People who ride no hands - not big, not clever.

DonDaddyD

It's not big and it's not clever.

It really gets on my wick actually.

On a largely empty stretch of road fine.

On busy Highstreet with a thick line of traffic to your right not so fine. In fact potentially dangerous actually.

Why? I've been riding a bike since I was 5. On some bikes at times I can do no hands near indefinitely. There is however the odd occasion when my bike may swerve (usually to the drive side/right). A gust of wind, a pot hole, a pedestrian or my equilibrium may be the cause. Sure a quick grab of the bars and everything is cool. What I cannot account for are the reactions of those around me, sudden unpredictable movements - especially on a densely populated commute - is largely dangerous maybe to yourself, those around you or both.

And no it's not just when I'm on the bike riding behind a person riding the entire length of a road with 'no hands' that is a worry. I was in my car the other day behind some cyclist doing the exact same thing. And I hated it just the same.

Well that's my thoughts. Riding no hands is potentially too dangerous to do safely in traffic on a commute in rush hour.

notsoblue

Sometimes I ride with no hands, for safety reasons. As long as I'm wearing a helmet, I don't see the harm in it.

jzed

Rants thread over there >>>>>>>>>>

SimonAH

But what if you RLJ?

Seriously, of course it's bloody stupid to 'no hands' for more than a second (eg to zip up your top) on a busy commute route.

bails87

Just because you can't do it....






I'll do it on an empty stretch of road to peel a banana or something like that. Wouldn't do it with cars behind me, or when passing anyone else.

jonny_trousers

Whoa there DDD! Relax! It'll all be fine; I promise. Here's a picture of Olly Murs to chear you up; he's ever such a nice young man.

will3

Better sell the unicycle then.

Kieran_Burns

I only have a single pannier on my bike so there's no way I *can* go none-handed. I'd be off within a few milli-seconds

rick_chasey

I do it when I'm fed up with being wheelsucked.

Sit up, hand off, stretch arms.

They usually take the hint.

It's also good to do when it's cold and you've forgotten your gloves.

Hands. In. Pockets.

Yes.

SimonAH

will3 wrote:

Better sell the unicycle then.

Ah, you may have a point there. Still, not really bought as a fast commuter TBH

Gazzaputt

Agree with DDD for once.

F*cking moronic behavior.

iPete

Whats the issue, need to free my hands to update my facebook status!

Ebankemnt is super buzy lolz etc.

bails87

Gazzaputt wrote:

Agree with DDD for once.

F*cking moronic behavior.

What is? Agreeing with DDD? Bit harsh

Keith1983

I could ride none handed for miles as a yoof! I would make a point of going as far as I could , up and down curbs, round corners etc. I can still do it on my mtb, I can't do it on my road bike and I have no intentions of practising enough to allow me to do it. As with everything, there is a time and a place. simples.

veronese68

I did nearly collect a bloke last night riding through Bushy Park no hands. He was weaving quite a lot so I shouted "coming through" and he moved to the side and spat across my bows. I considered kicking his front wheel out from under him for that.

Kieran_Burns

Keith1983 wrote:

I could ride none handed for miles as a yoof! I would make a point of going as far as I could , up and down curbs, round corners etc. I can still do it on my mtb, I can't do it on my road bike and I have no intentions of practising enough to allow me to do it. As with everything, there is a time and a place. simples.

Oh, Lord.

You said "simples"

You're going to die now.... horribly. The ranting mob shall tear your bloodied carcass asunder

The last time someone said "simples" it ran to 10 pages of vituperation.

God, you may as well have said you eat babies as you red light jump on a hybrid while not wearing a helmet.

clarkey cat

I used to, when alot younger, sit right back on my saddle, lean forward and then swing my arms back behind my back, joining them to form (what I thought was) a kind of aerodynamic spoiler on fast descents doing up to 50mph.

It was absolutely thrilling but I dont have the cojones to do it anymore.

rick_chasey

clarkey cat wrote:

I used to, when alot younger, sit right back on my saddle, lean forward and then swing my arms back behind my back, joining them to form (what I thought was) a kind of aerodynamic spoiler on fast descents doing up to 50mph.

It was absolutely thrilling but I dont have the cojones to do it anymore.

Hah, amazing.


I do that, but to stretch my back out.

Keith1983

Kieran_Burns wrote:

Keith1983 wrote:

I could ride none handed for miles as a yoof! I would make a point of going as far as I could , up and down curbs, round corners etc. I can still do it on my mtb, I can't do it on my road bike and I have no intentions of practising enough to allow me to do it. As with everything, there is a time and a place. simples.

Oh, Lord.

You said "simples"

You're going to die now.... horribly. The ranting mob shall tear your bloodied carcass asunder

The last time someone said "simples" it ran to 10 pages of vituperation.

God, you may as well have said you eat babies as you red light jump on a hybrid while not wearing a helmet.

You mean you don't eat babies whilst RLJ'ing on a hybrid, without a helmet? I will now ofcourse be genuinely disappointed in anything less than 11 pages of ranting.

And just so everyone knows, it's Kieran's fault that I even have a hybrid!

Clever Pun

Rick Chasey wrote:

I do it when I'm fed up with being wheelsucked.

Sit up, hand off, stretch arms.

They usually take the hint.

It's also good to do when it's cold and you've forgotten your gloves.

Hands. In. Pockets.

Yes.

but you're tiny and offer no protection surely?

There's a chap on the hipster highway that rides no handed facing the wrong way an awful lot. He's a tit

snailracer

Isn't no-hands simply an admission that one's bars are too low/too forward?

timmyflash

Can't do it on my fixed - i dunno why not.

veronese68

Having moaned about the bloke last night I did start the "idiot on a bike" thread and that bloke is actually very good. Take a look at the clips on YouTube of him. No hands down a ridiculous mountain pass using his foot against the back wheel to slow down. Whilst he's clearly insane it's remarkable. The video of the clib whilst playing instruments seems to have gone though.
Just search "Giuliano Calore" That is quite big and clever actually.

gtvlusso

Only do it when my back cannot take the bend anymore - usually on the last 50 yards home......Also makes me loook big, like an angry cat.....

notsoblue

iPete wrote:

Whats the issue, need to free my hands to update my facebook status!

Ebankemnt is super buzy lolz etc.

rick_chasey

Clever Pun wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

I do it when I'm fed up with being wheelsucked.

Sit up, hand off, stretch arms.

They usually take the hint.

It's also good to do when it's cold and you've forgotten your gloves.

Hands. In. Pockets.

Yes.

but you're tiny and offer no protection surely?

It's either that or my buns of steel are such that they're like moths to a flame.