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Riding with no hands (and deep dish rims)

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tylerbenner

Feb 8, 2010
2
0
0
I have a set of 58mm American Classic wheels that scare the hell out of me almost every time I try to ride with no hands. My Easton EC90 SLX do not scare me similarly (most of the time).

I live in San Diego where the potholes are plentiful and the cars non-stop, so an accidental crash could be disastrous. As a result, I think my riding with no hands is sub-par and I would love to get better at it.

I am curious how much of it is the wheels (the 58mm have me scared enough to almost never ride with no hands -- with the EC90s, I am generally OK to ride a while with no hands if there are not too many potholes or seams), how much of it is the bike (a Douglas Matrix from Colorado Cyclist -- I am not sure how its handling compares to other bikes), or how much of it is plain old me.

Do any of you have tips on how to get better at riding with no hands? Should I go practice in some empty parking lots? How about any rules of thumb, like, should be going at least XX km/h, or at XX cadence, uphill, downhill, etc? Should I expect to crash a few times while practicing?

Are there any books/pamphlets on the fine details of such things?

Any help would be appreciated!
 
online-rider

online-rider

Oct 18, 2009
456
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0
I'm pretty good at riding with no hands. Try lowering your seat and just and relaxing all your upper body. The Deep dish wheels probably do catch the wind, I'd dispense with those personally. Good luck.
 
J

jmax22

Oct 29, 2009
77
0
0
tylerbenner said:
I have a set of 58mm American Classic wheels that scare the hell out of me almost every time I try to ride with no hands. My Easton EC90 SLX do not scare me similarly (most of the time).

I live in San Diego where the potholes are plentiful and the cars non-stop, so an accidental crash could be disastrous. As a result, I think my riding with no hands is sub-par and I would love to get better at it.

I am curious how much of it is the wheels (the 58mm have me scared enough to almost never ride with no hands -- with the EC90s, I am generally OK to ride a while with no hands if there are not too many potholes or seams), how much of it is the bike (a Douglas Matrix from Colorado Cyclist -- I am not sure how its handling compares to other bikes), or how much of it is plain old me.

Do any of you have tips on how to get better at riding with no hands? Should I go practice in some empty parking lots? How about any rules of thumb, like, should be going at least XX km/h, or at XX cadence, uphill, downhill, etc? Should I expect to crash a few times while practicing?

Are there any books/pamphlets on the fine details of such things?

Any help would be appreciated!
Click to expand...

OK, um dumb question, but someone has to ask it. Why the hell would you ride with no hands?
 
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fatandfast

Jul 14, 2009
2,498
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I have this perfected while going up the inside of Torrey Pines feel free to take your hands off, When you go down put your hands back on the bars as you come out of the trees and start to see the beach and the coastal winds that go with it.when riding thru Fiesta Island or on the Strand keep your hands on the bars on windy days when you ride to Cabrillo Monument keep hands on calm days handz off.Leucadia hands on all the time,same for Ocean Side and Ocean Beach when you get near dog beach. Lots of other areas may require a special GPS with a wind indicator .Sorrento Valley is hands on and off
 
BroDeal

BroDeal

Mar 18, 2009
14,644
72
22,580
First off, pizzas come in deep dish. Wheels come in deep section.

Second, find a smooth and straight road with little traffic to practice on. Heavier rims work better than light ones.

Third, some bikes are twitchy and not as stable as others.

Fourth, riding no hands on a twitchy bike with a deep section front wheel on bad roads and any wind is a recipe for disaster.
 
BroDeal

BroDeal

Mar 18, 2009
14,644
72
22,580
fatandfast said:
I have this perfected while going up the inside of Torrey Pines feel free to take your hands off, When you go down put your hands back on the bars as you come out of the trees and start to see the beach and the coastal winds that go with it.when riding thru Fiesta Island or on the Strand keep your hands on the bars on windy days when you ride to Cabrillo Monument keep hands on calm days handz off.Leucadia hands on all the time,same for Ocean Side and Ocean Beach when you get near dog beach. Lots of other areas may require a special GPS with a wind indicator .Sorrento Valley is hands on and off
Click to expand...

Riding no hands when you are as incoherent as this is also a recipe for disaster.
 
Izzy eviel

Izzy eviel

Jul 25, 2010
372
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0
I was surprised after 10 years off a bike how easy it was to ride with no-hands. I can't do for too far, but long enough to open a bottle and take a swig.
 
usedtobefast

usedtobefast

Jul 2, 2009
3,406
1
13,485
BroDeal said:
First off, pizzas come in deep dish. Wheels come in deep section.

Second, find a smooth and straight road with little traffic to practice on. Heavier rims work better than light ones.

