How do you get on and off ?

[Psycolist]

While posting an entry on another thread, it occurred to me that I always mount and dismount my bikes from the same side. Wether I cock a leg over the saddle, or stand on a pedal and scoot to get going, or occasionally stand on a step and put a foot over the cross bar, it is always from the same side. The same applies to stopping, I always put my right foot to the floor to stop, never the left. Do left handed people mount the same side as right handed people, or do some of you chop and change ? I am a left hander & I always mount from the right side of the bike and dismount on the same side as well. What about you ?

 

[discominer]

Left hander, approach bike from right side. Mostly.

 

[tyred]

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.

 

[fossyant]

Right handed, on and off from left. Got the Turbo trainer set up recently the other way (previously set up as I normally get on a bike) - i.e. I can only get off from the right, and it's causing me difficulty (back injury). I moved the turbo as it was taking up too much space.

 

[classic33]

Right handed, tend to get on at the right hand side, unless stopped at the roadside, then it's left hand side(unless stopped at the roadside).
Only time this was any different was when the drive train was mounted on the left hand side.

Drive side both times, when not on the the road.

 

[lazybloke]

Ugh. Everything has to be done from the left. I can't even stand to the right hand side of a bike; makes me feel anxious.
I'm right-handed if that explains anything.

 

[ColinJ]

Right handed, on and off from left. Got the Turbo trainer set up recently the other way (previously set up as I normally get on a bike) - i.e. I can only get off from the right, and it's causing me difficulty (back injury). I moved the turbo as it was taking up too much space.

Also right handed, and on and off the bike from the left. It feels very odd to do it from the other side.

If my right hip is aching (which it sometimes does), I lower the top of the bike to the left to make it easier to dismount.

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. Fortunately there was a kitchen worktop handy which I grabbed and held on to.

After that near-miss I screwed a few blocks of timber together to use as a platform when mounting and dismounting.

 

[slowmotion]

I put my right leg over the top tube to get on the bike because my right leg has better coordination (being right footed). I put my left foot down when stopping because I can stick it on the curb. Then I swing my right leg back over the top tube.

 

[lutonloony]

Same as slowmotion

 

[ColinJ]

I put my right leg over the top tube to get on the bike because my right leg has better coordination (being right footed). I put my left foot down when stopping because I can stick it on the curb. Then I swing my right leg back over the top tube.

Same as slowmotion

Over the tube, not over the saddle ... I hadn't thought of doing it that way!

I think it would probably make my hip ache more though and there would be the danger of falling over if my foot caught the tube. I'll stick to 'over the saddle'.

 

[slowmotion]

I

Over the tube, not over the saddle ... I hadn't thought of doing it that way!

I think it would probably make my hip ache more though and there would be the danger of falling over if my foot caught the tube. I'll stick to 'over the saddle'.

In my description, "top tube" and "saddle" are pretty much interchangeable. I hadn't really thought about the actual trajectory of my foot.

Anyway, I don't do any swinging with my left foot. It's just a flip-down bike stand.

 

[Salty seadog]

Right handed and mostly climb aboard from the left though not exclusively. Put either foot down when at rest.

 

[slowmotion]

Right handed and mostly climb aboard from the left though not exclusively. Put either foot down when at rest.

Blimey, an ambipedalist! I salute you.

 

[Salty seadog]

Blimey, an ambipedalist! I salute you.

Yep, I can pedal with both feet, it's a trick I learnt as a child.

 

[robgul]

Mount from the left.

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.

Rob