#1
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'Backwards' bikes
Hi
Just a random thought, really. I've never tried riding one, but those backwards bikes you get as attractions at fairs/in places like Covent Garden - why are they so (apparently) difficult to ride? Is it simply that it's ingrained in everyone that to go right you turn the handlbars/steering wheel right and the same with the left - and when presented with everything swapped, your muscle memory and intuition is thrown out of the window? I suppose it's like trying to learn to ride a bike all over again...? Can anyone here actually ride a backwards bike to any degree, or has anyone had a go? What's it like? Regards Peter -- http://www.scandrett.net/lx/ http://www.scandrett.net/bike/ |
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#2
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'Backwards' bikes
Peter Scandrett wrote:
Hi Just a random thought, really. I've never tried riding one, but those backwards bikes you get as attractions at fairs/in places like Covent Garden - why are they so (apparently) difficult to ride? Is it simply that it's ingrained in everyone that to go right you turn the handlbars/steering wheel right and the same with the left - and when presented with everything swapped, your muscle memory and intuition is thrown out of the window? I suppose it's like trying to learn to ride a bike all over again...? I would imagine it's like writing with your "other" hand. -- Geoff |
#3
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'Backwards' bikes
On Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:30:14 +0000, Peter Scandrett
wrote: Hi Just a random thought, really. I've never tried riding one, but those backwards bikes you get as attractions at fairs/in places like Covent Garden - why are they so (apparently) difficult to ride? Is it simply that it's ingrained in everyone that to go right you turn the handlbars/steering wheel right and the same with the left - and when presented with everything swapped, your muscle memory and intuition is thrown out of the window? I suppose it's like trying to learn to ride a bike all over again...? Can anyone here actually ride a backwards bike to any degree, or has anyone had a go? What's it like? I've ridden a bike where you have to pedal backwards to go forward. It wasn't particularly difficult to ride. |
#4
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'Backwards' bikes
When I was a nipper in the early 60's, we used to ride our bikes
backwards by virtually sitting on the handlebars and pedalling backwards. I should imagine the backwrads bike you are thinking of is the one where the steering movements are mirrored/reversed. Natural reactions just go out of the window. |
#5
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'Backwards' bikes
On Mar 2, 1:30 pm, Peter Scandrett wrote:
Can anyone here actually ride a backwards bike to any degree, or has anyone had a go? What's it like? Some people can. I saw one at a fair and the person running the stand was riding it around to show how easy it was then inviting others to have a go! I think this would be a great way to get one up on any opportunistic bike thief - in a similar way to having a fixed wheel bike. peter |
#6
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'Backwards' bikes
"Peter Scandrett" wrote in message
... Can anyone here actually ride a backwards bike to any degree, or has anyone had a go? What's it like? Had a shot in Edinburgh once during the festival. Psyched myself up, left hand means go right, left hand goes right etc, etc. Came off at the first attempt. What really threw me was turning the handlebar the correct direction but then 'leaning in' from the wrong side. This really upset the balance of the bike and from then on in, basic instinct kicks in and you panic! -- !Speedy Gonzales! Remove the SPAMTRAP to reply |
#7
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'Backwards' bikes
On 02/03/2008 15:44, GeoffC wrote:
I would imagine it's like writing with your "other" hand. I've heard that riding with your hands crossed can help. -- Danny Colyer http://www.redpedals.co.uk Reply address is valid, but that on my website is checked more often "The plural of anecdote is not data" - Frank Kotsonis |
#8
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'Backwards' bikes
"Peter Scandrett" wrote in message ... Hi Just a random thought, really. I've never tried riding one, but those backwards bikes you get as attractions at fairs/in places like Covent Garden - why are they so (apparently) difficult to ride? http://ekib.xntrick.co.uk/ pOB |
#9
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'Backwards' bikes
Danny Colyer wrote:
On 02/03/2008 15:44, GeoffC wrote: I would imagine it's like writing with your "other" hand. I've heard that riding with your hands crossed can help. I've tried one at a festival (ride it 10 feet without putting your foot down, win a tenner). Thought I was being clever by crossing my arms - it didn't help at all! Colin |
#10
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'Backwards' bikes
Danny Colyer wrote:
On 02/03/2008 15:44, GeoffC wrote: I would imagine it's like writing with your "other" hand. I've heard that riding with your hands crossed can help. I've heard it can, and also that it doesn't... For someone happy with no-hands riding (I'd guess Danny is a good candidate...) that might be the way to go, as it takes the handlebars out of the equation. Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/ |
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