'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/

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

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.

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.

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

"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

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

"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

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

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/