I have a confession...starting the bike

[Catrin]

This really should not still be a problem considering my weekly mileage and the fact that I've put about 1,500 miles on my bike since June. That isn't that much for many cyclists, but I am pretty pleased with it since it is my first year :) Before my hamstring problem I was averaging 110-130 miles a week.

My recent hamstring injury seems to be related to my saddle height. Currently it is rather lower than it should be because of how I have to start. I KNOW it is some mental thing... I simply must start the bike with my butt on the saddle. I know this is bad, I know it isn't right. However, there you go. Every time I try to do it the other way my body just freezes and I don't get anywhere except to perhaps fall over.

I understand the concept well enough, with the bike in a gear high enough to give me some power, I simply need to stand on the ground and use my dominant leg to start the crank and lift myself up on the saddle all in one movement. I've watched people, and it looks so very easy. I've watched You Tube.

I just have been unable to actually DO it - and this is frustrating. I thought the saddle height was high enough as my knees have not bothered me.

If I can't get this figured out soon then I am considering hiring a private instructor to help me, but it would certainly be best if I don't need to go to that expense. Has anyone else had this problem and, if so, how were you able to solve it?

I know there are other threads related on how to do it, and I started one of them. I will go back and look at them - it is the whole body-freezing-when-I-try-to-do-it that I am trying to figure out. If I can just do this ONCE I think the problem will be solved :o

[OakLeaf]

Y'know, I thought about Knott's new kick scooter...

Probably too expensive for you to buy for the purpose, but if you know anyone with a kick scooter you could borrow, it could get you used to the feeling of rolling in standing position with your body slightly off-center ... just like you do when you start a bicycle.

[lph]

Forgive me while I bombard you with questions. But this makes the situation clearer to me, and may possibly give you tips to exercises to try too:

- do you ride clipless/with straps or with "loose feet"
- can you stand and pedal?
- if so can you stand and pedal only with a lot of opposing force (uphill, hard gear) or can you stand and pedal also when the pedals are spinning quite easily?
- can you stand and coast?
- can you stand and coast on one foot, with the other foot unweighted or completely off the pedal?
- sitting on the saddle, can you take both feet off the pedals and still feel in control?
- roughly how much percentage weight would you say you have on your hands, when riding seated normally?

Just trying to get a feel for how your balance is. Personally I have quite low handlebars, and won't put my butt on my saddle until I know I'm up to speed and well-balanced.

[Catrin]

Forgive me while I bombard you with questions. But this makes the situation clearer to me, and may possibly give you tips to exercises to try too:

- do you ride clipless/with straps or with "loose feet"
- can you stand and pedal?
- if so can you stand and pedal only with a lot of opposing force (uphill, hard gear) or can you stand and pedal also when the pedals are spinning quite easily?
- can you stand and coast?
- can you stand and coast on one foot, with the other foot unweighted or completely off the pedal?
- sitting on the saddle, can you take both feet off the pedals and still feel in control?
- roughly how much percentage weight would you say you have on your hands, when riding seated normally?

Just trying to get a feel for how your balance is. Personally I have quite low handlebars, and won't put my butt on my saddle until I know I'm up to speed and well-balanced.

Until about a month ago I rode BMX pedals with no toe clips. I now ride clipless with spd/platform pedals and clip in all the time now.

I have never tried to stand and pedal, or to stand and coast. I have started to coast from time to time with my butt raised off the saddle a bit to relieve it. I am trying to get to the point where I can stand and coast.

I have never tried to take both feet off the pedals deliberately - though I suspect that would be quite scary :eek: However, back before I got my BMX pedals, my feet bounced off my original plastic platform pedals on a regular basis so I learned how to deal with it - and was quite thankful for my BMX pedals when I got them :)

My riding position is quite upright, most of my weight is on my saddle. I've arthritic hands and I can't put a large amount of weight on them (hence my expensive conversion from road to mountain bars).

