Hands free cycling

[272BHP]

Anyone else noticed the current trend for young teenagers to cycle around town without ever touching the handlebars?

Every kid round me is doing this now and while I admire the skill (they ride effortlessly like this) I do worry about the potential for accidents.

[J4CKO]

Its not new, as a young kid in the seventies, always remember those lads on those "Tracker" bikes, basically a racing frame, straight bars, reinforced wheels, straight forks and a fixed gear and they always rode none handed, thats when they werent pulling a wheelie with a fag hanging out of their mouth like a cut price Fonz.

[okgo]

272BHP said:

Anyone else noticed the current trend for young teenagers to cycle around town without ever touching the handlebars?

Every kid round me is doing this now and while I admire the skill (they ride effortlessly like this) I do worry about the potential for accidents.

It also is a hallmark of mamils who think that riding without hands is in any way difficult (it isn't). Most of the time people that ride a lot never do this, because, why would you.

What I HAVE noticed that does take skill is the kids who are wheeliying everywhere.

[Your Dad]

The only time I ride with both hands off the bars is when stowing the gilet, and then only when placed at the back if riding with others.

okgo said:

What I HAVE noticed that does take skill is the kids who are wheeliying everywhere.

I detest kids who do massive long wheelies. Little sts



It has nothing to do with the fact that I've never mastered the wheelie, honest!

[rev-erend]

Is it just me or are we all secretly hoping they fall off

[Pothole]

Seriously, OP, you waste time worrying about kids falling off bikes? It's what kids do. I did it at least weekly between the ages of 5 and 15 and only slightly less often after that. It's the cost of doing stupid things.

[louiebaby]

I used to ride no handed for miles as a kid and a teenager.

Then I tried to change gear with the wrong hand, and it wobbled. So I corrected, but with the wrong hand, so went the wrong way. There was a significant interface with the toptube.

My bks ended up he size of a pair of large lemons, and I had to have an ultrasound to make sure they were still getting blood flow where it was needed.

I haven't done it much since then...

[rev-erend]

Ouch.

[RC1807]

rev-erend said:

Is it just me or are we all secretly hoping they fall off

You're not alone.

[jfdi]

Your Dad said:

I detest kids who do massive long wheelies. Little sts

It has nothing to do with the fact that I've never mastered the wheelie, honest!

I'm still learning and have just about got to non-embarrassing level...... aged 47

[Gecko1978]

On a ride I will for a short while sit up an stretch assuming no cars about etc but its more a moment to stretch rather than actively riding without my hands on the bars

[mikecassie]

jfdi said:

Your Dad said:

I detest kids who do massive long wheelies. Little sts

It has nothing to do with the fact that I've never mastered the wheelie, honest!

I'm still learning and have just about got to non-embarrassing level...... aged 47

You're miles ahead of me then I can do about 2m with front wheel off the ground.

[Ballistic]

I can't even get it up.

[HiAsAKite]

Gecko1978 said:

On a ride I will for a short while sit up an stretch assuming no cars about etc but its more a moment to stretch rather than actively riding without my hands on the bars

Ditto - if I've been hunched over its nice to straighted up fully - stretch my arms out a for a few seconds.. but this is really on 30s or so in the hour so,...

[BobSaunders]

Used to stand on the top tube and surf down hills no handed. I was young, and cool.

Not new, you've only just started to notice it.

[bristolbaron]

Ballistic said:

I can't even get it up.

You might want to change your saddle...

[upsidedownmark]

jfdi said:

I'm still learning and have just about got to non-embarrassing level...... aged 47

Not just me then.. has been my 'lockdown' project much to the amusement/bemusement of the rest of the block of flats watching me going up and down the driveway, attempting to wheelie (45).

Hands off - frequently. To stretch, to take a jacket on/off, whatever. It's not hard, and it's not particularly likely to result in sudden departure from control. Generally the bike wants to go in a straight line.

It's also useful to teach balance, and get away from that death grip on the bars..

[RizzoTheRat]

I quite often see people here cycling along with one hand in their pocket while texting with the other hand (on cycle paths not roads). I keep trying to learn but can only manage a few seconds so far.
I used to be able to do good wheelies on my BMX but not a hope on my commuter.

[Bacon Is Proof]

Bunch of roadies that can't wheelie?
Thought I was on singletrackworld.

[Randy Winkman]

BobSaunders said:

Used to stand on the top tube and surf down hills no handed. I was young, and cool.

Not new, you've only just started to notice it.

This is how I normally ride.