Wheel Flop?

[Bike Writer]

@Bethany1, thanks for the time to explain. I have never heard the term "wheel flop" and am visual, so I watched a video on the topic and now see what you mean. I can understand being tall with the seat up high and the flexibility trying to get that leg up & over. No worries. My only suggestion, and this is a long term thing, would be to increase your flexibility. I found that when I started doing yoga regularly my balance improved a lot. Balance requires practice and uses muscle memory just like other physical activities.
Good luck. Let us know how any adjustments you make affect the situation.

I also am having a hard time with the visulization but I think I'm getting it. I googled wheel flop video and have not had the results I am looking for.

VV, could you post the link to that video please?

I believe I have this problem also, or should say that I had this problem and have overcome it pretty much but from time to time I struggle with it. When I first started riding again after many years absence, I found that bikes nowdays seemed to do "something strange" and I don't recall that as a kid. By "something strange" I am refering to what I believe is wheel flop (if I'm getting wheel flop correctly), namely that being short and very short legged I have to lean my bike to get a leg over the wheel when mounting and dismounting the bike. I am much more stable at it now but when I first returned to riding I fell alot when I was either mounting or dismounting the bike and while it all happened so fast, it always seemed like the bike was falling on me or causing me to fall because the front wheel spun and flopped toward the ground and would take me with it. I don't recall wheels being so heavy when I was a kid and wonder what changed?

This rarely happens to me now, but I am assuming that it doesn't anymore because of a few factors:

1. I am getting stronger
2. I am getting more flexible
3. My balance has gotten better
4. I have found a way to counteract this or compensate for it
5. All of the above.

and

[Velocivixen]

@Bike Writer, it's not a video of a person or a bike, but it gave me the idea. Here's the link to this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf47CX4S5Do

Watch the whole video.

[Bike Writer]

VV, thank you. That was one of the videos that came up when I googled it and it does help to visualize what is happening but the thing that threw me off was that in wikipedia it specifically mentioned this happens in two in-line wheeled vehicles and left out trikes or motorcycles with side cars.

I still wonder what is different about bicycle construction now because I just don't remember this being a problem when I was a kid. The only time I struggled as a kid was if I tried to ride a bike that was too big for me and if I did I got that same sense of lack of control when starting and stopping. For quite a while I assumed that the first bike I got last year was too big for me and that is why I had problems.

My new bike is better sized for me but I still had this happen once, that feeling like it was just getting away from me while dismounting.

[OakLeaf]

Keep ahold of both brakes. Don't let go until both feet are on the same side of the bike. Then the wheel won't go anyplace you don't let it.

As you slow to a stop, remember to turn your bars AWAY from the foot you intend to put down. (If you unclip left, e.g., turn your bars to the right.)

Choose which foot you prefer to put down first, and make a habit of that so you don't have to think about which foot it's going to be each time. It's good to be able to unclip either side, in case of poor footing or emergency stops, but that's something you can practice after you're confident unclipping with one foot.

Practice standing on the pedals when you aren't stopping. Get used to how your balance feels standing. Stopping and starting is just standing on the pedals for a moment.

[Velocivixen]

@Oakleaf, that's a brilliant suggestion about keeping the brakes on until both feet are on the same side of the bike! The way you describe how to turn the handlebars in the opposite side of the foot you put down is exactly how I do it without thinking. Interesting to actually hear someone describe it. Thanks.

[Bike Writer]

@oakleaf, I paid more attention to myself when slowing/stopping and realized that I do hold onto the brakes until I have feet firmly planted on the ground. I don't think I always did this but I do now. I also noted that I turned my handlebars slightly away from the side I was going to dismount from. I don't know when I started doing this but my body must have figured out a way to deal with this through trial and error.

I don't use clipped or clipless pedals, yikes that would add another whole dimension to this experience that I am not ready for!