My fitter is reluctant to raise my saddle to where it should be until I can solve this. He is afraid that I will fall over & hurt myself if we do this too quickly - and I think he is right. So we are trying to, basically, trick my head by raising it just a few mm at a time. If I can solve this before then then hopefully it won't take quite so long to get there.

[Melalvai]

I think you need to get this solved before you go back to riding 100+ miles a week. I know you are persistent and I'm confident you'll get it figured out.

Here are my suggestions:

Straddle the bike. Put your dominant foot in the DOWN position on the pedal. Use your other foot to push yourself a long like a scooter. That might get you more comfortable with that starting sequence.

Do the same thing, only this time your dominant foot in a HALF-UP position (so that you don't go too fast), and instead of using your other foot to push you along, use the 1/4 pedal stroke to push. In other words go from the half-up position to the down position but no further. Since you have clips you can immediately get the pedal back into the half-up position for the next push. Keep your other foot down, lifting it just enough to move along a little.

I think someone else mentioned practicing standing on the pedals while you're riding. That might be challenging at your comfort level and ability but give it a try.

I saw someone do an unusual bike mount, which looks more difficult to me, but maybe it's natural to some people. He did NOT straddle the bike, but put his one foot on the pedal, pushed down and in one smooth motion while he was moving, he swung his other leg up and over the seat.

You said you know you're supposed to start off in a high enough gear to get some momentum. Try a lower gear. It'll start you off slower.

Good luck! I know you'll find something that works!

[hebe]

I've been doing some practice of this earlier today. My sticking point is worrying about my calf being hit by the pedal as it whizzes around, which of course has never actually happened. I straddle the bike in front of the saddle, with my dominant pedal at about 2 or 3 o'clock, push down hard and hope. I'm a bit wobbly when setting off but hopefully that will sort itself out with time. It's a great thing to practise in a carpark or on a cul de sac with hardly any traffic. My instructor gave me 10minutes work on it at the end of a lesson when it became clear I was struggling to set off on a short steep uphill gradient. I agree with gradually raising the saddle too, my riding is so much more comfortable and I'm sure I can go a little higher still once I'm comfortable with starting and stopping unseated.

[Catrin]

Yes Melalvai, I sadly agree that I should solve this before returning to my 70+ mile rides... my current method just works so well that I have not had an incentive to solve it. That has changed - so will stick to <50 mile rides until it is solved.

Thanks Hebe - I understand the concept - it is just that my body freezes when I try to do it... it is some kind of mental block that I have :(

So back to my favorite park to practice tonight... At least the 70+ temps will be nice :D

[Blueberry]

What about putting the bike in a trainer, do you can "practice" standing without the bike moving?

[lph]

I can understand how you're unhappy about not being seated if you normally ride in an upright position with a lot of weight on your saddle and rarely stand on your pedals. The feeling of having your weight on your pedals is quite different from sitting, especially if you have little weight on your hands.

I agree that practicing scooting along on one foot especially sounds like a good exercise. The bike will feel "swingy" and wobbly at first at low speed until you get used to steering more with your feet and hands.

I'd also suggest practicing lifting your weight up off your saddle while riding or coasting. Don't "lose" the saddle completely, keep some pressure against your thigh (this is easier if you lean the bike slightly towards one thigh instead of trying to balance it dead centre). This should force you to start balancing more with your feet and hands. When you're comfortable just standing, try moving the bike around a little, riding gentle curves while coasting downhill.

I'm not an instructor or anything though, but from rock climbing I know that complex movements involving balance have to be broken down into small steps. And the older you are, the more time you have to spend settling each step. :) I don't think you have a mental block, you just have no muscle memory of how to do it.

I spent forever underwater teaching myself the "back-bend" necessary to dive backwards into the pool. And then one day I just up and did it.

[Roadtrip]

Oh my gosh, I thought I was the ONLY one who had to get going with my butt already up in the saddle. I NEVER could get that power take off during my lessons with the instructor and froze every time. I discovered with my (heavy) cruiser, I had AMPLE power in my right leg to begin the setting off process while using the saddle as leverage, so I showed the instructor and he was good with it (for now) as he wanted me up and riding and feeling more confidant.

