Look no hands

[montyboy]

Now before we start, I know its dangerous etc etc.

When I was a kid I used to be able to ride my "racer" with both my hands in my jacket pockets for as far as I liked, I could even turn corners. This was particularly cool for riding to school, past the library and up to the bike shed.

Whilst out the other day along a quiet country lane I tried to see if i had retained this skill. Unfortunately, it seems that either the skill has been lost or I just dont have the required bravery to sit up and leave go.

My question is, are modern road bikes more difficult to ride no hands or is it really just down to my lack of ability?

 

[Moss]

Now before we start, I know its dangerous etc etc.

When I was a kid I used to be able to ride my "racer" with both my hands in my jacket pockets for as far as I liked, I could even turn corners. This was particularly cool for riding to school, past the library and up to the bike shed.

Whilst out the other day along a quiet country lane I tried to see if i had retained this skill. Unfortunately, it seems that either the skill has been lost or I just dont have the required bravery to sit up and leave go.

My question is, are modern road bikes more difficult to ride no hands or is it really just down to my lack of ability?

Sorry,

The truth be known it's your inability to balance the stead without a tight grip on those bars! I'm 63, years young; and regularly ride with both hands off the handle bars, well when needed! maybe just need both hands to undo, or do up a zip on your jacket or jersey' or when taking the paper off a nutty-Bar for munching on; and sometimes just to stretch the arms and lower back. You never really loose the ability to ride no handed.

 

[TobyM]

Now before we start, I know its dangerous etc etc.

When I was a kid I used to be able to ride my "racer" with both my hands in my jacket pockets for as far as I liked, I could even turn corners. This was particularly cool for riding to school, past the library and up to the bike shed.

Whilst out the other day along a quiet country lane I tried to see if i had retained this skill. Unfortunately, it seems that either the skill has been lost or I just dont have the required bravery to sit up and leave go.

My question is, are modern road bikes more difficult to ride no hands or is it really just down to my lack of ability?

Not at all, in fact, I find it easier to ride no hands on my road bike than my mountain bike for some reason, although I don't think the wheels are even quite round on my mountain bike! It's really not as difficult as people think, you've just got to let go. I think the biggest thing you can do to help is to grip the bike frame with your knees and rely on your sense of balance. In fact, I can even ride no handed standing up if I grip the frame with my knees - but that's probably more so that I don't just fall of the pedals

 

[montyboy]

More practice required then

 

[Bicycle]

I think it's got a little to do with the passage of time.

I used to ride home from Scouts with a coke and a bag of chips. No wobbles, no crashes and lots of corners.

That was in the 70s.

Now... I'm not at all sure that I could.

 

[blubb]

It has nothing to do with the skill being lost, but the fact every bike is a little different and you need to adapt for it. I do it all the time, but if i switch to a bike i haven't driven before it takes some time to adapt.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Not at all, in fact, I find it easier to ride no hands on my road bike than my mountain bike for some reason,

Yes my Road bike (The Felt) just feels more stable and balanced somehow and also I have found that the front wheel seems to stay straight a lot more easily than The Tank (my big and heavy Raleigh mountain bike (more of a Hybrid TBH) of mid '90s vintage, built like a brick sh*thouse and weighing as much, hence the 'The Tank' name) or Creaky Bike, AKA Sir Creaksalot, AKA the creaky bad weather BSO Pig Iron winter bike which if trashed, will not be missed.

I think I need some new bikes.

 

[Willo]

It's not the bike, you still have the ability, but our fearlessness has receded over the years. There was a similar thread recently with a few saying the same as you. Prompted by that I had a bash when out one Sunday and, while I managed a little stretch sat up with my hands down by my side, I realised the bottle to continue like that has long since left my being!

 

[Raistlin]

I have just changed over from a Sirrus Comp to a Sectuer Sport and find the Sectuer much easier to ride no handed - but still not as easy as the Raleigh Team Cadet I had in '87 (man,I miss that bike ). I was ace at no handed back then

 

[montyboy]

Oh dear, first I put on weight, then the hair starts to thin and finally I lose the bottle to ride no hands. Ageing is so cruel!

 

[Ian H]

"It's not the bike"..."It is the bike"...My experience is that it's both.

Bikes do vary. I proved this to myself by changing the fork on one bike, which changed the geometry substantially. It transformed the handling and made hands-off easy.

But you do need to practise, especially if you change bikes. Although you never forget how to ride a bike, you'd be much wobblier if you hadn't ridden for a few years. Same but magnified with no-hands.

 

[montyboy]

Oh, I agree with Ian now.

I've still got it, I havent lost it at all......its that dammed bike

 

[Fnaar]

I can do the no hands thing easy peasy

I quite often do it, adjusting my attire, putting on or taking off a buff, or showing off to the kids and annoying Mrs F who doesn't want me to teach them bad habits

 

[Davidc]

I can still do it, but only on my Dawes Horizon, not on the Ridgeback MTB. There's a huge diffeence in geometry, which also shows up doing tight manoeuvres , which I can do much better on the Horizon.

I wouldn't attempt no hands on most of the roads I come across, they're full of holes and far too uneven, but I did ride Taunton's new 3rd way road the evening after it opened a couple of weeks back, with no other traffic around, with my hands down by my side. Plenty of bends, wide, and an immaculate new surface. So at 59 I can still do it but usually don't!

 

[Ian H]

I think it's a useful skill to practise, because it improves your overall bike control.