Look no hands
- Thread starter Wetdog
- Start date
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I find it much easier on an MTB (though it's not difficult on a road bike) as the tires give you more grip and the additional width makes balancing easier in my experience.
Smokin Joe
Squire
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
Tyre grip doesn't come into no hands riding.
That was broadly my point, I feel substantially more comfortable and confident on the MTB than the road bike, be it perception or otherwise.
OP
OP
Wetdog
Senior Member
- Location
- Warrington
Just ride faster, as if that's easy 
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
I can, but I don't. I checked the other day to see if I could still do it. I can, but not with the same confidence as in my youth.
Seevio
Guru
- Location
- South Glos
Like this?...I always cringe when i see a rider on tv throwing his hands up as he approaches the finishing line, half expecting him to fall off before he crosses that line.
Wolf616
Über Member
For those of you who want to try it but are a bit scared, the best way I found to teach yourself is to try riding with one finger of each hand on the handlebars. This provides you with the psychological comfort of still being 'attached', but also proves that actually your hands aren't really doing all that much. You can then gradually progress to letting go for longer and longer. I've tried this method on several of my more cautious cycling friends and they've all found it very successful.
My only trouble is that when I am being super cool and cycling with no hands (often to pull my jersey down as it always bloody rides up) my arse starts to slip forward on the saddle. Great when you've got an itchy arse, not so great for the washing basket.
My only trouble is that when I am being super cool and cycling with no hands (often to pull my jersey down as it always bloody rides up) my arse starts to slip forward on the saddle. Great when you've got an itchy arse, not so great for the washing basket.
Globalti
Legendary Member
That shouldn't happen if the saddle is at the correct angle because the scoop of the saddle should be cupping your sit bones. Sliding forward must mean there's a huge amount of pressure on your hands.
Adequate speed is the key to hands-free riding; as somebody else pointed out a couple of pages back, the gyroscopic effect keeps the front wheel stable. Obviously you wouldn't do it on a bumpy road or approaching a hazard or sharp bend.
Adequate speed is the key to hands-free riding; as somebody else pointed out a couple of pages back, the gyroscopic effect keeps the front wheel stable. Obviously you wouldn't do it on a bumpy road or approaching a hazard or sharp bend.
I'm not so sure speed is the issue, cadence is, I can ride no hands slowly with the proviso I'm in a low enough gear.
Wolf616
Über Member
Admittedly it's an ever so slow slip; glacial in fact. I definitely don't put much pressure on my hands/arms when cycling - believe me I'd know about it as I've suffered from RSI for years
I've now progressed to no handing it over pot holes. One of these days this will probably kill me, but until then I am officially the Coolest Cyclist on This Stretch of the Road (n.b. no other cyclists may be present)
Accy cyclist
Legendary Member
- Location
- The hills of Accrington
Accy cyclist
Legendary Member
- Location
- The hills of Accrington
A bloke on yesterday's club ride took his hands off the bars, pulled a pastie from his back pocket and ate it. I watched him, he must've had his hands off the bars for about a minute or so, and we were doing about 15 to 20 mph.
Smokin Joe
Squire
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
My type of guy. None of this stupid flapjack and energy gel nonsense.A bloke on yesterday's club ride took his hands off the bars, pulled a pastie from his back pocket and ate it. I watched him, he must've had his hands off the bars for about a minute or so, and we were doing about 15 to 20 mph.