At some point I know I'll have to revisit this :rolleyes:

My saddle height is at a normal position.. I can barely touch my toes to ground when I'm up in the saddle and have just a slight bend in my leg while crank is all the way down. Now I know this is on a cruiser and completely upright position. Totally different bikes.

Good luck!!
Shannon

[Catrin]

What about putting the bike in a trainer, do you can "practice" standing without the bike moving?

I can do this, but it is an entirely different dynamic as the bike can't fall over :o I could use clipless on the trainer and spinning bikes 6 months before I could on the road.

LPH, your comment about it being a lack of muscle memory seems spot-on! I hadn't thought about that being the problem, it makes sense. Lots of practice in my future...

[hebe]

Don't "lose" the saddle completely, keep some pressure against your thigh (this is easier if you lean the bike slightly towards one thigh instead of trying to balance it dead centre).

This! I did this by accident today and it gave me a much smoother set-off. I shall try it again now I know it wasn't a fluke. Thank you lph, and good luck Catrin!

[Owlie]

I am going to tell you a story that as far as I know is known to only four people.
And you may laugh.

When I first bought the bike, I had a real mental block on getting onto the saddle. The nose would get caught on my shorts and it would throw me (still happens, but not as often). My first ride, I was standing on part of the trail in my cheap shorts and borrowed jersey, all frustrated because I could.not. get. on. the. bike. I said to DBF "I think my seat's too high." He fiddled with it for a bit (I was still straddling the bike), then he told me to get on the bike and go. I got on the bike with no problems, and off we went.

In the car on the way back from the trail, DBF turned to me and said "Do you want to know what I did to your seatpost?" I looked at him confusedly. He grinned and said "Nothing." I didn't know whether I wanted to collapse in a heap laughing or smack him.

[lph]

:D :D :D

Go dh!

[ny biker]

with the bike in a gear high enough to give me some power

I start in a low gear so it's easy to pedal with only one foot clipped in.

I start with my left foot clipped in at around 1:00-2:00. Push the left foot/pedal forward and slide back onto the saddle. Once I'm seated, I clip in with the right foot.

The benefit of having it in a low gear is that if I have trouble clipping in, I can just keep pedaling with the left foot so I have some momemtum.

[OakLeaf]

She's right that you don't want it in TOO low a gear though. IIRC, Catrin's bike is geared quite low. I think for learning, you want it in a middle-ish gear. You're only going to be pushing the pedal about 1/3 of a revolution before you get on, so you need that to propel the bike fast enough that the gyroscopic forces of the wheel will keep you upright.

Here's a little game that might help you understand that the bike WANTS to stay upright.

Take your front wheel off. Hold it in both hands by the ends of the skewer, and have someone spin the wheel, kind of hard. Now try to tilt the wheel side to side.

That's what keeps your bike upright.

[Catrin]

I start in a low gear so it's easy to pedal with only one foot clipped in.

I start with my left foot clipped in at around 1:00-2:00. Push the left foot/pedal forward and slide back onto the saddle. Once I'm seated, I clip in with the right foot...


You start with it that far back? I thought it needed to be more like 10-11:00. I am going to try these things tonight and see how it goes.


She's right that you don't want it in TOO low a gear though. IIRC, Catrin's bike is geared quite low. I think for learning, you want it in a middle-ish gear. You're only going to be pushing the pedal about 1/3 of a revolution before you get on, so you need that to propel the bike fast enough that the gyroscopic forces of the wheel will keep you upright.

Here's a little game that might help you understand that the bike WANTS to stay upright.

Take your front wheel off. Hold it in both hands by the ends of the skewer, and have someone spin the wheel, kind of hard. Now try to tilt the wheel side to side.

That's what keeps your bike upright.