Third, some bikes are twitchy and not as stable as others.

Fourth, riding no hands on a twitchy bike with a deep section front wheel on bad roads and any wind is a recipe for disaster.
Click to expand...

a recipe for deep dish pizza, as well.
uno-deep-dish-pizza.jpg
 
stainlessguy1

stainlessguy1

Dec 30, 2010
391
0
0
tylerbenner said:
I have a set of 58mm American Classic wheels that scare the hell out of me almost every time I try to ride with no hands. My Easton EC90 SLX do not scare me similarly (most of the time).

I live in San Diego where the potholes are plentiful and the cars non-stop, so an accidental crash could be disastrous. As a result, I think my riding with no hands is sub-par and I would love to get better at it.

I am curious how much of it is the wheels (the 58mm have me scared enough to almost never ride with no hands -- with the EC90s, I am generally OK to ride a while with no hands if there are not too many potholes or seams), how much of it is the bike (a Douglas Matrix from Colorado Cyclist -- I am not sure how its handling compares to other bikes), or how much of it is plain old me.

Do any of you have tips on how to get better at riding with no hands? Should I go practice in some empty parking lots? How about any rules of thumb, like, should be going at least XX km/h, or at XX cadence, uphill, downhill, etc? Should I expect to crash a few times while practicing?

Are there any books/pamphlets on the fine details of such things?

Any help would be appreciated!
Click to expand...

Make sure the headset is not overly tight . Steering should be smooth and free . Also no cables binding or in the way . Correct position on the bike is paramount .Then try riding the rollers for a spell with no hands . If that works well for you , you can try doing the road . :cool:
 
C

Christophe

Jun 3, 2010
82
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0
Gyroscopic force will work in your favor -- just be sure you're going at least 40MPH when you do your victory salute! :D
 
O

on3m@n@rmy

Jun 17, 2010
5,139
237
17,880
online-rider said:
I'm pretty good at riding with no hands. Try lowering your seat and just and relaxing all your upper body. The Deep dish wheels probably do catch the wind, I'd dispense with those personally. Good luck.
Click to expand...

+1... yes, DO watch the wind.

Another thing is the headset. If worn, or notchy, and does not rotate side to side smoothly the wheel will also not rotate so well as you pedel no hands. As the frame sways side to side with pedel strokes, so too the wheel will rotate to keep the bike upright. With a well maintained headset the bike will WANT to stay up for you, especially if you keep your speed up a little bit (like 15+mph).
 
B

Barracuda

Jul 16, 2009
306
0
0
Alot like this post ... my answer is full of s@#t.

Must be going at least 65kmph
Must have the cadence up around 140rpm
Must have disc wheels and a skin suit on.
Oh also one of those Hannibal Lector masks. :eek:

Dude .. why the need to ride no hands ??

Thats what the bars are for !!!
 
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the student

Jul 20, 2010
160
0
0
just practice on some empty roads and try to use your hips and weight to steer... but keep you upper body relaxed... sit back a bit and you can go on for miles:p ( well in theory that is ) cadance is generally a bit lower than normal:p...
after a while you can start practicing with eating bananas on your bike:)
 
C

Christophe

Jun 3, 2010
82
0
0
Just wait a couple of years -- Shimano is sure to come out with a groupset featuring the new 'Electro-Nav' headset & stem. No need to EVER touch the bars!
 
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tylerbenner

Feb 8, 2010
2
0
0
The responses here make it seem like everyone is comfortable changing jackets at 40km/hr in a pack of 80 people? No problems pulling on tight arm warmers? Wobbles into other people will make them (and me) very unhappy to hit the pavement. I was hoping someone had some tricks!
 
F

fatandfast

Jul 14, 2009
2,498
0
0
your wheels are pretty common in S.Cal and there are probably plenty of pairs rolling around San Diego. At first I thought this was funny and then I realized people were actually telling you ways to hurt/kill yourself. There is no safe or sound method for riding high profile rims in strong cross winds. If ride in Pt.Loma and along Harbor Drive you will see 100's of millions of dollars in sail boats. Dennis Conner was based down by Pt.Loma Seafood while he contested the cup. The strong coastal winds are ideal for sailing boats and for sailing on the pavement ,into another rider or car or truck. To train on wheels like that is an indiv choice one not made by many good racers in very windy areas. I thought this was one of those "my legs hurt when I climb in a 52x15 for more than 2 miles" kind of threads..but you upped the bar. If you are a member of a club I think if you ask your fellow club members at meeting you will get an answer..or you could just show up at SDBC,Swami's or Cyclovet meeting without being a member and ask your question you will be invited to every club event from that day forward
 
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