hands free

I've never ridden a two-person bicycle, but it sure looks interesting. The most I know about the mechanics is what I can figure out from sheer logic: the two people create more momentum than just one would, but with one person the bike would still be propelled - it would just be more to tow for the individual.

I saw these two people riding by tonight, in a great collective rhythm, having a conversation that wasn't strained by distance and issues of audibility. . . just riding along on that two-person wonder bike, making it look like a real good time.

Just a minute or so before I had been riding along on my own one-person version, working up the nerve to take my other hand off of the handle bar. I used to do this without any extra effort when I was a little one, but nowadays I can only get the one hand off and manage to keep riding along nice and smooth. But that second hand . . . . It lets go for about a second and a half before I know I'm about to go careening to the side and I instinctively re-attach my grip.

I'll eventually work my way up to it, but I didn't until just now think about what it would be like to try the same stunt on a two-person ride. I wonder if you'd have to give a heads up to your partner or if you could just let go and the journey would stay the same (given that they didn't have the same notion at the same instant)?

Or what if my basic assumption is incorrect altogether and both parties need at least one hand with a grip on the machine at all times?

I wonder if I'll have as many questions about the way it works once I actually ride one, or if I'll just know the answers from the feel of it?

Curious.