BMX Trick
Tuck No-Hander
A tuck no-hander is a BMX air trick where the rider pulls the bars up into their knees, pins them in place, then takes both hands off before regripping.
Updated 3 min read712 words
A tuck no-hander is a BMX air trick where the rider pulls the bike up so the handlebars meet their knees, pins the bars there, and then takes both hands off before regripping and landing. The knees hold the bars straight while the hands are off. It is a common no-handed air in dirt and park riding.
Overview
The "tuck" refers to the compact body position. The rider sucks the bike up toward their chest, keeps their knees bent and over the bars, and uses that contact to control the front end. With the bars trapped, the rider can let go and spread the arms out to the sides or back.
This is the main thing that separates it from a standard no-hander. In a standard no-hander the bars are free, so nothing but balance and a clean takeoff keeps them straight. In a tuck no-hander the legs are doing part of that job. The two names are sometimes used loosely, but riders who care about the difference treat them as separate tricks.
| Tuck no-hander | No-hander | |
|---|---|---|
| Bars | Pinned by the knees or thighs | Free |
| Body position | Compact, knees high | More upright and open |
| Main control | Knee pressure plus balance | Balance and takeoff |
| Typical use | Dirt, park, box jumps | Dirt, park, vert |
How to do it
Learn on a jump you are completely comfortable on, with a smooth, forgiving landing.
- Ride in at a steady speed. Keep your arms loose and your cranks level.
- Take off cleanly. A level, balanced pop gives you a stable bike to work with.
- Pull the bike up. Bend your arms and draw the bars up toward your chest.
- Bring the knees to the bars. Lift your knees so they meet the bars, or the top of the bars meets the front of your thighs.
- Squeeze lightly. Pin the bars between your knees so they cannot turn.
- Let go. Take both hands off and move your arms out to the sides. Keep your eyes on the landing.
- Regrip early. Bring your hands back to the grips before the bike starts to descend.
- Drop the bike back down. Push the bike away from your body to a normal riding position and land on both wheels.
Keeping the bars still
Most problems come from the bars moving at the moment you let go. Make sure the knees are firmly in place first, then release. If the bars twist as you let go, your knee contact was not set.
Variations
- One-handed tuck. Let go with one hand only. A sensible first step. See one-hander.
- Extended tuck no-hander. Arms thrown out wide or back for more style.
- Tuck no-hander to x-up. Regrip with crossed arms, then unwind. See x-up.
- Tuck no-hander 360. Add a spin while the hands are off. Advanced. See 360.
- Seat-grab tuck. One hand grabs the seat instead of letting go completely. Names for this vary.
Learning progression
- One-handers. Get comfortable releasing one hand at the top of a jump.
- Knee tuck with hands on. Practise pulling the bars into your knees without letting go, so the tuck becomes automatic.
- Quick release. Let both hands off for a split second, then regrip.
- Longer hold. Add time in the pose as your jumps get higher.
- Arms out. Start spreading your arms once the regrip is consistent.
Wear a helmet, gloves and pads. If you are not back on the grips in time, push the bike away and bail rather than landing with your hands off.
Common mistakes
- Letting go before the tuck is set. The bars turn the moment your hands leave.
- Not pulling the bike up enough. The bars never reach your knees, so there is nothing to hold.
- Late regrip. The most common cause of crashes.
- Squeezing too hard. This can twist the bars rather than hold them.
- Bars set too low or rolled oddly. Your setup affects where the bars meet your legs. See handlebars.
- Slipping grips. Check your grips are secure.
History
No-handed airs date back to the early days of ramp and jump riding, and the tucked version became a standard in dirt and park as jumps and air time grew. There is no reliable record of who first did one. See freestyle BMX boom 1980s and dirt jumping.
Related tricks
Frequently asked questions about Tuck No-Hander
What is the difference between a tuck no-hander and a no-hander?
In a tuck no-hander the knees press against the bars and hold them in place while the hands come off. In a standard no-hander the bars are not pinned, so the rider relies on balance and a clean takeoff to keep them straight.
Is a tuck no-hander easier than a no-hander?
Many riders find it easier to learn, because the knees give the bars a point of contact. That said, both tricks need good height and an early regrip, and how hard each feels varies from rider to rider.
Where do the knees go?
The bars come up to meet the knees or the top of the thighs, and the rider squeezes them lightly to stop the bars turning. The exact contact point depends on your size, bar height and bike setup.
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