How do you get on and off ?

[Crackle]

I put my left leg in, my left leg out.....

 

[Shortandcrisp]

Getting on and off the bike becomes the hardest part of cycling as you get older, it seems to me. Left handed myself and also mount from the left.

Bit awkward atm as my left leg is still playing silly buggers occasionally after my spinal injury in April. Still easier than trying to get on from the right though!

 

[shouldbeinbed]

I basically always mount from the right. I am right handed but when cycling, I will always lead with my left foot and always have done. It feels more natural; to me but my own observations tell me most lead with their right.

Likewise.

Never really noticed other peoples habits tho.

 

[Red17]

Saw the film Alleycats the other day and noticed the actress (Eleanor Tomlinson I think) mounts the bike by swinging her leg up in front of her (keeping it straight) and looping it over the handlebars.

Not seen that one before (quite enjoyed the film as well)

 

[biking_fox]

I'm RH and mount from the left swinging my right foot over. Mostly, Makes sense to me, because my Rfoot (and hand) are the fine control specialists, while the left is support (don't think there's much difference between them though)/ So I stand on my steady left leg, and swing the right over saddle.

 

[Markymark]

Always facing Marble Arch.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Modern cycling wisdom does suggest that scooting and cocking your leg over the saddle as you move away is not a good idea - especially with very lightweight machines with frames made from non-steel materials.

Why, Rob? What about unclipping one side and throwing said leg over before coming to a stop? What's structurally going to fail (excluding balance!)?
Having a large transverse saddlebag on can make the 'leg over the saddle' option challenging. The 'over the handlebars' option can work and certainly should not be discounted as only for use by attractive actors (@Red17 's post).

 

[andrew_s]

Right-handed, mount and dismount from the left, swinging the leg over the back of the bike.
I seem to remember mounting from the right occasionally when the kerb has been the other side (abroad), but aren't certain.

I will occasionally mount (similarly from the left) by scooting, or even just stepping up onto a raised pedal. I can't help but feel that @robgul's received wisdom is incorrect - I can't see any extra strain on a light frame over what climbing out of the saddle wou

My cousin gave me a Tacx turbo trainer recently. I hadn't allowed for the fact that it holds the bike 4 or 5 cm off the floor. When I came to dismount I had a similar problem to that of dismounting onto a lower than expected kerb/pavement. I started to topple over, taking the TT with me.

Someone broke their hip on the Cheltenham 300k a while back like that - stopped in the dark next to a pothole they hadn't seen, and toppled over when the ground was further down than expected

To dismount, I pull the ripcord. The parachute deploys and plucks me rearwards off the saddle and deposits me on my arse in the road.

There's always the old fixed wheel dismount method - let go of the handlebars, sit back, stiffen the leg and allow the crank to raise you out of the saddle, then step down behind the bike and catch the saddle before the bike departs on its own (doesn't work with a saddlebag).

 

[ColinJ]

Someone broke their hip on the Cheltenham 300k a while back like that - stopped in the dark next to a pothole they hadn't seen, and toppled over when the ground was further down than expected

Bloody potholes - I was out running one winter evening and I ran onto the edge of a large pothole that I hadn't seen in the dark! My foot turned almost through 90 degrees and wrecked the soft tissues round the ankle. It hurt off and on for about 7 or 8 years after that.

There's always the old fixed wheel dismount method - let go of the handlebars, sit back, stiffen the leg and allow the crank to raise you out of the saddle, then step down behind the bike and catch the saddle before the bike departs on its own (doesn't work with a saddlebag).

 

[oldwheels]

Always left side. Cannot get my leg over either saddle or bar so thought I would have to give up. Tried Raleighnut's idea of laying bike over but this did not work either.Solved problem by getting folders with step through frame.

 

[Psycolist]

I did try the step through frame, I have long term hip problems, and found that trying to raise the knee far enough to step through was worse than cocking my leg over the saddle. The step through does win out if using the lay down method, which is what I now use, but with cross bar frames, you just have to take a bit more care to make sure you get the foot placement right. I have ended up sitting on the rear wheel with the bike laying on its side a couple of times. Thankfully, no harm done, other than feeling like a twit.

 

[tyred]

Likewise.

Never really noticed other peoples habits tho.

Someone brought it to my attention once as being unusual so I looked at what others were doing.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

[QUOTE 4550364, member: 9609"]I must never have taken notice of my own rabbits as I have no idea which side I get on from, I tried to take notice today but forgot.[/QUOTE]
I think mounting rabbits is a whole different thread and possibly more suitable for SC&P than general cycling

 

[GetAGrip]

Left handed and hop on and off from the right, yes I know, right into the road

 

[PaulSB]

Surprisingly no one has mentioned the safety aspect. I'm right handed and always mount, dismount, push and unclip from the left. Everything being done as far from the traffic as practical.

When I went clipless I was very careful to unclip left side first on the basis I'd rather fall on the kerb/verge/into ditch than under a bus!!!

I do though have a fetish about always leaning the bike against a wall etc. with the drive chain nearest the wall. Writing this I've realised everyone on the club run does the same.