handed that day.

2. Can you take a sip from your water bottle without veering into traffic?
Yes.

3. Can you bunny hop over a pot hole instead of swerving?
Kind of. My bunny hop isn't very clean. I hop with both wheels at the same time.

4. Can you turn your head and maintain your line?
Yes. I can look behind me while out of the saddle and maintain direction.

5. Do you know how to take a turn at a decent speed?
Decent for cat 4.

6. What other bike handling skills do you have/recommend?
Trackstand. Ride on ice. Hop a curb.

7. Can you ride a straight line?
Much straighter than most people I see riding.

8. Can you shift and brake in a fluid motion?
I can shift and brake while barely moving at all. Not sure what this means.

9. Can you do an emergency stop, using only your front brake, where your back wheel is just starting to come off the pavement.
Yes. In fact, sometimes on my fix, I let my back wheel come off the ground, so I can rotate my cranks to an optimal position for a trackstand.

10. Can you modulate a hand brake for maximum stopping power without skidding? How about a coaster brake?
I think so. Not sure about the coaster brake.

15. can you do a wheelie?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2002/jul02/tdf/stage20/AFPfloyd.jpg

One great way to get up a sharp grade without breaking stride is to pick a cadence you like (90 rpm for example) and blast up it spinning at that rpm. As soon as you feel your cadence drop a bit, down shift one gear. Keep the effort up, and your cadence should stay at 90 or so. As soon as it drops again, down shift again and so on. The fast cadence is a good idea since it does not load the chain up as much as a slow cadence does making shifting safer and easier on equipment.

Again, this is a technique that works great on trail riding, but I have used it road riding on climbs and while your speed drops, your effort remains fairly static.

Tend to agree... I have no problem doing that, and yeah I prefer about 90 or so... easier on the knees... although with my heavy commuter, and some really steep hills I do on rare occasion end up mashing at about 60 something. I keep thinking lower gears, but I don't want to lose my top end which gives me about 28MPH at about 100 rpm.

15. can you do a wheelie?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2002/jul02/tdf/stage20/AFPfloyd.jpg

Sure. But I won't do it with clipless pedals!

16. Can you ride forward while sitting on the handlebars facing rearward?

OK, it may not be handy in traffic, but it does wow the neighborhood kids! :D

15. can you do a wheelie?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2002/jul02/tdf/stage20/AFPfloyd.jpg
OMG it's Flandis!

Can you lean it like Jobst Brandt (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/)?

Understanding the concept of contact patch and the limits of tire adhesion helps out in cornering.

Can you do a proper swerve?

Letting the bike do the swerving while maintaining your body position. Also taught in bicycle police training and motorcycle safety courses.

Can you recover from a blowout (front or rear)?

Only had low speed ones but they are scary anyways. Not sure what the solution at high speeds are except to ride the rims.

Can you recover from a blowout (front or rear)?

Only had low speed ones but they are scary anyways. Not sure what the solution at high speeds are except to ride the rims.

Only blowout I had happened like this: Dog blind sides me. I sprint. I cut left, fairly sharply, to cut dog off. Owner yells "he doesnt bite! Tire hits paint in middle of (empty) road.

And......

25psi in mtn bike tires from a protracted wet clay trail ride meets wet road paint meets 36+ kmph meets KABOOOOOM!!!

The front tire literally blows off the rim as it skids on the wet paint and then hits the asphalt. I get about 3/4 of a revolution out of the front wheel before the bulging tube meets the fork and the front wheel stop.

I have about 1/2 a second to think "holy fluck!" and SUPERMAN!!! right over the handlebars into the asphalt. My elbow had bone sticking out of it, my hips were banged up (seatbelts HURT after that for two weeks) and there were numerous other scratches. But what pissed me off was the almost 600 dollars damage done to the bike. I never did replace the rear derailer (it was banged up, but worked) but had to do the rim, tube, tire, handle bar etc off the front of the bike. Also, the dog owners resented me using their phone, but one look at my face caused a phone to appear pretty quickly. And to make matters worse, a few hours later I discovered I had dropped my park tool chain cutter! argh. never found that again either!

My buddy with me had a look of "ouch, that had to hurt" on his face. As did my brother when he got there with his wagon a little while later.

Moral of the story? Never lay a bike down at speed on the expensive side. It costs too much.

Can you counter-steer? Do you know what counter-steering is? Do you actually know the steering dynamics of a single-track vehicle?

How about riding parallel to the curb and hopping onto it (and onto the sidewalk) ?

A modified bunny hop, but sideways.

Very useful if you're forced onto the curb and need a way out (or advance your position during a race!).

I need to practice this one.

jw

Can you counter-steer? Do you know what counter-steering is? Do you actually know the steering dynamics of a single-track vehicle?

I am familiar with the concept for driving a car, but can you expound on this for cycling?

How about riding parallel to the curb and hopping onto it (and onto the sidewalk) ?

A modified bunny hop, but sideways.

Very useful if you're forced onto the curb and need a way out (or advance your position during a race!).

I need to practice this one.

jw

Some young bucks on the team can do this with aplomb. It's cool to see a cyclist hop sideways up on the grass and keep going!

I am familiar with the concept for driving a car, but can you expound on this for cycling?


All you need to know...

http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/~fajans/Teaching/Steering.htm

Can you counter-steer? Do you know what counter-steering is? Do you actually know the steering dynamics of a single-track vehicle?

