ride a bicycle without holding the handlebars

If you ride for any amount of time this will come naturally.

Haha, it’s a lot of fun. I only learned how to do it a couple of weeks ago, just practice taking one hand off at a time. Good luck to all. :)

This is totally one of those things that feels so freeing… so much more than just biking itself.

I’ve done this…what a great memory you inspired in me! I was so good at this…

I do this all the time, but I recently found out there’s a law here against it…

... while I was on my (newly) daily bike ride. The longest I went for was about 8 seconds, and my hands weren’t straight out to my sides, just about 10 inches directly above the handle bars. I’m getting there, though, and I’m excited!

I haven’t done this since I was in college (UC Davis, Davis is the bicycle capital of the US). I was even able to get to the point of taking gentle turns.

Anyhoo…trick is…start somewhere w/out a lot of traffic, so you’ve got some room and feel comfortable. Straight level path w/out rocks, a lot of bumps, etc., and when you’re comfortable w/ one-handed biking w/ a very light touch (just your fingertips for slight side-to-side control), momentarily (slowly and in a relaxed manner) lift your fingers off the bike. Try going for longer and longer periods.

At least in my case, I found it IMPORTANT to sit further back in the seat and sit straighter-up (if not ever so slightly leaning back), and it’s important to be in a gear where you are actually putting pressure (think a constant low level of tension) through your legs onto the pedals, as that will help stabilize you. Obviously you don’t want to be in such a low gear that it’s very difficult; but, if you’re in a high gear (I’m thinking higher than 2 or even 1), then you’re more likely to be unstable in your legs, and more likely to be shifting your center of balance.

When you get better and want to coast, it also helps if you kinda gently rest your knee/shin against the frame of the bike.

As far as turning goes…I’d kinda lean w/ my body ever so slightly in the direction I wanted to turn…basically, you’re just harnessing that feeling of “I’m about to fall over” from when you were first trying to go w/ no hands, and just directing it to take you where you want to go in a more controlled manner.

I’d HIGHLY recommend wearing some elbow pads & stuff (in addition to a helmet), if you’re trying to make this jump from hands to no-hands & turning quickly.

Really, not all that difficult, just relax and don’t tense up. You can always put your hands right back on the bars! (Which is why I think it’s easier to go from hands-on-bars to hands-by-sides, as it’s a quicker and smoother move to get your hands back up if they’re just by your sides, rather than out as balance aids).

Good luck!

im learnin atm n doin fairly well.

when ur going down hill on a smooth road of along a strait one just where u can bike without any strain
preferable on a clear road so if u do wobble u got space.

go on2 one handed biking n when u got ur balence hold ur arms out like a scarecrow for 1-2 seconds
when u get ur balence bck try for 3-4 seconds
when u can do 5 seconds easily try instead of putting ur arms out to dangles em at ur side

Okay so i’ve wanted to be able to do this ever since the boy across the street did it on my bike. I laugh and say its dumb because its dangerous. But secretly, and now not so secretly i’ve been jealous.

I never see girls doing it though. Does that mean its harder because of some biological thing? Like our hips/pelvis being a different shape?

Advice on getting started would be much appreciated. I havent gotten a bike yet, but i remember what its like to ride one.

I need more practice, but I successfully, if wobblyly, negotiated the next road along this morning on the way back from the gym (having been trying it each time I go along there for a while). And I’ve not ticked anything off for ages, so….

Won’t be trying this near any traffic for a while though!