Can you cycle no handed ?

[ColinJ]

I can, but I don't - there are too many ways for something bad to happen!

A mate of mine used to ride no-handed to put his windtop on or take it off and a couple of times I saw the sleeves go very close to his back wheel. I've also seen people ride over ruts or debris and nearly crash.

I'm not bothered about saving a few seconds, so I stop to fiddle with clothes, take photos or use my phone - better safe than sorry!

I've only had one really nasty bike crash and I'd rather not experience that again. (The bike slipped out of gear when I was standing up and sprinting and I went over the handlebars, headbutted the road and then used a shoulder, knee and elbow as brakes! )

 

[JDP]

Yes, and can take the rucksack off, get stuff out and put it back on again.

Always been able to do it since I was a kid.

 

[PJ79LIZARD]

A fellow cyclist rode no handed next to me, lost control fell off and took me out, chipped elbow and hurt my wrist, not to mention damaged my bike as we were travelling at over 20mph. Nice one.......even if you can I think it's dangerous and irresponsible if riding in company.

 

[oldroadman]

Happens in races all the time, sometimes even with a team mate pushing you. General protocol is get to the side and/or rear of a small peloton, so if you do have a moment, no one else is caught up in it. Mind, in a 200 peloton, the side is the option if you can, because it's hard graft to get back to anywhere near the front!
Practically, if you do fall off in the middle, you end up with a big heap of very unhappy people riding over you as well, and it almost always seems to be a collar bone that goes.

 

[Scoosh]

For about 20 10 5 m(etres) before I loose confidence .....

 

[Andrew Gray]

occasionally when i need to pull up a stuck zipper. I can [vaguely] ride a unicycle so I guess that's no - handed.

.

 

[Moodyman]

No

 

[d87heaven]

I can ride no handed................ but crash no handed with much greater style and panache.

 

[Fnaar]

I can, easily-peasily, and do for a minute or so on clear flat stretches on long rides, to take a 'posture-rest'. Not if I'm cycling near someone though, or in traffic. I'm on about deserted roads.

 

[palinurus]

Yup. And I do it pretty much every day too. I rarely manage a commute without riding no-handed along a quiet stretch. Just feels nice.

Depends on bike. Road bikes: easy, TT bike: easy-ish but more unsettling, Brompton: somewhat tricky.

 

[ColinJ]

Happens in races all the time, sometimes even with a team mate pushing you. General protocol is get to the side and/or rear of a small peloton, so if you do have a moment, no one else is caught up in it. Mind, in a 200 peloton, the side is the option if you can, because it's hard graft to get back to anywhere near the front!
Practically, if you do fall off in the middle, you end up with a big heap of very unhappy people riding over you as well, and it almost always seems to be a collar bone that goes.

Andrei Kivilev paid with his life ...

He is believed to have had his hands behind his back to make an adjustment to his radio receiver when his bike collided with two others, throwing him over the handlebars.

 

[Sittingduck]

The answer is: I don't know (too scared to try).
Used to be able to do this as a kid though but that was on an MTB - don't know if that makes a diference?

 

[Paulus]

I can, but only do it these days if getting something out of my back pocket whilst on the move.

 

[Fnaar]

I've put this onhere before, but take a look at Giuliano Calore

http://www.giulianocalore.it/gallery.html

 

[Smurfy]

How easy this is to do depends on the combination of head angle and fork rake. If the bike is too twitchy it will be difficult, but it will also be hard if the bike is too stable.

If you have a notchy, knackered headset it's best not to try at all!