How to Ride a Bike with No Hands?
Let me tell you right at the start, this article is going to be as adventurous as riding your favorite bike on your favorite hilly tracks. In this article, we will be answering one of the most asked questions by bike enthusiasts which are how to ride a bike with no hands.
If you think riding a bike with no hands is done just for fun, are you really a bike riding enthusiast? This is more of a skill than a fun task and it comes in very handy at some of the most crucial stages. For example, you can notice that professional bikers use this skill to eat, zip their vests, and do other necessary things while driving without stopping their bike. And yeah, it’s always a fun too!
But, how do you ride a bike with no hands? Well, go through the complete article and you will soon be riding your favorite bike with both your hands open wide.
Learn to Ride a Bike with No Hands
Look, we are not going to give you any magic trick. We will just guide you with the right practices and drills you need to follow to achieve your goal. It’s a process and it will take time as always. So have patience and keep practicing the drills and steps outlined in the article.
One Important Note: Never try the exercises and the drills outlined in the article alone or on busy roads. Safety first!
Now, let’s move to the exercises and drills you will need to follow to learn how to ride a bike with no hands.
Step 1: Make sure to check your bike
Sometimes, it’s not the fault of your skills or drills, it’s the poor bike parts or its maintenance that spoils the game. Before you head forward to learn how to ride a bike with no hands, make sure your bike has good quality parts and is in a good condition.
Step 2: Start with one hand
You can never ride a bike with no hand without learning to drive it with one hand. It is also a skill many want to learn. Before learning to ride your bike with both hands-free, learn to control it with one hand first.
Drill I
You can do this by holding the handle with one hand while using the other hand for your purposes. Then push the paddles in a straight line for 40-50 meters and then switch the holding hand. Practice this drill for a minimum of 20 minutes whenever you go out to ride. One important tip; always keep your head straight while switching your hands while riding the bike, it will make the process easier.
Drill II
Once you are comfortable riding the bike forward with one hand, try looking back. Yes, when you learn to glance back properly while riding your bike forward, it adds up to your skills and confidence. Start with the position mentioned in the above paragraph and hold the handle with your right hand. Now, let your left hand hang by your side and shift your weight a little towards your right hand. Make sure your core is engaged and your belly button is pointing straight. Now, rotate at your waist and twist your shoulders towards the left side to look behind. While doing all this, do not stop pedaling the bike and keep the lower portion of the body straight. Practice this drill with both your hands for 10 to 15 minutes to get it properly.
Drill III
When you have practiced both the exercises properly, try drinking water from your bottle, checking traffic behind, getting your accessories in your pockets, and other things.
Step 3: Let the hands free-up
So you have learned how to ride a bike with one hand and you can do a few things like drinking water and signaling a turn while riding the bike. Now, it’s time to free up both the hands from the handle and ride your bike with no hands.
Drill I
To do this, the first thing you need to learn is to ride your bike in a straight line, with no hands on the handle. Keep pedaling the bike to maintain balance and make the process easier. Sit as upright as possible to keep your whole weight over your center of gravity. This will also help you maintain balance while riding the bike. Engage your core while rolling your pelvis back onto the sits bones. You can also hover your hands over the handlebar to regain the bike control if needed along with the feeling of riding the bike with no hands.
Try sitting more upright and back as you become with the aforementioned drill. Now, try keeping your hands off the handles for as long as you can. Don’t be too competitive, regain control when needed to keep yourself safe. With some good practice, you will be able to ride your bike with no hands, sitting upright and having your hands by the sides.
Drill II
Once done with maintaining balance, try using your free hands to do activities like putting out something from your pocket, drinking an energy drink, and zipping your pants pockets.
Drill III
I have some very good news for you guys. You can even tilt the steering of your bike without using your hands or touching it with anything. Yes, you can. You can slightly steer your bike by moving your hips. In fact, proper bike steering is done with your hips, weight shifting, and your body movement.
As you ride your bike with no hands, practice steering the bike with your hips in one direction and then in the other. To make the process easier, keep looking straight and sit upright.
PRO TIP: While riding your bike with no hands or even with one hand, focus on staying calm and composed. This will make the process much easier.
Final Thoughts: Should You Ride a Bike With No Hands?
Well, we don’t consider riding a bike with no hands wrong as long as you are following the safety guidelines and the steps mentioned in the article. Riding a bike with free hands is a skill that many want to have. And it’s not a big deal to learn it but you will need to have the enthusiasm and will to learn this.
In the article, we have provided you with a structured guide on how to ride a bike with no hands. This guide will help you hone your bike riding skills by learning to ride a bike free-handedly.