Getting on and off a bike

I'm not sure if it's age and I don't bend so well, or the rear rack with bags I've fitted catching my leg, but I'm struggling a bit to get on and off my mountain bike. I don't think it's helps I have a horizontal crossbar though.

Next bike I buy could do with being a step through as that looks bliss. Anyone else think they are an accident waiting to happen? Ha... If you are, your not alone.

Was worse today with my wets on. The plastic trousers add difficulty hoping on and off.

Got some ideas I've found online ,so I'll give those a try.

Also I starting to think the gravel drive we have is not a good solid place to start off or stop.

Indeed thats why i went for a step thru when i bought my last bike. 4yrs on with it and i still have fuzzy moments when i approach the bike and my body wants to throw a leg up and over but my mind is set on being sensible and i pause for what seems to me to be way too long..

 

What finally cured me of trying to throw a leg over was the fitting of a rear box ive kicked that thing so many times now i have finally trained myself not to through shin pain..

 

Worst times have been exiting the supermarket back box pilled high and abscent minded me starts to throw a leg back as i hop on the pedal only to crush half my carefully selected and gingerly handled baked goods and sarnie tomatoes.

 

You may change your bike but its harder to change muscle memory built up over decades..

I fitted a dropper seat post on my Hard seven. Put it in the low position for getting on and off works a treat.

Dropper seat post. I'll look that up.

Certainly if I lost my current standard crossbar electric bike, I would replace it with a step through design.

 

My other bikes are Bromptons and the low crossbar and low rear rack makes it easy to get on off with reduced chance of falling in the road.

My non electric road bike is a high cross bar type, that I lean over significantly to make throwing my right leg over the saddle way easier; into my eighties I still manage.

Our electric bike I inherited when my wife finally lost the nerve to cycle is a step through, even on that I find most times the old established technique is what I use, I do it naturally without thinking most times. Only if its panniers are well packed out do I twig. or realise, there is an easier way.

I am under impression you do need a cargo ebike.

We've got a step-through solo bike. The only time I miss the crossbar is when I want to stand over the bike and keep it upright; eg if I stop to talk to someone for a minute or two.

 

Having just done my knee in (detached tendon) I won't be back on the the solo or our tandem for a bit. The tandem does have a crossbar and I was already creaking to get over it; I'm not sure I'll be up to it again when the time comes. I'm keeping my eyes open for a low step tandem; trouble is when I my eyes see the price they start watering.

Well I've been trying some different methods. Placing my left foot out wide and leaning bike over, then lifting right leg over to get on or off, while holding rear brake on seems to work well for me...

Brakes on and lean the bike works for me too, also on inclines.

 

I thought 'step-through' was a visual term like 'kissing gate', meaning with lower stand-over height. My balance on one leg isn't great and if I aimed my size 12 through the gap I can see it slamming the frame to the ground with me following on. So what's the technique for actually stepping through a step-through?

Brakes on and lean the bike works for me too, also on inclines.

 

So what's the technique for actually stepping through a step-through?

 

This is my method:

Stand on LH side of bike facing towards the crankset.

Apply brake with left hand and place right hand on saddle.

Lean bike slightly towards you (optional).

Raise right leg over frame while balancing with hands that are on saddle and brake.

Pivot standing foot as you bring the other one down on the ground or pedal on the far side to face forwards on the bike.

Dismount is the reverse of the above. Not quite so easy but better with practice.

Lean the bike is more or less my method for my two crossbar e-bikes. Just a word of warning if wearing a cycling top which is long over the back on a continental style (ie 'upright') bike and if you have the saddle height which encourages you to dismount from the saddle on stopping. During the early days of my Decathlon 500E I more than once caught the back of the cycling top on the saddle so that on stopping I slowly and unceremoniously tipped sideways onto the road - luckily without injury or accident.

Ah, the Dutch "umpire's seat" manoeuvre, still getting the hang of that

 

A benefit of the sideways lean is that when you haven't noticed the ground falls away the lean keeps going until contact is made, doing the splits but still upright. I copy my cat's 'of course I meant to do that' face.

This thread plus what I've been watching on YouTube has got me sorted. Things are alot better riding and getting on and off..

I've been getting off the saddle when I stop during rides. Raise the peddle ready to start off to thrust forward, then sit back on saddle to ride.

Leaning bike to the side on firm ground to get on and off. Applying brakes to hold bike still. Just thinking about it and taking my time. Simple things that make a big difference

I'm not sure if it's age and I don't bend so well, or the rear rack with bags I've fitted catching my leg, but I'm struggling a bit to get on and off my mountain bike. I don't think it's helps I have a horizontal crossbar though.

