I believe you are misreading that statute. It would seem to mean that one must be able to get a hand onto the handlebar, not that one must have a hand on the handlebar. Other states may indeed require a hand on the bars, but my understanding is that the Golden State does not.

Colorado:

1. A person operating a bicycle or electrical assisted bicycle shall keep at least one hand on the handlebars at all times.

The speed limit on the freeways in California is 65 most places, but the "customary" speed is 80 on most (except at rush hour, where it is sometimes 20), and the Central Valley, where it is 90. Nothing is preventing Beanz from putting one hand on the bar in a pinch. He would just have to drop one of the cameras.

I think that the geometry of modern bikes, in particular the rake angle and head tube angle has something to do with it. At seventeen I could steer my ten speed Nishiki all over town with no hands.

Tell that to the cop who just cited my younger son for doing 70 on a Bay Area freeway posted 65. My son thinks the black Audi S4 had something to do with it, but a cop would not be able to distinguish it from my plain old A4 except up very close.

A kid takes three laps around the block. As he passes his house at the end of the first, he proudly announces, "Look ma, no feet." Next time around, it's "look ma, no hands." The third time, it's "look ma, no teeth."

I am also reminded of a very interesting book: "No Hands -- The Rise and Fall of the Schwinn Bicycle Company, An American Institution."

Mama didn't raise no fool! You can't see it in the orange jersey pic but I wear a lanyard around my neck when I use the Flip. You can see the recorder hanging from my neck in this pic. ;)


...and here...and here....and here! :p

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...eme/070412.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...e/IMG_2926.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...me/120410A.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...pxtreme/B1.jpg

I have no problems riding with no hands even at my older age of 60. However I do have one bike out of 7 road bikes that for whatever reasons it's very twitchy and quick steering, that one is the only one that I don't trust to ride with no hands, I've done it with that bike but only for short distances and my hands hovering over the hoods.

I ride no hands fairly often, I find it very comfortable and relaxing. On my touring/commuting bike, I can get some wobble if there is too much weight on the back and not enough up front to balance it. I've been experimenting with ways to reduce or eliminate that wobble on my daily commute.

Same here , i can ride one of my bikes all day no hands ,but the other one i just cannot do it.

I do it quite often, carpel tunnel in both wrists, after a while I have to give the hands a break.

I'll go hands-free once in a while to get a drink. On occasion, I'll do it just to change position for a little while. I've been known to shoot a few pics while navigating in a hands-free mode.

I like my workout bike to be an easy no-hander (single speed). That allows me to stretch my back and shoulders. Ideally I can no-hand on my tourer but loads change things. If a ride is supported and I can go lean, I'll choose a bike that is easy to no-hand. It's great to sit up and pull snacks out of the rear jersey pockets and such.

I have no trouble riding my trike no hands. :)

On the trainer, I can take my hands off easily. ;)

Of course.. How can you yell out "WHY...WHY?" with you hands in the air otherwise?

+1!
Best regards

+1, I'll ride no handed for a bit on stretches I feel safe on to shake my hands back awake.

The other weird thing about age, I can't do track stands anymore, I use to be able to track stand at a light for however long it took no big deal, now...I might last 5 to 10 seconds of jerking around if I'm lucky.

Same bike?

Some think it is the color of the car, others the color of the driver. The last may be true, but I think that being young, male and in a high performance luxury/sports car is the biggest risk factor. When I do drive to work it is often past a border patrol check point/highway patrol stop. I, and everyone else going through there at five AM does eighty without blinking an eye.

Doesn't matter which bike!

It may have already been mentioned that some bikes, ie "twitchy" bikes may be hard to ride no hands while others may be much easier. My Roubaix is easier than my mtn bike. I'm comfortable taking a jacket off or zipping one up but I do have to be sure the road is clear in front of me. I often ride with no hands, sitting up relaxing when a member of a group slows down for whatever reason. It's nice to be able to do but whether it is easy depends in part on your bike's geometry. Spend 10,000miles or more a year on your bike and you'll be comfortable no matter how twitchy :).

I don't make a habit of it, but I can do it to some extent. Usually it's just for something that actually requires two hands, such as zipping up a jersey.

These are wonderful poses; nice work!