How do you mount your pony?

For the longest time I've always mounted my bicycle from the non drive side. Recently I've developed a bit of pain in my left hip and knee and found it might be necessary to carefully swing my left leg over from the drive side to even out the workload to my body instead.

It feels like I'm learning to ride all over again!

Just curious to see if there are more experienced ambidextrous riders out there and if they have any tips they can share.

Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on February 28, 2019 at 3:17pm

I'm telling you, the prediction/correction "feature" of my Pixel phone is getting worse. Sorry, Arte.

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Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on February 28, 2019 at 11:40am

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Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on February 28, 2019 at 3:26pm

OK, I watched the video. I was thinking in terms of always mounting with a foot already on a pedal. So for me, since I mount from the non-drive side, my left foot goes on the pedal, I push off with my right foot, then swing my right leg over the saddle. The reverse (drive side, push with the left foot, swing left leg over the saddle) is what I can't get the hang of. I am definitely not ambidextrous.

As for the handlebar thing, imagine trying to do it with your left foot already on the pedal. You will hopefully understand my perplexity. :-)

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Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on February 28, 2019 at 4:07pm

Skip, this mounting maneuver is most easily performed by those more limber amongst us. The young and agile. And in this method the left foot is planted on the ground, not on the left pedal. You and I should probably stick with the method where you angle it down than lift it and mount up. :-)

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Permalink Reply by TonyP on February 28, 2019 at 4:19pm

Now I understand.

For myself, the bike ain't moving and a foot ain't in a pedal till I'm straddling the top tube. I'm having trouble enough not pulling an "Arte" without mounting a moving bicycle.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on February 28, 2019 at 8:59am

I've done it from the non-drive side for so many years. A few times I tried it from the drive side due to an injury and found it extremely awkward.

I did develop a modified technique for non-drive side - standing a little further away from the bike and tilting the top of the bike towards me before swinging over, so that the right leg doesn't have to swing as high.