I have a confession...starting the bike

[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