"my husband sometimes stays seated on the saddle when he stops at stoplights"


I don't think it's a gender-thing.

There are several "advanced" techinques for stopping and starting. Practice at your own risk ....

Track-standing is where you come to stop and stay completely clipped in to the pedals. This requires practice and good balance (and is a VERY useful skill if you mountain bike). It is easier to do on a ~slight~ incline and if you are ever-so-slightly raised out of the sadddle. Some very talented riders can do it while seated; I once met a girl who could track-stand "no-handed".


When stopping for more than a few moments, I untend to unclip my right foot and "lean" the bike to the right. The saddles is still kind of nestling in my crotch (sorry if that's too graphic!) but my weight is on the foot on the ground. The left pedal is at the "two o'clock" positon. When the light changes, I put weight on the left pedal, right the bike and clip in while standing and pushing off. Does that make sense???

It's probably best to practice these moves in a non-traffic-y area.