Say something to hands-off cyclist?
#126
Senior Member
#127
Banned
It's too bad that so many folks are so uninformed.
Likes For L8APEXN:
#128
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,821
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Liked 3,661 Times
in
2,205 Posts
#130
#131
Likes For sumgy:
#132
Zip tie Karen
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Posts: 7,004
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
Liked 1,543 Times
in
807 Posts
That's not how we think in the USA. We have courts to settle damage to property or persons. Again, the natural consequence of bad choices is to pay when you are liable.
#133
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,612
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Liked 9,103 Times
in
5,054 Posts
Is it typical for no-hands riding to become more difficult as you get to be an old fart? That's been my experience, and it seems like it might be consistent with changes in the middle ear that occur with age. I used to go for miles with no hands, now I always want at least one hand on the bars.
Any other older people want to weigh in on this?
Any other older people want to weigh in on this?
#135
Is it typical for no-hands riding to become more difficult as you get to be an old fart? That's been my experience, and it seems like it might be consistent with changes in the middle ear that occur with age. I used to go for miles with no hands, now I always want at least one hand on the bars.
Any other older people want to weigh in on this?
Any other older people want to weigh in on this?
#136
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,612
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Liked 9,103 Times
in
5,054 Posts
Oldish fart, then. I'm 58.
I know consciously that I'm not really balancing the bike by holding onto the bars, and I can put such light pressure on the bars that I know that I'm not really "controlling" them with my hands, but my brain stops me when I try to let go completely. I suspect this mental block is some part of my brain signalling that my sense of balance is no longer good enough to react quickly in case of mishap, so I really haven't tried to fight this.
I know it might sound somewhat crazy to talk about the brain like this, but so much of bike control is unconscious that I tend to "go with my instincts" as to what is or isn't safe for me.
I know consciously that I'm not really balancing the bike by holding onto the bars, and I can put such light pressure on the bars that I know that I'm not really "controlling" them with my hands, but my brain stops me when I try to let go completely. I suspect this mental block is some part of my brain signalling that my sense of balance is no longer good enough to react quickly in case of mishap, so I really haven't tried to fight this.
I know it might sound somewhat crazy to talk about the brain like this, but so much of bike control is unconscious that I tend to "go with my instincts" as to what is or isn't safe for me.
#137
Newbie
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#138
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,863
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Liked 3,111 Times
in
1,418 Posts
Is it typical for no-hands riding to become more difficult as you get to be an old fart? That's been my experience, and it seems like it might be consistent with changes in the middle ear that occur with age. I used to go for miles with no hands, now I always want at least one hand on the bars.
Any other older people want to weigh in on this?
Any other older people want to weigh in on this?
#139
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: The Netherlands.
Posts: 13
Bikes: 1982 Florida Trek 710 Campy SR, 2016 Veendam Trek Ibiza, 1983 Zullo frame
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Dear Mr. Phil_gretz,
I am new to this bike forum business so I will probable do this wrong and upset some people. That will be unfortunate.
Your comment to me: “That's not how we think in the USA” is rather offensive. I am a retired United States Army Officer so I do not need anyone telling me how Americans think!
Your second sentence is more offensive: “We have courts to settle damage to property or persons”. In 1975 we I was dealing with North Vietnam Army soldiers that had infiltrated the evacuation of refugees from South Vietnam, I receive a Red Cross message that one of my cousins had been killed (murdered) by someone’s “bad choice”. Please tell me how the courts were able to make things right by my dead cousin. Please tell me what “pay when you are liable” means to my aunt when she buried her son, my dead cousin.
In 1979 I received another Red Cross message concerning another cousin. This cousin was also a victim of someone’s “bad choice”. He is still alive and still a quadriplegic. But that is okay: right? The courts were there and able to make things right for him by making the other guy “pay when you are liable”. Except, how is that going to bring back the life he lost.
