Horseback Archery / Bicycle Archery

[Ar - Adunakhor]

So, basically, that's the question. Assuming a person has never in his life ridden a horse or a bicycle, which one do you think would be easier to achieve - firing arrows from the top of a horse or a bicycle?

It is an argument that I had some days ago with a friend of mine and thought it a great idea to put that somewhat weird question up here.

As I don't want to influence anyone in any way, I won't just yet write what I would say about that.

Your voting is much appreciated.

Cheers!

 

[AWdeV]

I'd think a horse; you don't need to balance that.

 

[Sir Malagant]

I think I can call myself a very good rider and more important, I think I know much about horsemanship. *brag* 

A bike is a dead thing (obvious). You just can't train with your bike, so both of you get better.

Perhaps, it is a bit harder to learn galopping free-handed than riding a bike. But with enough practise AND a skilled person who gives you advice its doable.

When you get used to your horse and your horse learns how to move and how to react to your commands, you both form an entity and will achieve far better results.

Whatever, I think it would be a hilarious sight... A bicyclearcher... 

 

[uncreative]

A horse doesn't need your constant attention, and is a living being capable of independance to some extent, for a short period of time.

 

[Ruthven]

Oh yeah, I still need a video of my bicycle archery...

 

[fisheye]

So, basically, that's the question. Assuming a person has never in his life ridden a horse or a bicycle, which one do you think would be easier to achieve - firing arrows from the top of a horse or a bicycle?

Use the bicycle. You'll fail just as spectacularly, but there's much less chance of becoming a Christopher Reeve.

 

[Hietala]

bicycle archery needs both attention to keep the bike balanced, AND you need to focus on your target

 

[Archonsod]

What kind of bicycle are we talking here?

 

[Swadius 2.0]

Proffesional bikers don't really need to pay all that much attention going on flat ground. You'd have to compensate for the gallop of a horse in that you're never quite level, shooting only when the horse's feet are off the ground. On a bike, a person can be much more still. There are people who have the balance of riding a bike without hands in a straight line, though those are usually trick bikes as they need to lock the front wheel ion place while they draw the bow.

 

[Archonsod]

You could always use a tandem bicycle.

 

[Swadius 2.0]

You'd somehow need to control the bicycle with your hips when you rise up and draw the bow. You could extend the handbars downward with a few cushions or braces for your hips when you get up.

 

[Archonsod]

Well, the point with using a tandem was that you could let the other guy control the bike while you concentrated on shooting. In fact, get a quintet tandem and the front guy can worry about steering while the other four fire.

Seats would make a difference too. If you had a recliner seat then you could quite comfortably control the bike while firing.

 

[Swadius 2.0]

Hmm, like this you mean?

Spoiler

 

[mdk31]

I'd say horse. Sure, not as stable as a bicycle, however you don't have to worry about balancing a horse while shooting at the same time.

 

[LordOfShadows]

it'd be impossible on a regular bike I ride bikes quite a lot and i can ride and turn no hands but drawing my bow while riding would be a great way to lose all the skin on my legs

 

[Zilberfrid]

Hmm, like this you mean?

Spoiler

I rode similar. How are you going to draw your bow?

As a side note, a Flevo bike does not need hands to steer, it hinges in the middle, could be used as a crossbow platform.

 

[AlienKnight]

A bicycle archery?
Please, somebody help me! I lost the sense of reality and can't find it...

 

[Anarion]

I've tried that. I put a target by a road helps.
Unfortunately, the road was quite trafficated, so I had to wait for there to be no cars. Of course, the buggers always appear when you're all set up and ready to go..
I actually hit the mark once too.

 

[Ar - Adunakhor]

What kind of bicycle are we talking here?

You could always use a tandem bicycle.

A simple road bicycle, a plain old city bike, a mountainbike or whatever common bicycle on two wheels. It shouldn't really matter, except for tandem bicycle, of course, that would be too easy .

I ride bicycles quite a lot and really enjoy it. If the seat is properly adjusted, and the bike fairly functionable, one can ride it without hands - it's a matter of practice, such as riding a horse, I presume. You don't need to modify a bike in order to balance it without hands. Riding in a wide circle or making a wide curve without hands is also not that hard. I am indeed quite sure I would be able to fire an arrow from the top of it. I do not doubt bicycle archery, it should be possible if impractical. Yet, I still believe it to be much more difficult than horseback archery for the same reasons that had been mentioned here already. I consider myself quite skillful on a bicycle, still I have never ridden a horse myself or used a real bow. I can only imagine how that 'works' from reading about it. That is why I could not be certain about the outcome of such an argument. I may buy myself a short bow and try that on my road bike, if it works well I could make a short video for the fun of it and post it here. I'm still interested if anyone would suggest bicycle archery being easier...

A bicycle archery?
Please, somebody help me! I lost the sense of reality and can't find it...

Who cares about reality?

 

[Swadius 2.0]

I'd say horse. Sure, not as stable as a bicycle, however you don't have to worry about balancing a horse while shooting at the same time.

The issue here is not how well you can balance yourself on whatever you are riding and draw a bow, but whether you can hit a target accurately. It's much harder to fire a bow accurately on a horse at full gallop than on a bike at full speed.

Hmm, like this you mean?

Spoiler

I rode similar. How are you going to draw your bow?

As a side note, a Flevo bike does not need hands to steer, it hinges in the middle, could be used as a crossbow platform.

Sit up? There are similar bikes like that but with the addition of another wheel to add stability, they won't go as fast but with the shock absorbers, it'll be more stable than any horse.

Has anyone here mounted a horse before?