An odd enquiry about hands

kylith

Greetings, I've been hanging around the boards for a while, but this is my first post in this section.

For the curious I ride a lovely blue Falcon Xanthos.

I didn't learn to cycle until quite late (about 13) and I've always had a weird mental block about taking my left hand off of the handlebars, so much so that I have to change gears on both sides with my right hand. I've always thought that this was just a by-product of nervousness due to not spending my childhood years on a bike, but I recently discovered that my OH has the same thing.

Since finding out that it wasn't just me I can't believe that it could be just the two of us; does anyone else find the same thing?

el tel

I'm assuming your and your OH's bikes have down-tube shifters? If so, then what you are doing is not really an issue. Maybe you have more 'feel' in your right hand or are far more accustomed to using the right hand to change sprockets (which is understandable) and so prefer also to use it to change the rings on the front? I know when I was young and had the downtube shifters I would sometimes use the right hand to operate both shifters.

I think whats going on is merely a habit, if you had STIs or Ergo levers there would be no issue of taking your hands of the bars.

petethedrummer

Just go cycle on a patch of grass and force yourself to take your hand off for 5 seconds or even just openm your hand a bit. You won't fall off. then try again for a few more seconds and again and again until you can do it indefinitely. You won't fall off.

Lumen

What is a "Falcon Xanthos"? Google turns up nothing. I'm intrigued.

kylith

el tel wrote: »

I'm assuming your and your OH's bikes have down-tube shifters?

Mine does, yes. He doesn't cycle much, and when he does he tends to use whatever he can get his hands on.

petethedrummer wrote: »

Just go cycle on a patch of grass and force yourself to take your hand off for 5 seconds or even just openm your hand a bit. You won't fall off. then try again for a few more seconds and again and again until you can do it indefinitely. You won't fall off.

Thanks for that. It doesn't really bother me, other than knowing in my brain that I should be able to do it, I was just curious to know if anyone else had the same thing. One day I'll learn!

Lumen wrote: »

What is a "Falcon Xanthos"? Google turns up nothing. I'm intrigued.

I got it about 10 years ago, so maybe they're not being made anymore. I'll take a pic when I get home if you'd like.

Lumen

kylith wrote: »

Mine does, yes. He doesn't cycle much, and when he does he tends to use whatever he can get his hands on.

Your OH is a bike thief?

Canis Lupus

Oooh.. OCD OP.

IM0

theres a reason you guys found each other, now all you have to do is ask are the circus hiring double acts when Fossits is in town over the summer.

@Lumen whatever you do dont divide by zero today either.

victorcarrera

Any problems driving cars?