Over the handlebars?

[Hover Fly]

Do you go for the easy liquid grace of mounting and dismounting over the handlebars? Or conventionally cock your leg backwards like a dog at a lamp-post?

 

[HLaB]

The last time I went over the handle bars, I definitely wasn't dismounting with grace

 

[Theseus]

I keep on meaning to try the dismount technique as described near the end of Sheldon Brown's article on fixed wheels

 

[Hilldodger]

I'd have to have reeeaaaallllyyyyy long legs.

 

[Arch]

I voted for all the non-handlebar options, depending on the bike...

I was in town once, on the Galaxy (man's frame), and just unlocking it from a stand. An old chap came up and said "Is that your bike?" and I said yes, and he said "But, how do you...." and then petered out, realising that he was about to say "...get your leg over?".

"Like this!" I said, swung a leg over the saddle and rode off. I think he genuinely thought a girl couldn't do it.

(I was in jeans!)

I leg over the saddle on my cross bar bikes, step through on the Brom, and sit down on the trike.

I've never had the courage to try and master the scoot-with-nearside-foot-then-swing-the-other-over-the-saddle method, so I always mount and ride off from a standing start.

 

[Bluebell72]

Over the handlebars?

Do you mean swing the leg over the crossbar and saddle? If so, yes to mount and dismount. Somehow, if I step through, I feel more clumsy.

 

[Sittingduck]

Hell no. Usual cowboy style, for me.

 

[Red Light]

You only forget once that you've got a child in a child seat on the back when you kick your leg back over the saddle.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

I had a couple of clubmates who mounted leg-over-bars style. Both were of good age, one was even in his mid-seventies at the time. When I tried it my eyes were watering before I got my foot anywhere near the bars.

 

[MontyVeda]

I had a couple of clubmates who mounted leg-over-bars style. Both were of good age, one was even in his mid-seventies at the time. When I tried it my eyes were watering before I got my foot anywhere near the bars.

Yeah i tried that once... didn't look good... or work.

 

[Night Train]

I've never had the courage to try and master the scoot-with-nearside-foot-then-swing-the-other-over-the-saddle method, so I always mount and ride off from a standing start.

That's how my dad taught me to set off on a bike.
I prefer getting seated and checking it is safe to move off before moving off.
Dad does the stand at the side of the road, look around, and when clear scoots off swinging his leg over the saddle.
If I did that I would start scooting off into the kerb or the parked car while checking for traffic behind me.

 

[TVC]

At my age?

No chance.

 

[XmisterIS]

Last time I went over the handlebars, it was as I was shouting "oooo-yeah-oooo-no-oooo-me-crackers-oooo!" I remember it also involved landing in a heap and wiggling around in pain.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Last time I went over the handlebars, it was as I was shouting "oooo-yeah-oooo-no-oooo-me-crackers-oooo!" I remember it also involved landing in a heap and wiggling around in pain.

Was that when you had your avatar picture taken then?

 

[Headgardener]

I voted for the middle one as I assume that is the one for getting your leg over from the rear.