Please Mr. Phil_gretz do not even suggest to tell me about how people think in the US or how the courts are there to make things “right” when stupid people through their “bad choices” kill or maim, for the rest of their lives, innocents.
You go on and think the way you do because the attitude you presented to me in your response is what I think is wrong with the American people right now.
I offer my most humble apology to everyone that I have offended with this post. I accept the fact that this will be deemed to be offensive and deleted and I will be banned from further interactions with this forum and for that I am truly sorry. I am an old retired guy and I have many, many American and Metric Centuries under my belt both in the US and in Europe that I had hoped to share with the community.
I am new to this bike forum business so I will probable do this wrong and upset some people. That will be unfortunate.
Your comment to me: “That's not how we think in the USA” is rather offensive. I am a retired United States Army Officer so I do not need anyone telling me how Americans think!
Your second sentence is more offensive: “We have courts to settle damage to property or persons”. In 1975 we I was dealing with North Vietnam Army soldiers that had infiltrated the evacuation of refugees from South Vietnam, I receive a Red Cross message that one of my cousins had been killed (murdered) by someone’s “bad choice”. Please tell me how the courts were able to make things right by my dead cousin. Please tell me what “pay when you are liable” means to my aunt when she buried her son, my dead cousin.
In 1979 I received another Red Cross message concerning another cousin. This cousin was also a victim of someone’s “bad choice”. He is still alive and still a quadriplegic. But that is okay: right? The courts were there and able to make things right for him by making the other guy “pay when you are liable”. Except, how is that going to bring back the life he lost.
Please Mr. Phil_gretz do not even suggest to tell me about how people think in the US or how the courts are there to make things “right” when stupid people through their “bad choices” kill or maim, for the rest of their lives, innocents.
You go on and think the way you do because the attitude you presented to me in your response is what I think is wrong with the American people right now.
I offer my most humble apology to everyone that I have offended with this post. I accept the fact that this will be deemed to be offensive and deleted and I will be banned from further interactions with this forum and for that I am truly sorry. I am an old retired guy and I have many, many American and Metric Centuries under my belt both in the US and in Europe that I had hoped to share with the community.
#140
^^witw?^^
Likes For indyfabz:
#142
Advanced Slacker
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 6,252
Bikes: Soma Fog Cutter, Surly Wednesday, Canfielld Tilt
Liked 2,571 Times
in
1,451 Posts
Likes For Kapusta:
#143
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: The Netherlands.
Posts: 13
Bikes: 1982 Florida Trek 710 Campy SR, 2016 Veendam Trek Ibiza, 1983 Zullo frame
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Yes it is and that I why I apologized for my post. The post I was responding to was extremely offensive and I could not just ignore it. So, as I stated in my apology, I will not be exiled but I will resign from this forum.
#144
If that offended you deeply it's probably for the best. Not exactly earth shattering post by BF standards.
#145
Advanced Slacker
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 6,252
Bikes: Soma Fog Cutter, Surly Wednesday, Canfielld Tilt
Liked 2,571 Times
in
1,451 Posts
I think you read way more in Mr Gretz's post than was actually there.
Likes For Kapusta:
#146
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 30,120
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Liked 1,651 Times
in
1,112 Posts
#148
Junior Member
I'm 65, and I tried taking both hands off on my way to work. I think 1.5 seconds went by before I wobbled. I can't do it. I don't care to try it again.
#149
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 3,947
Bikes: Trek 1100 road bike, Roadmaster gravel/commuter/beater mountain bike
Liked 1,711 Times
in
937 Posts
Again, with riding a bike without hands, it depends a lot on the bike. My gravel bike must have good frame geometry, since I can ride without touching the handle bars for a few blocks. I'm still a bit chicken in riding too far with no hands, though. My hybrid, however, must be very twitchy because I can't ride more than a few feet without making corrections to the bars. It's just not a good bike to ride no-handed.
#150
I can ride all of my bikes (MTB or road) no hands unless the headset needs adjusting.