Doctor Morbius

That's it right there. As a kid when I fell off a bike I would get up, brush myself off and get back on and ride as though nothing happened. As someone in their mid '50s I'd probably break a few bones and teeth. No thanks! I want to keep my teeth until I'm in a nursing home and all they serve is mush.

kc0bbq

I can - somewhat dependent on which bike I'm on - but I don't. Just feel more comfortable with a hand on the bars.

LesterOfPuppets

If it's not too breezy and there's no traffic I can ride no-handed for miles. Have removed T-shirts, non-fullzip longsleeve jerseys and pullover hoodies while riding.

The Lemond is much more no-handable than the Scapin or the Free Spirit.

Pushing 50 years old.

LesterOfPuppets

Hahhaha! I gotta try that next time.

Wanderer

Once, I rode my Goldwing 100 miles no handed. Between Albuquerque and Farmington. Won a $50 bet!

PiLigand

Interesting. I learned to do it on my '06 specialized sequoia. Endrance bike, made it really easy. I was surprised how simple it was. I got confident in it rather quickly. I was then later commuting on my old univega (bit racier) and that confidence decreased VERY sharply. Haven't felt willing to try again.

I have since thought that a more relaxed geometry made it easier.

bmcer

For me, it seems to depend on frame geometry. For instance, I have a Bruce Gordon built back in the 80's when typical frame geometries were more relaxed, forks had more caster, and the fit tended to go larger. That bike would most likely continue upright and in a straight line if I fell asleep on it. My current ride, a 2013 BMC SLR01 is far more aggressive, and although it can be ridden no-handed, it's much less tolerant of any inattentiveness than the BG.

therhodeo

Not a problem. Changing clothes, eating, just sitting back to stretch my back, or my favorite sitting up to jerk my helmet off after riding through a swarm of sweat bees.

StanSeven

Long wheelbase, slack geometry, and forks with little trail makes it easier. That's why the single speeds of childhood are easy

RDB

I never ride without hands on the bars. If I want to put on a jacket or get a drink, I stop and put both feet on the ground. I'm nearly 69 and my recovery rate is not what it used to be

Homebrew01

I was in a road race many years ago, and one of my shoelaces came undone. Unclipped my right foot, Sat up no handed, put my foot on the top tube, tied my shoe, clipped back in ....

banerjek

I used to do this all the time but quit some years back. I tried yesterday to see if I still can. I can, but I don't really see the point.

The most practical use case is to remove or put on a jacket. But to ride no handed, I have to slow down quite a bit. If I slow down quickly, I can stuff the jacket and pick up speed fast enough that there's no time benefit to riding no handed. So I go ahead and stop since it's probably safer.

Jeremy_S

No problem at all, I've been doing it more than 30 years. Hell on long motorcycle road trips with a throttle lock I could do the same thing with no issue for miles. Both of my road bikes now are aggressive geometry though and coasting with no hands feels twitchy. A nice easy cadence around 70 and I can ride forever sitting straight up and steering with my body.

Ben I.

The last time I rode with no hands, a sudden crosswind came and blew me right over. Thankfully, the only damage to the bike was the bar tape. I was out of action for a week or two due to major road rash and scraps on my arm.

Reynolds 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV4MJok1_2o

merlinextraligh

Cool video, and an extreme example of my point. If you've got the skills to do that you can handle your bike, and it will I like
Likely save your bacon some day.

Even if you voted, I never take my hands off, it would be a good idea to practice controlling your bike, and turning it, with your hands hovering just off the bars.

Hell, Bicycling Magazine has a piece this month making this point.

kbarch

Interesting. I rarely even consider taking both hands off the bars, so I can't speak to that, but one thing I noticed since picking up a fixed gear bike a couple of weeks ago is that it seems much easier to handle. Not sure if that means it will help or not in the way I was hoping. I was hoping that it would help me with bike handling skills, control and confidence. Maybe I'll learn to do tricks on it.

Redhatter

Why does The Addams Family come to mind?

Changing tubes could be a challenge though without your hands. That said, it has been done.

Homebrew01

I often finish my ride down hill, then flat, to my house. Sometimes I will ride no hands the last hundred yards and try and "air-brake" the right amount so I can turn in my driveway without touching my brakes, or over braking and having to pedal.

And as a kid, I remember riding in a parking lot with a small traffic circle, and riding it as slowly as possible no-handed ..... silly little things for fun now & then.

ThermionicScott 

That video never gets old. Dig him ted-shredding around the corners!

Homebrew01

I gotta try that .... with my old shoes.

photogravity

I don't like riding without hands. I'm the same when driving an automobile - I drive with both hands on the wheel when I'm not shifting gears (yes, I stir my own coffee).

photogravity

I nearly go into a panic attack just watching that video. Wow. Just WOW!!

Fiery

I grew up with a bike that would to pull to one side when riding no handed, so nowadays I tend to overcompensate if I don't consciously relax and let the bike work. On good days I'm perfectly solid on my quite twitchy Six 13, on not so good ones I need a bit more stable bike to truly relax. Good days tend to be more frequent the more I ride.

StanSeven

A cigarette in one hand and a beer in the other. Teaches how to steer with your knee