Yes, my LHT is geared quite low - it has that lovely full mountain bike rear cassette (11-32). I have taught myself to start in whatever gear I happen to be in, but of course this is different. Will play with a middle gear.

I do have a trainer for a few more weeks until it goes back home. I thought about trying that first - but that is so-not-like-the-real-thing when it is so nice and warm outside today. Seems better to go play in the 70+ degrees while I can :)

Part of the problem in the past may have been from not trusting my foot to stay on the platform pedal - but of course - I am attached to the pedal now... Someone also suggested that I may well be faster once my legs can extend properly. That is another incentive ;)

[sarahspins]

You start with it that far back? I thought it needed to be more like 10-11:00.

I think it depends on which side of the bike you're looking from.. I generally start with mine at about 2 o'clock... if you were looking from the right side (I start with my right foot on the pedal).

[Catrin]

I kind of sort of did it :D I suppose it depends on how much one's definition - but it was a good beginning.

So there I was, in an empty parking lot. Clipped in my right foot and pulled the pedal up to about 1:00. Then my body just froze. My mind knew what to do but my body said "no I am not doing that". Then I remembered what someone said about it perhaps being a matter of muscle memory and I thought of a middle approach.

I brought my pedal back up to 1:00 then pushed on the pedal and somehow slid the saddle under my butt and just took off. It was certainly my fastest start of all time - normally I have to situate myself on the saddle, shift my butt or my left foot that is on the ground around and finally take off. This was fast once I actually committed, and I did the same thing again when I stopped at an outhouse.

Once the ride was over I tried to start more "properly" and almost succeeded, but my saddle got caught in my shorts as my butt wasn't clearing the saddle. THIS is where the muscle memory comes in I think.

During my ride I tried to get as close as I could to standing while coasting - and I got pretty darn close. I remembered what someone said about allowing the saddle to lean a little against my thigh and that was quite helpful. I think once my body is more accustomed to standing on a moving two-wheel object in motion that the problem will solve itself. Kind of like the clipless thing took care of itself in time :)

You know, my saddle is only an inch or so too low. It is amazing to me that small distance could be such a bother to the joints and so forth. Someone also suggested in an email that I may well be faster once my legs are extended properly.

[OakLeaf]

You know, my saddle is only an inch or so too low. It is amazing to me that small distance could be such a bother to the joints and so forth.

Girl, three MILLIMETERS make a huge difference to my joints...

[Catrin]

Girl, three MILLIMETERS make a huge difference to my joints...

I am getting ready to bring it up about 3 mm, we did that two weeks ago... I KNOW it matters, but I was riding for such long distances without any trouble... but then my hip flexors got really, really tight, and perhaps that had something to do with the hamstring, I really do not know. I DO know, however, that my leg is finally healed and I do not want further trouble due to something that I can fix.

[GLC1968]

Someone also suggested in an email that I may well be faster once my legs are extended properly.

This is likely true. When I first got my professional fit, the woman raised my saddle by almost 2 cm. I was terrified (and stunned - my legs are so short!) but apparently it had something to do with flexability. Anyway, my power output doubled immediately! I don't remember the exact numbers but the trainer she had me set up on had a power meter on it. JUST changing the saddle height made a remarkable difference. Even if you don't get faster, I'm sure you'll see an improvement in efficiency and that may translate into either faster OR the ability to go further.

Good job! Keep working at it. :)

[lph]

I kind of sort of did it :D

W00t! That is so cool :) Congratulations! Now you do have a place to practice from.

[Loraura]

I know you will probably want to immediately skip this suggestion I'm about to make. But really, there is no harm in trying it, and it just might work.

Go get your bike.
Take the seat post and saddle off.


Yes, you read that correctly.

Stand over your seatless bike, and clip in on one side.
Bring that clipped in foot up so your crank arms are parallel to the ground.
With both hands on the handlebars, and brakes in reach, now push that pedal down.

Your bike will have no choice but to go forward, and you will have no choice but to raise your other foot off the ground, so all your weight is on the clipped in peddal.

