Originally Posted by
Hermes
I can ride no hands and do so as part of pedaling drills. No hands pedaling requires one to steer the bike with the core muscles. I do it sometimes riding uphill to make it tougher. The best way to look behind is to rotate your head and touch your chin to your shoulder without rotating your shoulders. Use the peripheral vision to look behind. Several of my track racing buddies who are late 60s and early 70s, ride no hands at the track and do not have a problem looking behind.
I'm the original poster again. I think your comment about 'core muscles' touches on my problem. Maybe. I have stenosis in my back. Everyone over 50 does, but I have it worse than most. My L4-L5 is supposedly 'severe' and I've been offered a laminectomy to correct it. My feet are very numb and have been for many years.
Anyway, I think bike balance no-hands comes from doing a sensitive little shimmy with your lower back and pelvis. I think that is what I've lost. I don't suppose it matters WHAT is preventing me from doing it, but it would be kind of nice to know why.