[dpeters11]

I'm getting back into riding, but have never been comfortable riding one handed. I'm not going to be doing it for long periods, checking my email or talking on the phone. But right now, I'm not even comfortable taking a hand off long enough to adjust my glasses if they slipped, scratch an itch or properly signal if I do road riding.

Any tips on keeping control with only one hand on the bar?

[Industry_Hack]

Coast. You may find it more comfortable to take one hand off if the bike is moving side to side as you pedal.

[TxCyclist]

Wait till you are comfortable. If you rush yourself you are going to wreck.

[Xela]

Also, be sure you're not tensing up. Since it is something that you are nervous about, your natural reaction would be to tense up, especially your arms. If your arms are tense, they're not absorbing road/trail shock and vibrations and are probably actually causing you to inadvertently steer the bike. Practice relaxing your arms and your grip on the bars. One pointer for making sure you're not tense in the hands/arms and shoulders that I saw on a cycling training DVD is to wiggle your fingers like you're playing the piano. In addition to helping your stability on the bike, you are not wasting energy contracting muscles that you don't even need to be using.

[bikebum1975]

I ride that way a lot once you do get used to it it's very natural. To be honest though I doubt I could handle trying to play around with a phone to check and read emails while riding. As said biggest thing riding with one hand is relaxing perfect chance to stretch when it's safe. I only ride with one hand when not to much traffic on quieter roads.

[dpeters11]

Originally Posted by bikebum1975

I ride that way a lot once you do get used to it it's very natural. To be honest though I doubt I could handle trying to play around with a phone to check and read emails while riding. As said biggest thing riding with one hand is relaxing perfect chance to stretch when it's safe. I only ride with one hand when not to much traffic on quieter roads.

Yeah, the main reason I want to be able to do it is for little things. I'm not even comfortable yet scratching my nose riding on a trail. I was on the Little Miami Scenic Trail where we did about 20 miles, and saw people holding coffee cups, talking on their cells. That is definitely not what I'm aiming for.

[bikebum1975]

Originally Posted by dpeters11

Yeah, the main reason I want to be able to do it is for little things. I'm not even comfortable yet scratching my nose riding on a trail. I was on the Little Miami Scenic Trail where we did about 20 miles, and saw people holding coffee cups, talking on their cells. That is definitely not what I'm aiming for.

Now that I do from time to time I am actually planning to get a coffee cup holder for my bike LOL, Yeah I'm a coffee addict LOL. But like ya said talking on cell phones I'll pass while riding.

[momule]

I think the best advice from us is to relax and not push it. And please, stay off the cell phone when you are moving; I would like to have my oncoming bike traffic on a trail to be paying attention to what they're doing. Cell phones on a bike are for emergency purposes.....like, "help, I've fallen and I can't get up" kinda stuff. Noone will be impressed with your trick riding if it makes you fall down in traffic or on the trail.

[photosbymark]

One of the reasons I ride is to get away from distractions like cell phones. The cell phone or an email is the last thing Id want to do on a bike. Now I might crash reaching for something to eat or drink, but not reading an email.

[dpeters11]

I'd love to be able to ride to get away from email, but unfortunately I have to be able to be contacted by work at all times. However, I'd find a safe place to stop to answer the phone or email. Like I said in my original mail, I wasn't comfortable scratching my nose without stopping. That was my main goal. I'm getting better, but haven't been riding much this winter. Being in the trainer just isn't the same for balance