Then coast there, with your clipped in foot down and your other foot free momentarilly.

Don't worry about clipping the other foot in yet.

Now brake and put your unclipped in foot back down on the ground.

Repeat a zillion times.

Getting started isn't about continuing to pedal. It's about pedalling ONCE hard enough to be able to coast for a few seconds.

When you can do that a few times in a row, just push, coast, stop. Push, coast, stop, then put your seat post and saddle back on, and put it on at the proper height.

Don't worry about sitting on it. You won't be sitting yet.

Just do the same exersize again, without worrying about sitting on the saddle.

Push, coast, stop. Push, coast, stop.

Now you can add in the last step:

Push, coast, sit down, stop whenever you want.

[smittykitty]

I've got no advice. Thought the trainer idea might help. Yoga has really helped me regain balance I lost somewhere through the years, plus Yoga is great for flexibility and relaxation. But I do want to say You Go Girl. You've made great strides in such a short time. Remember most of us learned to do all these so called simple things when we were 5 yrs old and were fearless. Gone are the days of "look ma no hands". You'll get there. Sounds like your getting real close.:)

[featuretile]

First, I want to say how amazing your riding has gone from nothing to so many miles, Catrin.

Then I have a question about this standing and starting thing. I also start with my butt on the saddle. But my bike is tilted over to the side and my left toe is barely touching the ground. My legs seem to be in the right amount of extension when I am riding. I don't have any (hamstring) leg problems. It seems to me that if I raised the saddle any more, I would be too extended. I have gradually raised the height to this point. I ride with half toe clips and flat pedals. Is my body so different that I am in the right amount of extension when I can still barely touch the ground? It's also easier for me to get off this way.

[OakLeaf]

It's not possible for your body to be "different" in that way.

Your bottom bracket is a fixed height from the ground. Your crankarm is a fixed length. Therefore, when your bike is upright, there is a minimum distance that your foot can be from the ground, and remain on the pedal.

On most bikes it's over three inches. I wear size 11 shoes, and my feet aren't THAT big.

[Catrin]

BTW, it is unclear what caused the hamstring problem - while it is healing rather more slowly than I would like, it is improving. If I could force myself to become a slug for a full week then it would likely take care of itself. I am not doing that so I must accept that it just takes time.

I know several people who can, barely, touch their tip-toes to the ground from the saddle, but most people I have spoken to cannot do so. My fitter thinks that I will be able to still just touch the ground when we have it raised the additional inch that will be required.

While my ride today was much shorter than desired or planned, I was able to start in my new way :D I am not actually sure how I am doing it, but it is a much faster way of starting the bike. I think that it might even be correct, but we will see as the saddle height starts to creep up further.

[chicagogal]

First, I want to say how amazing your riding has gone from nothing to so many miles, Catrin.

Then I have a question about this standing and starting thing. I also start with my butt on the saddle. But my bike is tilted over to the side and my left toe is barely touching the ground. My legs seem to be in the right amount of extension when I am riding. I don't have any (hamstring) leg problems. It seems to me that if I raised the saddle any more, I would be too extended. I have gradually raised the height to this point. I ride with half toe clips and flat pedals. Is my body so different that I am in the right amount of extension when I can still barely touch the ground? It's also easier for me to get off this way.

I also often start off in the saddle. With the bike leaned over enough, I can get a toe down onto the ground. My saddle is definitely at the right height. It has been adjusted by a pro-fitter and my position is optimized for power output. Sitting in the saddle and having a foot down only works on flat ground, and even then can be a little unstable, but I have gotten used to it.

Catrin, here is something you can try, to help you get used to pushing off before getting in the saddle: Push off while sitting on your top tube instead. This will help give you the feel of using your bike as a "scooter" since you will just push off and glide (you won't be able to pedal in that position). Once you master that, push off and glide while standing. If you feel unstable at any point, you can just sit down on your top tube. Then push off, glide while standing, and slide your butt back over your saddle!

