QUESTION: I want to learn to take off my jacket while riding, but more experienced cyclists tell me it’s a dangerous practice. Why? I see pros do it in races all the time. — Malcolm C.
RBR REPLIES: It’s not hard to peel off a jacket or vest if you can ride no-hands comfortably and you’re careful. But there are two major dangers:
First, it’s easy to take the first arm out of its sleeve, but then you have a fluttering jacket to contend with. I call it the “cowboy movie” predicament. Your hands are essentially tied behind your back briefly as you reach behind to pull it off the other arm. That’s not good if you start losing your balance or need to get at the brakes quickly.
It’s more likely to happen if your jacket has tight wrist openings and you’re trying to pull the sleeve over bulky, long-finger gloves.
Second potential problem: While the jacket is still on one arm, it could drop down too low and catch in the rear wheel. That can suck the fabric forward into the rear brake, abruptly slowing the bike. Because you’re sitting up, you’re apt to pitch forward and lose control.
Practice will help you develop a technique that avoids disaster. Always look up the road first to be sure you have a clear and unobstructed path for a couple hundred yards. Be especially cautious on a windy day or a gust might cause you to lose control. And don’t do it in a group unless you’re at the very back. It’s the height of irresponsibility to risk the safety of other riders.
Or, just stop for 15 seconds, pull off the jacket, wad it tight, stick it into your jersey pocket and live to fight another day. What’s the rush?
Stop while riding and remove the jacket, unless you are a pro. This is kind of silly to even think of doing it while riding regardless of age or skill level
I look at this the same way I view driving: It only takes a split second for something unexpected to happen (ex. an animal or child dart out in front of you) so it’s unwise to take your eyes off the road; similarly, it’s unwise to take away your ability to react instantly. Tying up both hands behind your back for the time it takes you to Houdini out of your jacket is a needless risk with no gain.
I’ll not relate the bonehead personal experience of doing it the wrong way. I would strongly suggest that if you are going to attempt to remove a jacket that you: 1) have experience riding no-hands, 2) keep a safe distance from other cyclists, and 3) choose the best terrain, ie flat, to remove the jacket. Downhill, climbing, curves ==> posthumous!
I have two screws in my elbow from removed clothing catching in the rear brake. BE CAREFUL!
yeah it is silly to not stop
bump
wind
unknown balance loss
passing car
all of them can cause a wreck in about 0.2 seconds
you can really get tied up trying this jacket removal trick, even if you rehearse
not worth it!
even a zipper adjustment can be a problem
wle
I have a riding friend who was very adept at removing his vest/jacket with “hands off the bar” riding….He’s now very adept at walking with a very pronounced and permanent limp. All it took was a wayward gust of wind!
What’s his name that won the Tour de France, Froome he attempted to remove a rain coat or was it putting it on needless to say he crashed sooooo bad, he missed the year
Flip the script – putting on a jacket – LIKE THE PROS. I was at the summit of the Col du Tourmalet in 2011 when the TdF went flying over. It was cold and the teams’ soigneurs were at the top with jackets. The leaders of the race went by. Some were able to grab jackets, some could not. I held out a newspaper and it was grabbed by Stu O’Grady (this was the highlight of my life – I lhave a pathetic life). But once the peleton came by, and certainly the gruppetto, riders mostly stopped, grabbed a jacket, put it on, zipped it up, and started pedaling again.
If you’re a pro and stopping is out of the question, sure, take the jacket off on the bike. If you’re a dude on a bike ride alone or with friends, why risk it? Stop for 10 seconds to take the jacket off, ask your friends to slow down to let you catch, sprint ahead of the pack to give you a gap to quickly stop and stash your jacket. There are plenty of other options.
I’ve been taking my jacket off while riding no handed for decades until one time when the wind caught my jacket and I went down. I was only going about 10 mph up a slight grade, but nevertheless, I suffered a broken collar bone. Since then I’ve been stopping and spending a few seconds to take it off.