Jenn

In all seriousness, I’m thrilled that you wrote this. You should know, at this site, if you leave instructions with a challenge, it will be done. Plan on video footage to follow.

Thrilled,
Jen

Was the banana seat pink, or the bike? Mine was yellow, banana seat and bike. And my sisters and I put Smurf scratch ‘n’ sniff stickers on all our seats. Anyway, I remember that one of my stickers actually smelled like bananas!
When I bought the bike in this post, I was 21. I bought Madeline stickers and stuck them all over the seat. Often, I’d be in the middle of a raucous night at a pub or on a date, and someone would point out that I had one of them stuck to my bottom. Good times.

I’m jealous that you had a basket. A girl rode by me this morning with one and it had an italian loaf in it. I thought, that’s it, I need a basket!

My latest challenge. Get basket on bike!

Thanks for the trip down memory lane,

Jen

Thanks for sharing your bike with us, our clubhouse just keeps getting better and better!

Jenn

If the laws of physics are the same here, the key is make sure you are going the correct speed. If you go too slow, there’s not enough momentum to keep you going forward in a straight line. If you are going too fast, then you’ll have disastrous results if you hit a groove in the road or a wayward stone. You want to pedal an average cruising speed.

You’ll have to take it in baby steps. First, you want to make sure your riding a bike that has dependable steering. If your front wheel wobbles like a Bargain Harold’s shopping cart then you will fail right from the start. Also this is not a trick to do when cars are around you…even when you become an expert.

To begin, find a flat stretch of pavement that you are familiar with that’s free from debris. Pedal until you are at a comfortable speed. Keep your back straight, stop pedalling and loosen your grip on the handlebars without letting go completely. Feel how the bike continues to go in a straight line, even though you are no longer controlling it. If it’s not going straight at this point, then experiment to find the best speed for you. Do this a few times, to gain confidence.

Level two is to do it with your hands, palms down, hovering an inch above your handlebars. The key is make sure you keep your back straight, your head upright and your eyes on the road. Repeat this a few more times, until your ready.

Level three is the same as level two, except you are going to add a new variable: pedalling. Be ready to catch the bars, because the bike might veer at this point. Try to maintain a steady speed; peddling and coasting.

Level four is just a matter of being confident enough to not have your hands so close to the bars. You can either dangle them at your sides or have them on your lap. Now you LOOK cool.

Level five is the hardest to teach without actually being there to help you. When you steer, hands free, you need to basically twist your body in such a way to “will” the bike to go in a certain direction (the direction you face is the direction you should go), without overdoing it and skidding out of control. Anticipation and subtle movements work best. If you can do this, you ARE cool.

Bon Chance,

Aaron

I’m on it.

Jen

I share your secret shame. I too am a non-handsfree rider. I don’t know if its just the way I ride, but within a few pedals, I’m off in a random direction.

Can we get funding for a support group, or better yet some kind of autopilot development grant?

JB

Skirt riding rocks. Agreed. Boys don’t know what they’re missing! That whole Arcade Fire album is awesome. I think you’d love it. And I loved your purpose post. As always, inspired.

J