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Humans Manual

Humans Manual

By: Andres Diaz
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About this listen

 A podcast for those of us who didn’t come with instructions. Ever felt like you should know how to climb a tree, juggle, or whistle for no reason at all? You’re in the right place. In each episode, we explore skills they never taught you in school but make life way more fun, free, and fulfilling. From riding a motorcycle to walking on your hands, we dive into the kind of knowledge you didn’t know you needed… but you’ll be glad you learned. Because living is also about playing. And being human is way more fun when you can pop a wheelie on your bike.Copyright 2025 Andres Diaz
Episodes
  • Bunny hop: clear curbs on a bike

    Bunny hop: clear curbs on a bike
    Dec 18 2025
    Summary: The episode by Andrés Díaz teaches how to clear curbs on a bicycle using the Bunny Hop, turning curb fear into fun and emphasizing safety, efficiency, and style. It presents a three-phase technique (load front wheel, level/float, lift rear wheel) with a simple mantra (load, lift, pass), plus preparation tips, equipment considerations, and safe practice spaces. The content covers a detailed step-by-step progression, common mistakes with fixes, a practical practice schedule, safety etiquette, and motivational guidance. It also offers extra tricks, a mini-challenge, and prompts to reflect on progress and fear. Key points: - Purpose: gain safety (reduce flats), maintain cadence, and improve feel and enjoyment. - Three-phase method: load the front wheel, level/float, then lift the rear wheel, with a smooth landing. - Preparation: helmet, gloves, seat height, tire pressure, safe practice area, and avoiding distractions. - Practice progression: Day 1 front-wheel lift on flat ground; Day 2 cross a line; Day 3 a low curb; daily scheduling. - Common mistakes and fixes: look ahead, hips and body movement, avoid yanking the bars, manage speed, and use rear brake lightly if needed. - Safety and etiquette: practice away from traffic and pedestrians; film yourself to improve. - Extra tips: breath rhythm, hip-driven motion, and techniques to gain height efficiently. - Mindset and motivation: supportive phrases, questions to set goals, and small challenges to build confidence. Remeber you can contact me at andresdiaz@bestmanagement.org
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    8 mins
  • Hands-Free Cycling: A Body-Based Guide

    Hands-Free Cycling: A Body-Based Guide
    Dec 11 2025
    Summary: - This episode teaches hands-free cycling, guiding the bike with your body to improve balance, control, and confidence while prioritizing safety and conscious urban riding. - Core ideas: start with proper posture and a relaxed, engaged core; look far ahead; use the hips and slight trunk tilt to lean the bike; the neck and eyes guide wheel direction. - Step-by-step progression: 1) Stabilize speed with smooth pedaling 2) Start with light hands 3) Guide with the hips (navel as a beacon) and gentle knee/hip input 4) Practice gradually: loosen one hand, then extend the arm, then release both hands for short moments, always breathing calmly 5) Build confidence with micro-corrections and looking ahead - Handy techniques and tips: avoid pulling the bars; press the inner knee against the frame to cue turns; align neck/shoulders/hips with your gaze; the body is the hidden steering mechanism. - Common mistakes and fixes: avoid looking at the front wheel, gripping handlebars tightly, jerky pedaling, and crowding elbows; correct by gazing to the horizon, keeping elbows loose, and maintaining smooth pedaling. - Training routine: about 10 minutes of warm-up (diaphragmatic breathing, mobility, core work), 20 minutes of straight-line practice, then hip-back stretches; aim for a three-times-a-week schedule. - Braking with control: learn to return to the handlebars safely and practice front-brake braking on dry, straight ground without locking. - Basic bike maintenance: proper tire pressure, tight headset, correct saddle height, clean/lubricated chain; good setup saves energy. - Mindfulness in motion: ride with three to five slow breaths, stay present, and use breathing to manage tension and focus. - Urban context and safety: use the technique only in safe conditions (clear bike lane, straight, no intersections); the hands-free skill is for comfort and efficiency, not for distraction. - Practical challenge and training ideas: set micro-goals (soft hands and look ahead, release one hand, small hip corrections) and note sensations; widen practice in turns and with wind, and use walls as safe practice spaces. - Benefits: improves stability, posture, coordination, reduces hand/wrist fatigue, and supports efficient, healthier urban cycling. - Closing message: the body acts as a steering system; your hips, breath, and gaze guide the ride. Remeber you can contact me at andresdiaz@bestmanagement.org
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    8 mins
  • Bike still: without putting a foot on the ground.

    Bike still: without putting a foot on the ground.
    Dec 4 2025
    Summary: - Track standing is staying upright on a bike without putting a foot down, relying on balance, not leg power alone. Eyes and gaze ahead (not at the wheel) help balance; a slight incline can aid the motion. - Preparation: find a safe, quiet space with a smooth surface and a small incline; lower the saddle a touch; select a middle gear; check tire pressure (slightly lower than road setup) for grip. - Technique: position the front wheel in a slight V angle, keep relaxed posture, and use micro-movements. Alternate tiny pedal and brake pressures, using the front brake as an anchor and light rear brake to modulate. Breathe and keep the center of gravity within the base of support. - How to practice: start with a wall for support, then progress to unsupported rolling near a stop, looking far ahead and using small pedal/brake adjustments. A practical goal is to hold for ten breaths without touching down. - Mental approach and safety: expect nerves, use slow breathing, and practice away from traffic with proper gear and helmet. If the bike wobbles, time movements with the hips; lean toward the side you’re turning. - Gear notes: with clipless pedals, start looser and practice barefoot first; fixed-gear bikes feel natural for track standing due to direct pedal-wheel linkage. - Benefits: quicker starts, fewer low-speed falls, better balance in roundabouts and intersections, improved confidence and control. - Common mistakes: staring at the front wheel, locking elbows, over- or under-gear, abrupt front braking, and not breathing. Fixes include looking ahead, keeping arms relaxed, using brakes gently, and timing with hip movements. - Progressive plan: today two 5-minute sessions; tomorrow practice at two safe lights; this week aim for ten breaths without a foot down; gradually increase difficulty (e.g., half-released hand, longer holds). - Final mindset: balance is intelligent movement, not the absence of movement. - Close: encouragement to subscribe and share, with a reminder that technique enhances enjoyment and safety on any ride. Remeber you can contact me at andresdiaz@bestmanagement.org
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    8 mins
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