Riding with hands on the stem?
 

I'm not a fixed rider, but I come to you guys because of an observation I found interesting.

Yesterday I passed four fixed riders (three separate incidents) that were riding with their hands on the very center of the bars, and I mean so their index fingers were touching over the stem. One guy even had his hands one on top of the other on the stem-bar joint. All four riders either had drop bars or bullhorn bars, not those short-and-straight bars I've seen some riding.

This isn't by far the first time I've seen this style of riding, but yesterday I just couldn't believe on my little 10-minute commute that I passed four people riding this way. In the past week I've noticed over a dozen, always fixed riders.

I guess I'm asking: is this a fad or something that's specifically catching on in fixed-gear circles? If so, what's the point? Just curious.

This is funny. I have never seen another rider doing this, but on my commute I often do this (instinctively) because I feel that holding one hand toward the middle of the bar (near or on the stem) while resting the other hand elsewhere like on the hip is better for straight-line riding than keeping one hand to one end of the bar. The momentum of the bike keeps you moving straight without disruptive input if the one hand is placed on one side of the bar.

In fact, road bike racers tend look behind one shoulder by dropping one hand while placing the other hand toward the stem. This allows them to look back without veering.

im not sure if its a fad, but i do know what you talking about, it doesnt really seem to have much of a point to it

its just comfy this way for me. On a freewheel I'm on the sides. I think, for all who do ride fixed, it may have to do with the control you have on the bike. On a freewheel it's a different groove. maybe I'm wrong though:shrug: everyone rides different though and it'd be stupid to mimic if you're not comfy riding like that.

1. Aerodynamic
2. Mash guys do it.


Half joking.. but, I find myself doing it once in awhile.. Hate to say it, but I think I picked it up from watching MASH.

I've found myself doing the exact same thing at times. It just kinda comes naturally if I only have one hand on the bars

it started because riding on the tops of track drops is only possible this way. The curve begins very soon and the "top" section is short.

http://www.benscycle.net/images/B123Iso.jpg

i dont ride that way at all.

Hey you're from Davis too!

Yeah, I see those guys all the time too around Davis. In my opinion, there are just a bunch of annoying fixed gear kids that do it just to look cool I guess. It is really annoying to see these hipster kids riding for the look.

Heh, I know what you mean, there's a gathering that happens at lunch in front of the coffee house that's...whatever. Not my scene, but to each their own.

I do it all the time. I feel I have a better power transfer from an upright position, and I feel that by putting my hands in the middle I am becoming more aero dynamic. I mostly do it when I want to pick up my speed, but when I want to continue at a certain pace, I go down to the drops.

I guess I prefer the annoying fixed gear types to the rest of the complete idiot riders in this town. At least they're trying...

Wouldn't being low in the drops increase your aerodynamic efficiency?

if you don't have drops, riding with your hands like that is actually pretty aerodynamic.

on my work commute i often have a strong headwind on the ride home, and riding with my hands on the stem is much easier than on the grips.

i find that riding with my hands closer to the stem (when running drops/horns) gives me the greatest amount of torque i need to stop quickly while riding brakeless.

otherwise, it's a rather inefficient way to ride as when you put your hands inward from your shoulders, your lungs actually become cramped, and it is a little harder to breathe efficiently while riding.

lol i know what you mean! buut personally i do it just because i constantly switch my hand positions on my bars during long rides :x i dont have it on the stem 24/7.. (i ride bullhorns). I don't know whether it's a habit but yeah.. but my guess is that most people grip their bars like that b/c it looks cool.

Easy there tiger. i happen to one of those kids. but i do it cause i feel comfortable there been riding like that almost since i started. i have chopped no flop, so either there or the dropping front (that i use for climbing the hills in sf when i'm there) which aren't the most comfortable to ride on.

Peace

The only time I find myself doing this is on my path racer when I ride one handed... it has a long stem which makes a good place to put one's hand but never ride like this when I am using both hands.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/pathbars3.jpg

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/pathbars2.jpg

Sorry about that guys.

Honestly, I've always wondered too why people ride like that. I've tried it a couple times but I'm not too keen in riding in that position because with me I feel a bit unstable but if it works for some of you guys then I apologize for any offense.

But not my power transfer. Thats why I speed up on the tops, and keep my speed in the drops.

Riding in the drops is uncomfortable to do full time for me, and I can't get going all that fast right away in them. I usually right in the hoods when I'm starting to go, then near the stem when I'm increasing that speed, then in the drops when I want to hold that speed.

*** Spoiler Alert ***


















We all practicing so we can upgrade to this:
http://bp1.blogger.com/_hTyj3OL-9CE/...0/DSC07475.jpg

Sorry I gave away the secret guys. :(

:roflmao2:thats hilarious! I was in a bike shop about a month ago when a guy brought his fixie in and asked to borrow a hacksaw. He did this to his drops, but failed to put on any grips... Hopefully he had some at home or something...

Why accelerate from the flats? I always feel like, without a doubt, I have more power from the drops because I can use my arms to pull against my pedal stroke with more leverage. When you ride in the flats, you can pretty much only use your legs, as your arms don't have enough leverage to help you out. There's a reason sprinters on the track and the road grab the drops when they need to push hard and get up to speed.

I never ride with my hands up against the stem. I think it's uncomfortable. I put the clamp for my light there (on the handlebars right next to the stem).

To be clear, I ride this way for only several seconds, and only when I want to drop the other hand to relax it, or place it on the hip for a few seconds. Continually riding this way is biomechanically inefficient and offers no advantage beyond resting an arm or allowing you to glance back behind your shoulder while maintaining a straight line.

Beyond this, it's done only for fashion.

WHAT THEF UCK