The other thing I would suggest in order to help you carry the bike is to tak off all bottle cages. It makes it easier to put your arm through the bike!

And the clipping in and clipping off in the grass is a very good skill to aquire. I can't do it yet because I get nervous about taking my next step and my left foot not unclipping.

Then again, we had a chick this year who did cross on an old bike with regular peddals, no cage and she kicked all of our behinds!