[DarcyInOregon]

Catrin, the only thing I can add, because you got great advice, is that perhaps the problem is in your core strength or body strength relative to the body's weight. I know you have lost weight and you work out at the gym, but I've noticed in heavier cyclists that they struggle to start the bike and get on the saddle, and when they lose weight and gain strength they are up on the saddle in one easy movement.

Another suggestion, use a spin bike at the gym to practice some skills, when there are no spin classes going on, like standing up and pedaling.

[Catrin]

Thanks again for all of the advice and encouragement. I do not think that my core strength is the problem - I can stand and pedal on the spinning bike for long time periods - I've gone as long as 10-15 minutes outside of class. I always get extra spinning time before class to help build endurance.

It was a little easier yesterday - my body seems to be starting to sort this all out. My hamstring is a little cranky this morning so should probably not ride today as I tend to over-do things and I don't want to reinjure...but will head to the club and check out the elliptical and see if I can do that without hands.

My new "intermediate" starting method doesn't have me gliding more than a nanosecond - left foot on the ground, right foot clipped to the pedal at between 12-1:00 - I push down and somehow my saddle slides under my butt and my left foot winds up on the pedal and off I go - this all happens really fast once I force myself to move. If I think TOO much about what my feet and legs are doing then I freeze...

Part of the thing complicating my recovery that is keeping me off the bike more than I like (and giving me less practice time) is my tendency to ignore pain when I am in the middle of an activity that I enjoy. The hamstring is probably back to 90% but I do NOT want to make matters worse and staff off the bike even longer. As much as I hate to skip days between rides right now... sigh ...I must be addicted to cycling :)

[Bike Writer]

[QUOTE=Catrin;538790]

It was a little easier yesterday - my body seems to be starting to sort this all out...

My new "intermediate" starting method doesn't have me gliding more than a nanosecond - left foot on the ground, right foot clipped to the pedal at between 12-1:00 - I push down and somehow my saddle slides under my butt and my left foot winds up on the pedal and off I go - this all happens really fast...
QUOTE]

LPH gave you good advice (and others too) and I've been following this thread but it took me a while to find this video clip which helped me a lot when I was struggling with starting off...for me it was a two fold problem muscle memory (not enough practice) and forgotten technique (too many years since bike riding was a regular thing). Initially when I began riding again I knew how to ride but the finesse of starting and stopping wasn't there (age, out of condition etc). I was managing to get started and stopped but it wasn't pretty and it was very awkward AND dangerous as I fell a lot and it was not because I was clipped in or strapped in, I don't use those things, it was because I didn't have proper technique. The link below is short but simple and sweet, worked for me and I've not had a fall yet from starting or stopping. I watched it over and over because it's so short. You will find the video about half way down the page.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/starting.html

Good Luck and Great Job! Sounds like you are getting this, maybe this will provide some reinforcement that you are on the right track...

[NDIrishO3]

This might sounds like a weird suggestion, but are you sure you have the correct (for you) foot on the ground vs. on the pedal?

I am right handed and you would think my right leg would be the dominant leg but I just could not get starting and stopping down when I was keeping my right foot in the pedal and putting my left foot down.

Once I realized that my major problem (at least with stopping) was that I kept unclipping left but leaning right, I decided to just go with it and unclip my right foot instead. This naturally meant that my left foot was the one that would have to start me off in the pedal, and ever since then I've been fine! So somehow I am just wired backwards with the dominant foot thing :).

[ny biker]

This might sounds like a weird suggestion, but are you sure you have the correct (for you) foot on the ground vs. on the pedal?

I am right handed and you would think my right leg would be the dominant leg but I just could not get starting and stopping down when I was keeping my right foot in the pedal and putting my left foot down.

Once I realized that my major problem (at least with stopping) was that I kept unclipping left but leaning right, I decided to just go with it and unclip my right foot instead. This naturally meant that my left foot was the one that would have to start me off in the pedal, and ever since then I've been fine! So somehow I am just wired backwards with the dominant foot thing :).