Next bike I buy could do with being a step through as that looks bliss. Anyone else think they are an accident waiting to happen? Ha... If you are, your not alone.

Was worse today with my wets on. The plastic trousers add difficulty hoping on and off.

Got some ideas I've found online ,so I'll give those a try.

Also I starting to think the gravel drive we have is not a good solid place to start off or stop.

Dropper seatpost. Absolute godsend.

Push it down, swing leg over, hit the lever and it pops back up behind you. My bike has a rack and rack pack+panniers on it and i can about clear that, so also having the post dropped right down makes it super easy to get on or off.

All that karate during my teens continues to pay dividends - I can still execute a roundhouse kick at head level. There's much to be said for maintaining strength and flexibility, they don't have to decline as we age. Use what you want to keep and improve.

Edited September 29, 20232 yr by guerney

I put back my suspension post back on bike which I was originally struggling with, plus my crossbar is about 75mm below seat height so drop post would not work for me. Great bit of kit though.

All that karate during my teens continues to pay dividends - I can still execute a roundhouse kick at head level. There's much to be said for maintaining strength and flexibility, they don't have to decline as we age. Use what you want to keep and improve.

So you dont just look like a mad max-esq ebike road warrior, you have the moves too .. forewarned n all that

So you dont just look like a mad max-esq ebike road warrior, you have the moves too .. forewarned n all that

 

It's why I try so hard avoiding getting into fights - there's no telling what my body might end up doing! I've never killed anyone with my bare hands, but I've come close and it's a worry. People are fragile. As a young man attending Shotokan Karate and Japanese Jujitu classes, I was amazed at how our instructors in their 70s were a race apart compared with others of their age, in terms of strength, aerobic fitness, speed and flexibility. I saw elderly students join and benefit. Sure, their progress was slower but they were much more committed than the young ones. Point is, we don't have to keep buying adapters to make things easier - it's a downward spiral. Stretching and strengthening is better for the long term.

Edited September 29, 20232 yr by guerney

Stretching and strengthening is better for the long term.

 

...said person who is ghost pedaling step through Brompton

...said person who is ghost pedaling step through Brompton

 

My electrified 20" wheeled Dahon Halios P8 folder gets me to work sweat free, that's what it's specifically for - I slow jog and circuit train for exercise, including a lot of kicks at various heights. Getting on and off the Espresso is no problem.

 

(Not my Espresso, but I wish it was)

 

Edited September 29, 20232 yr by guerney

next bike will definitely be a step through for me

I'm not sure if it's age and I don't bend so well, or the rear rack with bags I've fitted catching my leg, but I'm struggling a bit to get on and off my mountain bike. I don't think it's helps I have a horizontal crossbar though.

Next bike I buy could do with being a step through as that looks bliss. Anyone else think they are an accident waiting to happen? Ha... If you are, your not alone.

Was worse today with my wets on. The plastic trousers add difficulty hoping on and off.

Got some ideas I've found online ,so I'll give those a try.

Also I starting to think the gravel drive we have is not a good solid place to start off or stop.

I have the same problem because after a new knee op, it would only bend to 90 degrees. So had to shorten the cranks AND raise the saddle considerably so that the leg could cope with the 'over the top' part of the crank rotation. I have to set the pedal as high as possible and stand on it when getting on the bike so there is less height to swing the other leg over. Easier on the bike with the throttle but have to be quick with the newer MTB. For getting off, since my feet barely touch the ground, the thing is down in reverse! The MTB also has a dropper seat post which I can set low before getting on or off the bike to make things easier. The other thing you could do is lay the bike on the ground. Step over it with one leg, then pull it vertically upwards. Not elegant but saves some muscle ache from trying to stretch your legs upwards so much.

Dropper seatpost. Absolute godsend.

Push it down, swing leg over, hit the lever and it pops back up behind you. My bike has a rack and rack pack+panniers on it and i can about clear that, so also having the post dropped right down makes it super easy to get on or off.

Provided the dropper post is not from Giant perhaps. The one fitted to my (Giant) MTB is on its second set of strips of plastic! which stop the saddle from rotating. They are fitted to prevent damage to the alloy sections which slide up and down. No spares were available in the UK according to Giant, so I cut my own. Did not last too long so now considering brass as it is used by other dropper post manufacturers.

Just for interest.

Popped up.