Hands Free

twoodley

When you watch the pro's on TV they regularly cycle along without holding the bars, and even put on/take off jackets etc without falling off.
I also see some people riding along the road hands free, and admit I used to be able to do this as a kid, and even go around bends, without falling off.
Now if I try and remove my hands from the bars the bike starts an uncontrollable wobble, and I even have problems going from the drops to the hoods safely (but am ok going from hoods to drops). I also sometimes wobble just looking over my shoulder, but am gradually getting better with this.
Is it old age, lack of confidence, poor riding technique, or can I remaster the art (without falling off in the process)?

Terry

father_jack

I can do it no problem. Also taking off jackets and such. Problem is traffic coming up behind you. No problem looking behind me either.

Monty Dog

A lot depends on the stability and geometry of the bike - many modern frames are quite 'twitchy' and therefore require a degree more skill to ride no-handed in comparison to the bikes of our youth with longer wheelbases and more relaxed frame angles. As I kid, I used to be able to ride the 2 miles to the shops no-handed on my old Falcon including a number of 90 degree bends - a serious wobble and resulting skinned palms soon put paid to that notion.

rick_chasey

Cycling faster helps.

sundog

Rick Chasey wrote:

Cycling faster helps.

As does closing your eyes

oscarbudgie

I think it must be geometry, or something loose . I can ride my Caad9 no hands, put / on take off jacket, unpeel a banana etc etc with absolute ease. If I try to do that on my Dawes Giro 'winter trainer' (pub bike really) I start to go over.

father_jack

I can do a wheelie, remove the wheel, and replace the inner tube, then put the wheel back on all during the wheelie. I'm great.

Airwave

I can walk"hands free"i can even go around corners&hop over small walls.Who'd have thought it would be possable in this day&age

Smokin Joe

Father Jack wrote:

I can do a wheelie, remove the wheel, and replace the inner tube, then put the wheel back on all during the wheelie. I'm great.

W@nker.

It's when you can REPAIR the tube you can call yourself a cyclist.

Omar Little

you maybe leaning too far forward, try getting your weight back a bit by sitting more upright

emta

i can drive with Hands Free
it is so easy

neeb

Geometry is definitely a big factor.

One of my bikes has 73 head tube angle, 43mm rake (trail = 58.4mm)
The other has 72 degree HT, 45mm rake (trail = 62.5mm)

The second bike is much easier to ride hands free, although otherwise I don't notice much difference in handling. The second bike also has a steeper seat tube angle and a longer stem (total reach on both bikes are the same).

Could it just be down to trail?

Bar Shaker

Omar has it, you need to get your shoulders back. Its nothing to do with geometry, once you get used to getting back quickly, you can do it on any bike.

neeb

Bar Shaker wrote:

Its nothing to do with geometry

I don't think I'm imagining the difference between my two bikes. It's really pretty noticeable.

More trail should theoretically make the steering more stable.

I also wonder if the smaller TT/stem length ratio on the second bike (which basically means that the steering axis is about 1cm closer to the saddle) makes any difference.

MikeMechanic

Same for me, I used to do it a lot when I was a child, but nowadays I am struggling to ride hands-free. Maybe I am just more concerned about my body :-).

Bar Shaker

neeb wrote:

Bar Shaker wrote:

Its nothing to do with geometry

I don't think I'm imagining the difference between my two bikes. It's really pretty noticeable.

More trail should theoretically make the steering more stable.

I also wonder if the smaller TT/stem length ratio on the second bike (which basically means that the steering axis is about 1cm closer to the saddle) makes any difference.

Perhaps your bikes have a more extreme geometry than the pros use.

jgsi

twoodley wrote:

When you watch the pro's on TV they regularly cycle along without holding the bars, and even put on/take off jackets etc without falling off.
I also see some people riding along the road hands free, and admit I used to be able to do this as a kid, and even go around bends, without falling off.
Now if I try and remove my hands from the bars the bike starts an uncontrollable wobble, and I even have problems going from the drops to the hoods safely (but am ok going from hoods to drops). I also sometimes wobble just looking over my shoulder, but am gradually getting better with this.
Is it old age, lack of confidence, poor riding technique, or can I remaster the art (without falling off in the process)?

Terry

It will be technique/confidence thing.
To ride relaxed and and with the body quite upright with head up so that you can eat, drink or take off / put on arm warmers or rain jacket (answer the phone and write a meemo) needs practice.
Having said that , the mtb we had was almost impossible to control no handed.

neeb

Bar Shaker wrote:

Perhaps your bikes have a more extreme geometry than the pros use.

