boots

When I was a kid I could do it, on my old purple italian ten-speed, on my dad's twinkie alloy cannondale, on every beater mountain bike I've ever ridden.

I could do it on my raleigh mountain bike that got stolen on waverly place. I could do it on my schwinn ten-speed that a cab totalled. I could do it on my ****ty conversion that i finally ditched for my beautiful mark v.

So why can't I do it anymore? Is it the geometry? How do I re-learn? Do I just have to keep practicing?

Jamtastic

move your arms like your running when you do it. it will help balance you out

labratmatt

Be sure you have one ball on each side of the saddle. You want an even weight distribution.

ryan_c

Did you just start riding fixed? Once you smooth your cadence out more, it might help. If you're wobbling side to side in the saddle its going to make a difference. On a fixed you can't just chill there. I believe headtube angle also plays a factor in ease of riding no-handed, although maybe not in your case.

boots

Nope, being riding fixed since last october. I thought you might be on to something for a second, but I used to be able to do it with a conversion. I like what Jamtastic said about the arms though...

boots

<low blow>then how does lance ride no hands?</low blow>

HereNT

Maybe tighten your headset? It could be that the front wheel is picking up more subltle variations in your lean/shift while pedaling... That's all I can think of.

cryogenic

I think what people say about you fixie riders being a bit eccentric is true

speaking of balls... I don't think I have the balls to ride fixed just yet.. I have to say I admire you fixie riders.

Whoodie

What happens in the case where one is bigger than the other?

jinx_removing

Then you definitely may have a much more severe problem than balance.

Grasschopper

Could the saddle be a bit too high causing you to rock on it?

*new*guy

could also be an alignment issue. Does it tend to go to one side when you let go, or is it random?

Msngr

actually, make sure your headset isn't too tight. i purposely keep a tight headset (because i have to carry my bike a lot and i don't like the bars flopping around) but i sacrifice being able to ride no handed. if i loosen the headset, i have no problem.
the same force (centrifical? nerds?) that keeps you from falling over when riding keeps your front wheel tending straight. a tight headset counters that force.

daveIT

He's a cyborg created by the US Govt to piss off France! All cyborgs have built in gyroscopes for balance, duh!

BostonFixed

Doesn't this **** up the headset? (balls, races, etc.)

Rincewind8

It could be the headset as mentioned above, or the head tube angle, or the rake of your fork, or you have balancing problems (e.g. because of an ear infection), or combinations thereof.

Cynikal 

Is your rear wheel centered? When I rode my fixie after respacing but before redishing I couldn't ride no-handed.

Msngr

yes. but i use a cheap headset, so i don't care. plus, the only thing it can do to your headset is stiffen it, which is exactly what i want.

jo5iah

it's not centri[pital/fugal] force, nor the gyroscopic action that really keeps the bike going. it's simpler than that. if you hold a bike on level ground and lean it one way, the front wheel turns in the direction of the lean. this straightens the bike out. bikes want to go straight, even when seriously perturbed.

i'd look into headset issues. or if you have speed wobble, it may be an issue of resonance (does it only happen if you sit straight up, or are going downhill)?

easiest way to learn is to get as upright as possible with as little weight as possible on the bars and then take all weight off for short periods of time.

- nerd

boots

thanks for the help guys. i've solved the mystery. apparently the reason i can't do it was that... i can. quit being a ***** today and tried it. good as new.

Jesse M

yeah. i was going to give you the "thinking too hard" diagnosis.

BostonFixed

Or was it your magic red pants?