How do you get your Leg Over?

[neptune]

As I explained on another thread, I recently fell off my bike. As a result, I find it a bit hard getting on my bike, due to a stiff leg. If the problem was permanent, a step through frame might be the answer. Many men ride step through frames in Europe. It is only in the UK that we talk about men`s and women`s bikes. The logical way to mount a bike, is to get on whilst the bike is still stationary. It helps if your bike is on the road, and you are standing on the kerb, as you don`t need to raise your leg so high.

The alternative method is to put your right foot on the pedal, and scoot the bike along to get it moving. You then swing your left leg over whilst the bike is coasting. I suspect that we all use both methods, depending on the circumstances. In the days of the Penny farthing, a step was provided on the frame to help mounting, using the scoot method. This step was still fitted on many early "safety" bikes, well into the twentieth century.

So how do you get your leg over?

 

[trex]

I'd use the kerb to gain 6"

 

[flecc]

Many men ride step through frames in Europe. It is only in the UK that we talk about men`s and women`s bikes.

I posted that same comment in here once and got a stern correction from a Dutch member, quoting at length the Dutch names for all the bike types. They are very specific, not only gents and ladies, but names for grandparents bikes (whatever they might be?), various childrens bikes etc. There were so many I've forgotten all the classifications!

To get your leg over when there's difficulty, the technique for when a bike is too large may help. Lean the bike towards you to a great degree, leg over onto pedal and then bring the bike upright under you, leaving the crossbar under the crutch. Then pedalling off one can get into the saddle if that has also been difficult.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I stand on the right side holding the handlebars, then I put the right foot on the right pedal. When I'm ready to go, I open the throttle. Once the bike is rolling nicely, I nonchalantly swing my left leg over. No wobbling or panic, just smooth controlled take-off. this is the best method if you have a heavy bag full of shopping or whatever.

 

[flecc]

I stand on the right side holding the handlebars, then I put the right foot on the right pedal. When I'm ready to go, I open the throttle. Once the bike is rolling nicely, I nonchalantly swing my left leg over. No wobbling or panic, just smooth controlled take-off. this is the best method if you have a heavy bag full of shopping or whatever.

For me and many that's done from the opposite side, the left. I've never understood why, but each person can usually only do this comfortably from one side, and it doesn't seem to be related to being right or left handed.

 

[TREF]

Because I have a dodgy hip I have to do as fleck says, stand on the left of the bike and lower it down quite a lot before I can lift my leg over without to much pain. Once I'm on it's ok. Same procedure to dismount. Couldn't do this with my Ducati so have stopped riding it.

 

[John F]

Step thrus - wouldn't be without mine now. Didn't someone also say they were safer because they were easier to get off in an emergency?

 

[Croxden]

I remember, as a lad, seeing the cowboys manage to jump on the horse as it galloped away in one bound. Thought this a great way to mount a bike, not quite made it yet but do have a higher pitched voice.

 

[jackhandy]

Not having ever ridden one will, of course, not stop me from voicing an opinion...

But I'd have thought a steppie would be more tricky to mount with a stiff leg, than a crossbar bike:

Once your leg's swinging up & over the saddle, momentum tends to keep it straight, whereas you have no option but to bend your leg to step over the bottom tube.

 

[John F]

Not having ever ridden one will, of course, not stop me from voicing an opinion...

But I'd have thought a steppie would be more tricky to mount with a stiff leg, than a crossbar bike:

Once your leg's swinging up & over the saddle, momentum tends to keep it straight, whereas you have no option but to bend your leg to step over the bottom tube.

Step thru better if your hips not so good

 

[Geebee]

Step thru is easier to mount and dismount, I often start stepping off my bike before its stopped.

 

[Sheffmax]

I stand on the left of the bike, raise the left pedal to it's highest point, grasp the handlebars, left foot on the pedal, push down and, as the bike gains momentum, swing my right leg over. This works on most levels except really step inclines.

 

[jackhandy]

I stand on the left of the bike, raise the left pedal to it's highest point, grasp the handlebars, left foot on the pedal, push down and, as the bike gains momentum, swing my right leg over. This works on most levels except really step inclines.

That & judicious ammounts of throttle.

 

[Cyclezee]

Frankly I think the British attitude towards bikes with stepthru frames is old fashioned and ridiculous.
Just ride whatever is comfortable for you and ignore what other people might think or say.
I often meet gentlemen of a certain age who would rather be crippled with pain than "give in" to ride a stepthru.

 

[neptune]

Back in the 1960s and 1970s, when I still worked for the Man, I remember quite a few men who biked to work. One day I noticed that perhaps half of these rode step throughs, on Women`s Bikes. This stuck me as odd, but on making enquiries, the reasons became clear. For some older men, it was ease of mounting. The most common reason was that in many households, there was one car, and one bike. More women wore skirts in those days than wore trousers.

So it made sense that a step through was the best choice as it could be easily ridden by both men and skirted women. I m not a structural engineer, but common sense suggests that for a given weight of metal, a crossbar frame would be stronger than a stepthrough. Or conversely, for a given required frame strength, a crossbar frame would be lighter. The difference is so small that it is not important for street machines, but I believe that women who compete in road racing use crossbar frames almost exclusively.

The other factor at work is fashion of course. Some men see a "womens Bike" as a threat to their masculinity. Having said that, in reality a crossbar could literally be a threat to your masculinity under the wrong circumstances. Personally, I feel that people who buy a full suspension mountain bike to ride to work on are "Fashion Victims". These bikes, with their excessive weight and knobbly draggy tires must make commuting hard work. Or maybe I am just "old fashioned".