They're both within the normal range of variation, but I guess that while geometry might make one bike easier to ride hands free than another, if you are experienced enough you can probably do it on any bike. The pros spend half of their waking lives on their bikes, I suppose that's going to help...

I guess I need to practice so that I can do it on both of my bikes instead of just one of them..

Bar Shaker

Neeb I think it is a practice thing. My bike has 73 deg so should be twitchy off the bars but as it's what I'm used to, I seem to have conquered it.

I agree that the bikes we rode as kids seemed easy (except for my Chopper) and suspect we had 65 deg head angles.

I'll bet I stack it now I've said this

Ronnieg

Father Jack wrote:

I can do a wheelie, remove the wheel, and replace the inner tube, then put the wheel back on all during the wheelie. I'm great.

Now if that's the rear wheel I'd be impressed :roll:

disquieting_museeuws

Riding no hands is also a test of the state of your headset, especially if you've got an old-fashioned cup & ball one. For us (relative) old-timers it was a way of checking if it was adjusted incorrectly or worn - a dodgy one will pull you to one side.

neilgwhite

We're all in this section of the forum because we are ether new to cycling, a convert wanting to seek advice on riding road bikes, or an experienced roadie wanting to pass on their wisdom.

So it does beg the question: Why would any new rider, or amateur for that matter want to ride without their hands on the bar? I understand the slight wobble from lack of confidence as you switch from top to drop, but unless you 10 yrs old, does it really matter? If you need to take off, put on a coat, ride ahead, or just pull over.

neeb

Fair point, although of course new riders may aspire towards becoming better and more capable riders. The sort of bike control you need to ride without hands on the bars is part and parcel of what you would want for more advanced riding, e.g. if you are riding competitively in a sportive, racing, or even just taking part in a fast group ride. While I wouldn't personally ever ride without at least one hand on the bars in a fast bunch, you do need to learn good handling and balance to allow you at least to eat and drink on the bike.

goal11

I love driving bike but I can't drive with free hand
If any one can guide me to practice help me to drive bike with free hand tell me.

---

real estate Egypt | Real estate Egypt | travel agencies in Egypt

bompington

neilgwhite wrote:

Why would new rider, or amateur for that matter want to ride without their hands on the bar?

You're missing the point quite spectacularly

The answer is of course... TO LOOK LIKE A PRO!

navrig

bompington wrote:

neilgwhite wrote:

Why would new rider, or amateur for that matter want to ride without their hands on the bar?

You're missing the point quite spectacularly

The answer is of course... TO LOOK LIKE A PRO!

Well in that case ditch the cycling tights borrow your wife's fishnet tights and mini skirt and go stand on the street corner.

Keep one hand on the bars at all times and pull over to put on a pullover.
















PS - I am a H&S Director ;-)

MikeWW

I'm not very good at it either but its clearly me not the bike as my son has exactly the same make. He can ride on the road or rollers no handed without a second thought.
Quite an important skill and you would be thrown off some coaching sessions if you couldn't do it. Pulling over to put a waterproof on in a race just wouldn't be acceptable.
I think it is an age thing as I'm sure like most people as a kid it just wasn't an issue

vorsprung

Bar Shaker wrote:

Omar has it, you need to get your shoulders back. Its nothing to do with geometry, once you get used to getting back quickly, you can do it on any bike.

haha
not on my old bike with a 60mm stem

vorsprung

neilgwhite wrote:

So it does beg the question: Why would any new rider, or amateur for that matter want to ride without their hands on the bar?

It's useful to be able to do things that require both hands without stopping
For example, zipping up a coat with a stiff zip only takes a second if you can ride hands free

rick_chasey

It improves bike handling skills if you can cycle no hands.

If you can't, work on your balance so that you can.

Otherwise, you'll be a poor bike handler.

bianchimoon

neilgwhite wrote:

We're all in this section of the forum because we are ether new to cycling, a convert wanting to seek advice on riding road bikes, or an experienced roadie wanting to pass on their wisdom.

So it does beg the question: Why would any new rider, or amateur for that matter want to ride without their hands on the bar? I understand the slight wobble from lack of confidence as you switch from top to drop, but unless you 10 yrs old, does it really matter? If you need to take off, put on a coat, ride ahead, or just pull over.

I'm not 10 years old, sometimes ride with no hands to give my back wrists arms shoulders a rest/stretch on a long ride