Anyone who can steer a bike (when traveling at a reasonable velocity) implicitly counter steers. Still it is cool to know what you are actually doing.

All you need to know...

http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/~fajans/Teaching/Steering.htm

Ok, I get it now. I was familiar with the concept from motorcycle riding, but didn't know the name, thanks.

Anyone who can steer a bike (when traveling at a reasonable velocity) implicitly counter steers. Still it is cool to know what you are actually doing.

You would be surprised how many seasoned riders - both bicycle and motorized - don't know that they are counter-steering. They think they are leaning by shifting weight, foot pressure on the pedals or foot-pegs...all kinds of crazy stuff when it's all done with the handlebar.....

1. Can you ride no handed? On my recumbent and mountain bike, no. On my trike, yes. You'd be surprised how it is done. Unless you have a lot of body weight to toss around, you have to put your arms in the air and use them to force the bike to stay on course, leaning them right to go left, left to go right.

2. Can you take a sip from your water bottle without veering into traffic? - I use a hydration system. I recommend these as you will not drop them and litter plastic bottles all over the environment.

3. Can you bunny hop over a pot hole instead of swerving? - No and I have never found it to be a skill I need. I can ride over a pothole without hopping over it and I usually am looking far enough ahead to avoid potholes without swerving.

4. Can you turn your head and maintain your line? - Not very well. I use a mirror to compensate for that weakness.

5. Do you know how to take a turn at a decent speed? - I am not sure what a decent speed is. I take the turn at the speed I'm capable of handling.

6. What other bike handling skills do you have/recommend? - I think the gearing down one is the best one I've heard. I can't tell you how many people I know who have no idea how to do this. Some have 39 speed bikes and don't know how to shift them at all and don't like to come to Santa Barbara because they'll have to shift their gears. That kind of lack of skill is truly very sad.

One skill I don't have anymore is riding a coaster brake bike. Of course, lacking skills for equipment you don't use is kind of not worth worrying about.

Can you ride no handed? No.

Can you take a sip from your water bottle without veering into traffic? Yes, but I generally avoid doing so.

Can you bunny hop over a pot hole instead of swerving? Only a small one. I can lift some of my weight off the front wheel, but I have trouble de-loading the rear wheel immediately thereafter.

Can you turn your head and maintain your line? Only VERY quickly/briefly.

Do you know how to take a turn at a decent speed? I know the theory, but I am very slow/timid in practice. You don't want to follow me down a hill.

What other bike handling skills do you have/recommend? I am the wrong person to ask; as you know, I was locked in the storm cellar the day they gave out physical coordination. One of the biggest differences between us is that I am devoid of physical self-confidence, grace, and agility. Fred (actually, Alfred) is my middle name. :)


I think the gearing down one is the best one I've heard. Thank you, Diane! Optimal selection of gears, full understanding of the driveline, and proper (i.e., unloaded) gear changing technique are skills I actually do possess.

You would be surprised how many seasoned riders - both bicycle and motorized - don't know that they are counter-steering. They think they are leaning by shifting weight, foot pressure on the pedals or foot-pegs...all kinds of crazy stuff when it's all done with the handlebar.....

Well, it's possible to move the handlebars by shifting your weight, thanks to rake and trail. Otherwise, it would be impossible to follow a road no-handed.

I am the wrong person to ask; as you know, I was locked in the storm cellar the day they gave out physical coordination. One of the biggest differences between us is that I am devoid of physical self-confidence, grace, and agility. :)

Yet you ride your bike and manage to somehow avoid being schmucked by a truck. Good for you. I am no athlete either, and I am building back up my biking skills from my misspent BMX youth but it takes time.

Well, it's possible to move the handlebars by shifting your weight, thanks to rake and trail. Otherwise, it would be impossible to follow a road no-handed.

True, but how often do you ride no-hands around turns? Not really advisable though could be one of those esoteric semi-useless skills used to impress your buddies...

True, but how often do you ride no-hands around turns? Not really advisable though could be one of those esoteric semi-useless skills used to impress your buddies...

Hey, I have a lot of buddies that need impressing.

But I think I basically agree with you. Normally, I just keep my weight centered all the time. No fancy leaning or anything. Let the handlebars do the work.

OMG it's Flandis!

But not like this:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2004/tour04/stage12/S-McEWENARRIVO12a-2878.jpg

:D

... Brad

Well, it's possible to move the handlebars by shifting your weight, thanks to rake and trail. Otherwise, it would be impossible to follow a road no-handed.
Yes it's possible to deflect the coarse of the bike around shallow turns and around pot holes, but to truly turn a bike quickly at sharp angles or sharp turns it has to be done with the bars. The input on a bicyle is so slight, because of its light weight, that many people don't realize how they are actually making the bike turn.
This same concept is also why some people have trouble looking back while keeping a straight line, the are applying preasure to the bars without knowing it.
If they look over their left shoulder they push the bars to the right with their left hand causing the bike to drift to the left into traffic.
That is why it helps sometimes to take your left hand off the bars when looking over your left shoulder.

Can you counter-steer? Do you know what counter-steering is? Do you actually know the steering dynamics of a single-track vehicle?

Yes, yes, and I think so! :)

Now do you counter steer with your knee pointing out, or in? I started countersteering with my inside knee against the top tube a few years ago. There are still situations where pointing the knee is better, but for the most part I now pull my inside knee up against the top tube. This seems to work best in high speed turns, and seems to keep the bike more stable.

Try it - you may like it! :eek:

... Brad