I have a confession...starting the bike

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 :)

[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...
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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...

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 :).

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Originally Posted by 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 :).

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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.

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Originally Posted by ny biker

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.

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+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!

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.

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.

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.

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Originally Posted by emily_in_nc

+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!

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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

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:

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Originally Posted by Owlie

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:

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

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Originally Posted by Catrin

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.

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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.

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...

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.

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!