Categories: Awesome Belgian GuysEtiquetteLa Vie VelominatusLook Pro

A Study in Casually Deliberate: Start Properly

Sarah Ginsbach demonstrates perfect mounting style. Photo: Allen Kuo

I was recently asked how one is supposed to handle the delicate situation when departing a traffic signal and you are unable to clip in immediately. The obvious answer is that you’re supposed to clip in right away (use your toe to position the pedal and then pop your shoe into it) but I admit that this doesn’t always work out as envisioned. Should you find yourself in a traffic intersection, flailing about trying to clip in, the simple fact is that you are to remain Casually Deliberate at all times: take your time, don’t express any sense of feeling rushed, and possibly pretend like there might be something wrong with either your cleat or pedal.

This brings up a greater worry centered around how we as a group set about starting off initially on our rides. Being bipedal organisms, we struggle with setting a flight on two wheels. In my observations, I have noted that many of us tend to straddle the bike (itself an inelegant maneuver), grasp the bars with both hands, stare longingly at the first pedal as it is engaged with the cleat, before pushing off – an act not without risk given the likelihood of slipping on our cleated shoe – and wobbling about as the other foot is clipped into the pedal. This act is – inexplicably – normally followed by a sprint to get up to speed as if to prove that despite our failings in starting properly, we can still crush fools.

Cyclocross is a sport of savages; it combines the elegance of Cycling with the stated objective to dismount and run over obstacles, as if some mad nutter crossed Cycling with Miniature Golf. Which is not to say that I don’t love Cyclocross (because I do). The sport does give the road Cyclist excellent bike handling skills, not to mention a disciplined approach to remounting the bicycle while in full flight.

This is an art that the ‘Crosser must master as part of the sport and one in which I have failed miserably in for the simple fact that when I go out training, I cannot abide the idea that I would stop riding my bicycle just so I can practice climbing back on it. Be that as it may, the expert rider is able to fluidly run alongside their bike and swing swiftly aboard the thing as though they were about to take a swim in bath of warm jelly.

Whenever I race CX, I am humiliated by my remount, losing dozens of meters at every attempt. That said, I have practiced it just enough to do it properly from a standstill, a skill which serves me well when setting off on any of my road rides.

One is never to straddle the bike prior to setting off. Instead, hold the bars casually with both hands and stand on the left (non-drive) side.
In one swift move, pivot on your left foot while swinging your thigh onto the saddle.
Allow your thigh to slide over the saddle and use it to slip your rump to where you ultimately endeavor to sit.
Simultaneously, push off with your left foot to set the whole operation into motion.
Allow your feet to dangle for a moment while you find your pedals, flip them into position with your toes, and clip in perfectly before casually pedalling off as though it took no concentration whatsoever.

A few notes of caution. Do not try to go all Air Jordan and attempt to get up in the air; you will crush your boy or lady parts. Instead slide onto the inner thigh first, and then slowly engage said crushable parts. Also, if you still fail to engage the pedals, simply use your momentum to roll along as though it were deliberate and take your time to clip in one foot at a time. Also, try to watch where you’re going so as not to roll into oncoming traffic and get killed.

Vive la Vie Velominatus. Please see below for an excellent instruction by GCN.

And, for the world’s fastest bike change:

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

frank says:

Dec 9 2015 at 11:45 am

@RobSandy

Indeed I do, but I also already said 'Crossers are savages.
frank says:

Dec 9 2015 at 11:46 am

@RobSandy, @TheVId

This is proper stoplight waiting form. One should not be living in fear of fucking clipping in.
Chipomarc says:

Dec 9 2015 at 12:42 pm

@frank

@RobSandy, @TheVId

This is proper stoplight waiting form. One should not be living in fear of fucking clipping in.

That looks correct.