I am right handed and I put my right foot down first when I stop and begin pedaling with my left foot when I start. That's always been my instinct.

[emily_in_nc]

I am right handed and I put my right foot down first when I stop and begin pedaling with my left foot when I start. That's always been my instinct.

+1

And I learned it from DH because of tandeming, which is the first time I ever went clipless, many years ago. Since he's right-handed, he's another +1!

[Catrin]

I do BOTH with the right foot & I am right handed. I suspect that I am 'protecting' my left foot - the back half of it has been reconstructed for the most part.

[OakLeaf]

I'm right handed and put my right foot down first, also.

I suspect I developed that habit from when I used to have the VERY BAD habit of putting my right foot on the curb. :rolleyes:

I don't think I'm really particular which side I mount from, though.

[Laguna]

Perhaps someone else has already mentioned this. And, I don't mean to be too simplistic....but when helping people get used to clipless pedals some people are really helped by finding a fairly soft piece of grass and practicing there.

While not pleasant, the fear of falling is much reduced and neither you or the bike are apt to be injured. Consider wearing a jacket and jeans and if you do fall, no big deal.

Good luck.

[zoom-zoom]

+1

And I learned it from DH because of tandeming, which is the first time I ever went clipless, many years ago. Since he's right-handed, he's another +1!

Hubby and I are both right-handed and put our left feet down. I'm so glad this is the case. Coordinating our feet on the tandem has been tricky enough. :p

[Owlie]

DBF and I are both right-handed. He puts his left foot down, I put my right down. In my case, it's because I'm more comfortable doing it that way, and has the added benefit of not making me clip out with my left foot. (My left ankle has some range-of-motion issues from breaking it in eighth grade.)

Before I got clipless pedals, though, I'd do BOTH with my right foot. It took a little time for me to break that habit...:rolleyes:

[Catrin]

Before I got clipless pedals, though, I'd do BOTH with my right foot. It took a little time for me to break that habit...:rolleyes:

I still do both with my right foot even though I clip in now :rolleyes:

[KnottedYet]

My new "intermediate" starting method doesn't have me gliding more than a nanosecond - left foot on the ground, right foot clipped to the pedal at between 12-1:00 - I push down and somehow my saddle slides under my butt and my left foot winds up on the pedal and off I go - this all happens really fast once I force myself to move.


I think if I tried to do that I would crash immediately! :eek:

My bottom pedal is the one my foot is on, not the top pedal.
So: left foot on the pedal, pedal at 6:00 or just slightly up. Right foot on ground. Push with right foot (a la a scooter) as as I glide I use the left pedal (still at 6:00) as a step and lift my butt onto the saddle. Once my butt is on the saddle I start pedaling with both feet.

[TxDoc]

Catrin,
not sure it would solve your starting problem - but have you ever tried a cowboy mount instead of first straddling the bike and then starting? It changes the 'two-step-start' into a 'one-single-motion' start, so it may feel more natural...

[Kerry1976]

Catrin, how has this been going for you? I'm having to learn this skill on my new road bike - I've always kept the seat low enough (too low) so my butt could sit on the saddle and my feet would touch the ground. I'm trying to learn this skill on my new bike now. (and the sheldon brown video/page is super helpful, thanks to the poster!). For me, it is far from second-nature and easy, but with a little (okay, a lot) of practice, it is possible. Just wondered how you were doing with it.

[Catrin]

Not going very well, but my saddle is getting up there closer to where it should be. I seem to still be able to figure out how to start with my butt in the saddle - but the important thing is that my seat height is getting up to where it should be :)

Of course, until my leg heals, I am not doing much riding :( The weather does help with that though, so it isn't as hard on me as when it was so nice!

[Kerry1976]

I hope you heal soon!

[MyRubyE]

I hope all is well Catrin. I took it slow too and raised my seat slowly each time. It will come - just believe. Don't worry about it or over think it.

I hope you heal soon.

MRE

http:\\bikesinmotion.blogspot.com