Question about stopping technique

[PamNY]

When I first started riding I felt insecure without the seat low enough for my feet to touch the ground when stopped. I'm working on raising the seat gradually, and I'm now strong enough to start pedaling while standing.

My question is, when you stop the bike, do you lean sideways and balance on one foot, or do you get off the seat so you are straddling the bike and standing on both feet? Or does it matter? I'm doing urban riding with lots of stops, including quick, unexpected ones.

Pam

[wildeny]

At most of the time, I balance on my left foot. If the waiting for the traffic is long (I live in the city), I get off and stand on both feet.

Actually my problem is that I rely on my left foot too much. When I have to lean on my right side, I balance on my right foot awkwardly. :o

[MartianDestiny]

Both. I get off the seat, lean to one side, and put my foot down. No way I'd get my foot on the ground from the seat comfortably and my top tube can be a hair close for comfort (especially on the road bikes) so I've just learned to lean the bike as I put my foot down.

[alpinerabbit]

You can also aim to put your right foot on the curb, it's less way down. I usually do that when there is a curb. I think I manage staying in the saddle this way (it's winter, haven't been on the bike in a while - outside).

I also sort of hang over the top tube lazily with my left thigh, left pedal up, when the wait gets long. Or sit on the top tube half way.

[OakLeaf]

I used to put my right foot on the curb (or stay clipped in and hang on to a streetlight), but I don't think that's such a good idea any more.

You really want to take more of the lane when you're at a stop. Being close enough to the curb to put your foot on it, means that you're nearly invisible to cars.

I would have to lean my bike so extremely to keep the saddle under me at a stop, that I'd never get started again. Learn to get on and off the seat quickly.

[alpinerabbit]

I might have to add that here in Switzerland, drivers expect you to stay to the side, and they know you're there (many more cyclists here), so that's what we do. YMMV!

[tctrek]

I unclip my left foot as I am approaching a stop and then brake, put left foot down and get off the saddle - leaning to the left. Brakes, brakes, brakes... in this position you are a one-legged girl on a skateboard :D . I usually leave my right foot clipped unless I am going to be standing there for a long time. Then to take off I raise my right pedal enough to give me resistance to stand on it and hoist myself back up into the saddle, then clip back in on the left.

[PamNY]

Brakes, brakes, brakes... in this position you are a one-legged girl on a skateboard :D .

Heh. Perfect description. I recently learned what happens if you don't brake in this situation. Brakes are such a handy device; don't know how I could forget about them.

Pam

[shootingstar]

I've tried at various times in cycling years, to stop and still stay seated on bike, with one toe. Or stay seated and push off to start cycling.

It doesn't work for me. Honest, having legs on short side (28 inches inseam, buying jeans/pants always means altering), plus placing a saddle higher to get myself a better/stronger cycling cadence, cannot be simultaneously achieved.

My saddle is high enough for me when I ride, that I have to get off saddle at the intersection light. I seldom use the curb to rest my foot. I'd rather make my rightful space stop in front of car ...that wants to turn right behind (or as we know, ahead if impatient) me. Too bad for car.

Or maybe I just remember several cyclists at different times, who fell in front of me when they each were trackstanding at the intersection or just stopping. Makes me more cautious?

[ny biker]

I unclip with my right foot, skooch forward off the seat and put the right foot on the ground. Left foot stays clipped in.

I used to have trouble sometimes getting going again, especially on an uphill. I read an article last year by Chris Carmichael that helped a lot with that. I'll try to find it. Even if you don't have clipless pedals, I think it would be helpful because he's really talking about being stable on the bike and getting your forward momentum going.
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edit: here's the article.

http://outside.away.com/outside/bodywork/carmichael-20070330.html

[indigoiis]

I unclip my left foot as I am approaching a stop and then brake, put left foot down and get off the saddle - leaning to the left. Brakes, brakes, brakes... in this position you are a one-legged girl on a skateboard :D . I usually leave my right foot clipped unless I am going to be standing there for a long time. Then to take off I raise my right pedal enough to give me resistance to stand on it and hoist myself back up into the saddle, then clip back in on the left.

This is my method as well. What I like about this is it physically says to the car behind me, "I'm taking this lane when the light changes." It gives me (I feel) leeway to get the momentum to get moving again.

[Jiffer]

I unclip with my right, get out of saddle and lean slightly. Getting out of the saddle is often a very GOOD thing to give the "hoo ha" a break! ;) Sometimes I sort of sit on the tube with my left leg to alleviate pressure on the standing leg if I'm getting really tired.

[Possegal]

I have to make certain to be off the saddle and have my full body weight shifted to the leg on the ground. I learned the lesson the hard way that if I don't, and I look over my shoulder, I go boom. :) Pretty easy for the body weight to shift and dump me on the side still clipped in. My learning curve for this was not quite steep enough. ;)

[crazycanuck]

I normally put my left foot down if i have to come to a stop but i'm not sure if i lean sideways or forwards.

I have a short story...When we visited Canada last year we did a ride with Grog then LBTC. I think it would have been a good idea on my part to remember '(geez, being Canadian you'd think i'd remember) which side the sidewalks are on..! I found riding up north very confusing (never mind riding in traffic too...:eek:) as I had to switch everything around in my head.

I won't tell you about our driving experiences while we were there...

[Pink Diva]

I do exactly what tctrek does except I unclip my right foot. I'm still mastering the technique, but I'm getting so that I don't look like a total idiot stopping anymore :cool:

[wackyjacky1]

Yeah, I unclip my right foot, begin braking, slide off the saddle, and put my foot on the ground as I come to a complete stop.

I've always been a right foot unclipper. I'm sure I would fall over if I ever tried the other foot. Early in my cycling I read somewhere that you should pick one foot to unclip and make a habit of it so that it becomes automatic. I picked my right foot because I do like to rest my foot on the curb and stay in the saddle whenever it's safe to do so.

[Fredwina]

one thing that I haven't seen mentioned is to shift to an easier gear before you stop(if you can). Makes getting started easier.

[PamNY]

Thanks for all these replies, each of which has been helpful. NY Biker, the Outside piece was informative; even though I'm not clipped, it's the same principle.

It's a good time of year to practice this stuff -- not so many people on the bike path.

Pam