Do a One Hander on a Mountain Bike
One handers are used in the transitional phase; when one isn't quite good enough to do more technical maneuvers such as no-handers and 360's, tailwhips, etc. but when one is good enough to do things such as small whips, tables, drops, and kickers.
Contents
Steps
- Find a good open space (a road does nicely)
- Pull your front wheel up into the air when at moderate speed- a manual is not necessary.
- Practice taking your 4 fingers (not your thumb) off of the handlebar on one hand
- Once you're able to comfortably do this, try removing your thumb from the handlebar as you remove your other fingers
- Your hand will leave the handlebar. Before your front wheel touches down, move your hand downwards, so as to place it back on the handlebar.
- Now practice steps 1 through 6 off of a curb at a slightly faster speed, keeping in mind that you must get your front wheel into the air before you drop off the curb.
- Once you are able to do this comfortably, try going off of a small ramp (from 6" to 2' high) at a medium fast speed, and taking off as you normally would. While in midair, use the method of progressing from only taking your fingers off to the complete removal of your hand from the handlebar.
- Once you have begun to get comfortable with this trick, you can do other things, such as learning a one hander with your bad hand (the hand that you didn't remove when you originally tried the one hander), and then trying to combine the two into a no hander. Or you could try, when going off of a larger ramp, to get your hand all the way behind your back; a suicide one hander. The one hander is a base trick, one which can lead to the further progression of your skills.
Tips
- Cars tend to drive on roads (it's much easier than driving on a sidewalk), so if you choose to practice on one, be wary of vehicles.
- Remember, Always wear protection! Anything you have, stick it on, you may look like a dork but when you fall off and don't hurt yourself you really won't care!
- Upon landing your one hander, try to avoid clamping down on the brakes; instead, avoid the brakes and only set your hand down on the handlebar.
- When you attempt the one hander in any situation (be it wheelie, dropping off a curb, using a small ramp, or anything else that comes to mind), make sure that you don't remove your hand too early; as this will mess up your takeoff, airtime, and landing and dramatically increase the risks of crashing.
Warnings
- Aggressive Mountain biking (Free-ride, Street, Dirt, Downhill, Trials) is a dangerous sport that requires proper protection. Use a bucket or full-face helmet that is approved by bicycle safety councils, gloves (preferably full finger), and it is recommended that you use proper body armor.
