radityajoko

Look ma! No hands!

I was able to do on a quiet road on almost any folder, given the road was smooth. One folder where i failed miserably was carryme.

Problems with most folders is the trail, on low speed you will having trouble to control your body movement feedback to the steering. Smaller wheels amplify your body feedback to the steering.

Think of it as doing a yoga. If you manage to do this on a brompton or dahon curve, you probably has an iq above average

Sixty Fiver

I never used to have no issues riding no handed... now I have balance issues that can throw me off and make this difficult.

fitftw

I can take my hands off for a maximum of 2-3 seconds on my 16" Citizen before freaking out.

feijai

Depends on the model. The tikit is difficult to ride no-handed. The reason is simple: most BF bikes have a moderate amount of trail, but the tikit, being a 349 wheel bike, has rather less trail. Note that it's still the best among 349 bikes: the Brompton has quite a bit *less* trail than the tikit, due to a really stupid fork design. Brompton bike riders who can manage to ride no-hands, I salute you.

rreis

No hands on a Brompton by Ricardo Reis, on Flickr

the better-half going hands free on a Brompton.

northernlights

I think that's the key to no-hand riding. In your case you're using your feet to steer but on a hybrid or road bike (or any bike with a top tube placed high enough on the frame) you make steering and balance corrections with your legs or knees pushing against the top tube. But on most folding bikes the top tube is positioned too low to use as steering so no-hands isn't possible.

downtube

I ride my front suspension and full suspension bikes no handed all the time.

Thanks,
Yan

Amt0571

No need to touch the top tube to go hands free, it would be quite uncomfortable in fact, and wouldn't let you pedal at the same time. You already have 3 contact points with the bike (seat and both pedals) that are more than enough to control it.

BTW, riding no hands on a folder is a bit more twitchy, but its completely possible, I do it sometimes on my Dahon Mu.

feijai

How about the Mini?

downtube

I don't know....it's raining today so I can't check. However I think the bar ends help make it possible. Tomorrow should be nice, so expect a real answer then.

Thanks,
Yan

Tony Marley

Someone may be able to do so, but I have never been able to safely do so on my Bike Fridays.

wilfried

I sure has heck can't, either on a Brompton or a Tern. In fact, I sometimes feel insecure riding one handed. When going fast, making turns, or on rough roads, you'll find me with both hands firmly on the handlebars.

AvenirFolder

One of my favourite folder videos: .

Eco 7 with no hands at 0:53 mark. He's in the zone!

sleepycactus

I currently am making a new 2 speed folder frame and fork to replace the one I have been riding for the last couple years:
Drews mini blog: Drews city bike, a two speed mini-velo: portable #15

Less fork offset (or “rake” if you prefer) equals more trail. More trail makes it easier to ride hands-off.

The offset for the new fork is 23mm, which for the 20” (406) wheel bike and a 72 degree head angle results in a 57mm trail, according to the calculator I used. Thats the same amount of trail as for your average good handling big wheel bike.

And it does handle well, easy to ride hands free at even lowish speeds like 5mph.

The same bike with the 28mm offset fork was sketchy hands-free, until I was at 10mph or so. On fast downhills though, it felt very secure.

The same bike with 35mm offset (from an earlier fork I made) was hard to ride no hands unless I was going fast. At slow speeds the steering was vague, even with my hands on the handlebars.

I know this because I built several forks for my bikes. Geometry is a big factor in how the bike handles, and a few millimeters can make a difference.

wilfried

I know I can't, on a Brompton or a Tern. I'm not entire comfortable without both hands on the bars. The twitchiness of the bikes makes them really good for dodging city traffic though.

Rick Imby

This thread got me to question my riding with no hands. I ride one section of my regular commute with no hands a lot. I just rode my Dahon and while I can ride it no handed and did, I am not nearly as comfortable riding it no handed as my mountain bikes.

Rick Imby

I have a Swift on the way, should be here Monday. I am interested to see if it is more comfortable riding no handed than my Dahon. It has about 1.5 inches longer wheelbase.

Rick Imby

While the first few days on my zootr Swift I was not comfortable at all riding no handed after a the first week I am quite at home riding no handed. I am not comfortable under about 7-10 mph but above that it is fine.

jur

The geometry on the Ti Swift is changed slightly in favour of riding no-hands. I tended not to be able to ride no-hands on my Xootr, at least partly due to the long stem I needed. On the Ti Swift with longer top tube and therefore shorter stem, plus slightly more trail, it is approaching routine.