Why is it that when I was a kid, I could ride all over town without using my hands (except occasionally to stop) and now that I'm an old fat guy, I can't?

This past weekend, I was riding my first century and there were times when my back needed a stretch. I thought it would be a good idea to sit up in the saddle and stretch my arms over my head for a few seconds. Whenever I tried, the front wheel would wobble and I was all over the road!

I've only been riding (seriously, anyway) for a couple of months, so there's a lot I'm having to re-learn. But, this no hands thing: Will I ever be able to teach myself again? Is it hopeless? <grin>

It takes practice and it really is something that aint worth it.

Different bike, different geometry..... some bikes are twitchier than others, especially noticable at slow speeds. I bet you can let go of your hands under high speed.

Are you SURE you WANT to?

Here's a good reason NOT to ride with no hands!!!

I had a terrible time riding no-handed on my road bike, and as I fiddled with saddle position (i.e. bike fit) I found my no-handed task was easier and easier. Correlation?

THe video is a REPOST!

Celebrating before the line! BAD!

Only time I see no handing to be nice is when I have to take my glasses off and wipe my eyes clear of sweat...otherwise there is no point IMO

Oh man. I just wanted to say how much I enjoy riding a fixed gear bicycle without hands. The fixed gear allows me to accelerate/deaccelerate without even putting my hands on the handlebars. I loves it so much.

I like riding no handed. It lets me stretch out, get stuff out of my pack, etc. Some bikes are harder than others, due to the geometry, but I can ride no handed on most of my bikes (including the tall bike). On my mountain bike I can navigate corners and traffic no handed (though I normally don't, of course).

Its a good skill to have, but like the video shows, not something that is always appropriate! Celebrating before the line... gets ya everytime.

peace,
sam

I know I guy who likes to ride around with his hands behind his back, also likes to run stop signs and stop lights.
He's real cool.

It was even cooler the time he hit the pavement because he didn't have control.

Originally Posted by KingTermiteAre you SURE you WANT to?

Here's a good reason NOT to ride with no hands!!!


Dam what a way to lose a race lmfaoooooo poor sap

To ride with no hands, you must LEAN BACK, just the opposite of what you want to do.

You steer the bike with your butt. Try it.

I used to do it, but can't anymore. One thing I remember about leaning back like that is the nice ab workout you can get if you play your cards right. Gonna have to give it a whirl on the trainer.

I enjoy riding with no hands. It is easier to ride no hands on my mtn bike, than my bmx bikes. My friend and I se how long we can w/o hands. Our record is like 2.4 miles, on a paved path along the American River. Quite fun. Then when feel all that, go no hands, and level your pedals, and get your butt off the seat, and straighten your knees, so the back of your hip is leaning against the seat Then go down a hill at 35 mph like that Much fun.

I can do it with my mountain bike, but not with my road bikes. Way too twitchy and road-sensitive.

I learned how to do this really well.
I broke off my handlebars on an old bmx bike when I was younger.
Then I taught myself to ride the bike without the handles.
The trick is to keep pedaling. That helps me.
Naturally you just lean when you want to turn.
How about to practice, ride around with your hands hovering above the bars, and when you start to lose control you can grab them. The more you do this the less you will need your hands.

Try it.

I usualy find it easier when I put my weight on my back
Also started without pedaling...lol

Keep a good speed though

Tried again on my hybrid, this morning...much easier than my road bike.

As for safety...I don't plan on doing this much, but there are times (like TRD suggests) when it'd be handy.
Thanks!

I would do it, but I can't afford the dental work.

I was only able to do it with solid front forks. I did it extremely well on old BMX's and back when I had a solid front fork on a mountain bike. Those bikes didn't absorb the bumps so the fork would stay along the same line unless you leaned in any direction, which is how you could slowly turn... but obviously, for the most part, riding without hands was for straights.

I think geometry is a big factor here. The bikes my friends and I rode as kids had longer wheelbases, were basically set up like touring bikes, and could fly all day with no hands. I used to actually ride UP HILLS with no hands as a kid. Of course, I was a lot lighter then, which is the other factor -- center of gravity, which was probably lower for a lot of us when we were kids. I didn't weigh much more than my bike back in those days.

I often sit up and eat no-handed. I guess it's only a matter of time before I eat pavement. For me, it's easiest on a flat or slight uphill where I can keep pedalling. Dunno why.

You said it...

I've found that it's easy to do once you get to know the bike. Also, it helps if I put my knees inward toward the bar - that's how you see the pros do it when they cross the finish.