How to Dismount Safely Going Uphill??

[OakLeaf]

IMO it's the better part of valor to dismount BEFORE you're certain to fall over. Sure, there will be times when you wonder whether you gave up too soon ... if you could've made it up that hill. It beats tipping over onto your side and being flattened by a semi. Or even just getting roadrashed.

[Biciclista]

Oakleaf, I could not figure out how to dismount, since i was clipped in. tipping over was the only way I could get off that bike, it was too steep and I didn't want to be in a position where I could get myself hurt.

[OakLeaf]

But that's what I meant.

Once you're in that position, yes your options are limited and there's a probability you'll fall (probably a smaller probability than what it actually FEELS like, but it happens for sure, probably to all of us, it's definitely happened to me).

My point was that now, I dismount BEFORE that happens. When I'm starting to run out of muscle or oxygen and I look up at that hill and it's only getting steeper and/or it's not going to crest any time soon ... that's when I dismount. Not when it's "OMG I'm going to fall over and I need to get off my bike."



ETA: to the OP, you can only actually flip over backwards if your weight is behind the rear axle. It would have to be a steeper hill than I've ever heard of where you couldn't prevent that just by moving your weight over the pedals ... which you naturally do when climbing anyway, to get the force of gravity behind your pedal stroke. What's much more likely to happen is that you un-weight the front wheel enough that it loses traction and slips out from under you.

[Velocivixen]

This is something I will pay attention to next time I do that hill. Thanks to all for your education and advice.

[Librarygirl]

Usually when I get to that point on a hill, the pain of tipping over seems a somewhat better option than the pain in my legs and my lungs!

[marni]

I have been known to check out the traffic behind and ahead and then ride two strokes of so across the road to unclip both feet, swing back into the right hand side and lean over and stop. I have gone over a couple of times sidewise when I couldn't get unclipped and had decided to get off- fortunately I tend to fall to the right most of the time.

The best advice is either to become a super strong I can take every hill rider, or constantly monitor your breathing and muscles against the amount of hill left and get off as soon as it even begins to look like you might not need it.

[Crankin]

I had some issues with this when I was mountain biking, but never on the road. I've walked (i.e. gotten off of my bike) twice, but thankfully before it became critical.
My issue is getting started on a hill. I mean even little rises. I know just about every alternative route to having to stop at a light/stop sign on a little rise, as I have been known to scoot myself across the intersection with my foot... not especially good for the cleats. If I am strong enough to get up big hills, I should be able to do this, but I get totally uncoordinated, especially if it is under pressure due to oncoming traffic.

[Velocivixen]

Thanks Marni & Crankin, fortunately I've gone up this same hill maybe a total of 2-3 more times since I've posted this and haven't had to get off. It's a .2 mile hill and looks deceiving from the bottom. I must say that I usually sit the entire time going up, but last time I decided to stand and pedal - only problem is that I forgot to shift to a higher gear, so I was in a way too easy gear to stand and pedal. I didn't want to shift mid-hill, so I just sucked it up, finally sat down and pedaled. I'm always thrilled when I'm at the top and my heart rate is about 175 bpm!

[indysteel]

It's usually fine to shift mid-hill. Just lighten up on the pedals a bit as you do it. I usually shift in the rear when my pedals are at 3 and 9 for that reason.

[emily_in_nc]

My issue is getting started on a hill. I mean even little rises. I know just about every alternative route to having to stop at a light/stop sign on a little rise, as I have been known to scoot myself across the intersection with my foot... not especially good for the cleats. If I am strong enough to get up big hills, I should be able to do this, but I get totally uncoordinated, especially if it is under pressure due to oncoming traffic.

I often have this problem too, particularly when cars are around (and, I assume, all eyes are on me). I have gotten better about it later, just forcing myself to puch down on the top pedal with all my might, but I still occasionally end up scooting on my toe for a bit!

[Crankin]

Maybe it has something to do with our "short" stature.