[python] Re: riding attempts

At 01:10 AM 12/18/2006, you wrote:

On 18 dec 2006, at 05.01, Ray Schumacher wrote:

At 07:11 PM 12/17/2006, you wrote:
If you do use bars, bear in mind that you MUST consciously decide
whether your legs or arms will be steering;


But you can't.
But I did: I learned to quickly relax the legs and spin gently to minimize legs steer, or, more commonly when first riding, to coast and gently press the pedals. 


In order to tame the python you have to relearn your mind/body
reflexes. What has always been natural - to steer with hands and to
use the feet for pedalling - must be changed. Telling yourself that
steering will be comitted with alternatively hands AND legs will
inevitably lead to confusion i the cerebral regions.
I was confused numerous times at first, and as I said nearly always crashed. The distinction and switch can also be learned - I can drive left and right-hand, two or three pedal cars/trucks, without being a road hazard. One of the questions is whether it is better to not learn this sort of thing, and so not have to forget it later. I had a tennis court (or the San Diego streets) to learn in, and started riding the streets after 3-20 minute evenings on the court. 


Especially on
occations where there is no time left to think, only to act.
There is a side benefit or feet-only here as well; if the rider does not venture onto the roads until leg-steer is mastered, he will be safer. 


Actually, I have never seen any rider on a leg steered bicycle being
able to perform smooth coordination between hands and feet while
steering.


I agree


It seems that as long as you keep the handle bars on the
bike, they will act as a last resort when something unexpected
happens. Letting the hands take command nearly always leads to a
moment of reduced balance.
I novice legs have lost balance, it is fait accompli, as the rider must either recover, crash or grab the bars. 


In other words, if you want to make the learning process harder and
longer, use handle bars. If you want to adopt the mid-steered gefühl
as soon as possible - bite the head of the cat and do some serious
efforts.
The ultimate process will be longer with front bars, but for the more easily discouraged, or those with more uncoordinated legs, it might be "better" in the net.
I do actually agree with you Olaf; all should try riding with out front bars and only add wide, low bars to the front part if thoroughly discouraged.
I also wonder if a particular geometry is better for learning, somewhat like an upright when learning no-hands. After I raised my seat and changed the head angle, I was able to ride right off, and turn around in the 16' wide alley. 

Peace and best Holiday wishes to all,
Ray

New ride: http://rjs.org/recumbents/images/LWB%20rollout%20side%20.jpg
As an aside, I found that the lower and wider the front bars, the better. Having tall vertical ends at the hips is harder, and bars above the hips are totally unridable. 

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