Look Ma, no hands!

[Apollonius]

I have a feeling (and it is no more than that) that being able to ride a bike hands-off is a sign that you have the bike well set-up for the rider. Tiny adjustments make a big difference to comfort on the bike, and I suspect that when it is right, then the weight distribution is perfect, and the bike is balanced for the rider.

 

[Tojo]

Confidence and of course balance, and don't think about it just Fecking do it, as I get older I think, I think too much, when I do not, If I just do it and it happens......Think or Don't....the chose is your own.......

 

[Truth]

Confidence and of course balance, and don't think about it just Fecking do it, as I get older I think, I think too much, when I do not, If I just do it and it happens......Think or Don't....the chose is your own.......

Spot on!
I am getting used to "learning" to do it again on the car park at work and over the last few weeks I am becoming a lot more confident . Even pedalled a bit the other day no handed

 

[Mo1959]

There's one of the local garage workers here who I see cycling to work in the mornings on a hybrid type bike. He often gets his fags out and lights up while cycling, and puts his hands in his pockets on a cold morning. Totally amazes me. Takes me all my time to take one hand off for getting a drink or signalling.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Somewhere near Milton Keynes - I've forgotten exactly where, to the North West a bit - there's a chap nonchalantly riding no-handed as he's overtaken by the Google Street View car. I noticed him while route planning a year or so ago.

 

[lutonloony]

I could never do it, still can't, that's the only reason I never became a pro cyclist

 

[slowmotion]

It's fun isn't it! I find it harder than I used to and try to practice every now and then. I think youth has an advantage. More reckless maybe? All the ones that I see are riding no handed and on their mobile, so not even looking where they're going!

Round here, they are on their mobiles and rolling spliffs one-handed...going against the traffic too. Awesome really.

BTW, I think it's a whole lot easier if you have a low saddle rather than being perched on top of a road bike. Well, that's my excuse anyway.

Edit: Actually, the spliffs probably help them an awful lot too.

 

[barachus]

Spent the whole week practicing on my hybrid during my 3mile commute to the station
Nailed it after day 3, it's more a mental thing, I think as long as you can ride a bike, the balance is already there, you just need to overcome the fear

Then today I tried it on the road bike and it was much easier, very much so
I think the higher saddle seating position let's you lock one leg in full stretch and that is the key to balancing when coasting
Also I found going round bends and turning a lot easier on the road bike because it took smaller body adjustments to steer

So if you really want to nail this, what worked for me was, a high saddle
And just overcome the fear

 

[nickyboy]

I was out yesterday and I thought about this thread....so I gave it a go.

Now bear in mind I haven't done the full no-handed, cool as you like for about 35 years.

Doing about 18mph on a country lane, sat up nice and tall, hands off the bars.......bingo! No problem at all, even managed the cool "hands down by my sides having a look around" style. I think having the confidence to do it at a reasonable speed is the key

Conversely, I tried a while ago the thing the pros do...get into a reasonable aero position and just place the forearms on the bars. Disaster, that's much more tricky than it looks. I nearly rode into a ditch

 

[Jody]

Nailed it after day 3, it's more a mental thing, I think as long as you can ride a bike, the balance is already there, you just need to overcome the fear

Well done for giving it a go and succeeding. This ^ pretty much sums it up for me.