How to ride no-handed

Riding ‘no-hands’ isn’t just for show-offs — it’s a genuinely useful racing skill

Photo: Graham Watson

Whether it’s to unwrap an energy bar or put on your jacket when it starts raining, being able to take your hands off the bars and sit up on the bike is a valuable skill. Done confidently, your balance and control should be as good as they are with hands on the bars.

Scott Bugden works as a coach educator for British Cycling and the UCI as well as running his own coaching practice, Fit in No Time. “You don’t need to ride no-hands unless you are racing at a high level, where it is essential for taking on food or changing a rain cape. However, there are fringe benefits for everyone,” he says.

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