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....said person who is ghost pedaling step through Brompton
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.
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.
I haven't ridden a normal bike with a high crossbar since the late 80's early 90's, and back then I used the bad technique he mentions first lol. Easy for me because I was big into Karate at the time. These days, it's even easier because my 20" wheeled folding bike is a low step over, and my bike saddle is at an extreme angle so I don't need a dropper post.
Lean the bike right over at 45 deg or more, get your leg over, then bring the bike back upright again.
In the same position myself and needing a new hip and knee on same side as well. Luckily my DIY bike has a throttle so I can stand on the LH pedal and , leaning foreward, swing my right lag over my over high saddle, all without loosing momentum. Can't put the saddle down as the other knee will not bend more than 90 degrees. My other bike is a Giant Trance E+3 with a dropper seat post, so I mount and dismount with it in the low position. Things we do to keep on peddling eh!
I recognise that a lot of us are no longer in the first flush of youth, including me, and some have joint trouble and arthritis which is a special case. That said, aside from those with special challenges, I think Guerney is right and if we make things too easy we will only lose more ability. Again - aside from those with special challenges, I would say the rest of us crocs, need to push hard to keep our abilities and flexibility and strength.
www.pedelecs.co.uk
Legs feel like lead today, but the chest tightness has turned into a bruised feeling which isn't as bad. My uphill slow jog yesterday was interrupted by this storm which went on for ages flashing thundering - I had to stop recording out of fear of my phone becoming drenched (OnePlus didn't make much effort waterproofing the V5), because the rain became heavier, suddenly filling the bus shelter with steam. I'll slow jog a couple of miles later, to keep muscles from seizing up too much. Exercise what you want to keep.