Someone doing a long track stand at an intersection begins to look a bit silly. If I arrive at a red light and I'm clipped in with the toe straps and I know it's a stale green for the cross traffic I'll do a short track stand, but that's it.
Chipomarc says:

Dec 9 2015 at 12:55 pm

@frank

@PT, @Apex Nadir, @Ron, @RobSandy, @davidlhill

Remarking on someone’s attractiveness and even joking about it – as is often the case when Cipo’s photos surface around here – is all fine. Certainly in the case of someone like Vicky Pendleton who is outrageously pretty.

But to @Ron’s point, we like to keep it classy and respectful; swinging to far to the other side of the PC pendulum that one isn’t allowed the liberty to remark on someone else’s attractiveness is just as wrong.

The lead photo was chosen because of the composition, the motion, the excellent technique, the fact that the rider Looks Fantastic and because I like promoting women’s cycling whenever I can.

I'm not making anymore comments on women's riding.

But remember just how gross things got back in the good ol 90's on the USENET newsgroups? ' rec.bicycles.racing ' was pretty much x rated and I think just kind of blew up.
frank says:

Dec 9 2015 at 1:01 pm

@Chipomarc

USENET?
Mikael Liddy says:

Dec 9 2015 at 2:02 pm

@Ron

@Apex Nadir

@PT

Maybe its just me but the title photo is a bit sexy isn’t it?

Certainly expected the thread to get there before the 50th post.

As much as those of us who enjoy the beauty of the opposite sex and are males and LOVE females in Lycra FAR FAR more than seeing dudes in Lycra…we try to keep this Community non-greasy.

Thus, 50th post. There is something nice about thinking something and not necessarily expressing it, which I’m typically horrible at, but it is nice to bite your tongue sometimes and just keep the focus on cycling.

The emboldened section was literally running through my head as I read the preceding portion of that sentence!
Mikael Liddy says:

Dec 9 2015 at 2:03 pm

@frank

@RobSandy, @TheVId

This is proper stoplight waiting form. One should not be living in fear of fucking clipping in.

Abso-fucking-lutely! A casual reach behind the bent knee to retrieve the bidon & take a swig is always a nice touch.
brett says:

Dec 9 2015 at 3:03 pm

@Chipomarc

@frank

@RobSandy, @TheVId

This is proper stoplight waiting form. One should not be living in fear of fucking clipping in.

That looks correct.

Someone doing a long track stand at an intersection begins to look a bit silly. If I arrive at a red light and I’m clipped in with the toe straps and I know it’s a stale green for the cross traffic I’ll do a short track stand, but that’s it.

Yes. Trackstanding is just inviting non-Cyclists to think we are (bigger) dickheads (than they already do). My friend @Kah sometimes does it, and it riles me enough to try and push him over.
Owen says:

Dec 9 2015 at 3:11 pm

@Mikael Liddy

@frank

@RobSandy, @TheVId

This is proper stoplight waiting form. One should not be living in fear of fucking clipping in.

Abso-fucking-lutely! A casual reach behind the bent knee to retrieve the bidon & take a swig is always a nice touch.

Ounce of prevention: one should first attempt to approach the light in a controlled fashion so as to avoid the need to unclip OR do a trackstand.
TheVid says:

Dec 9 2015 at 4:06 pm

@Chipomarc

@frank

@RobSandy, @TheVId

Someone doing a long track stand at an intersection begins to look a bit silly. If I arrive at a red light and I’m clipped in with the toe straps and I know it’s a stale green for the cross traffic I’ll do a short track stand, but that’s it.

Yes, I won't disagree that a long track stand can look a bit silly. But once I've started, I won't stop, lest I be judged that I stopped because I had to, not because I wanted to be more casual.

I suppose the best way to show total dominance of skill, while still adhering to the rules would be:

1. If you know the light will change soon as you approach the intersection, adjust your speed accordingly so you need not unclip or track stand.

2. If you know the light will be long, unclip, rest on the top tube as per the above examples and get ready to crush souls upon the green. Once the light in the opposite direction turns yellow, mount up, clip in and track stand until the light changes, then leave the traffic behind you for the next 100m or so (until they inevitably catch up). Thus you show not only your mastery of and unity with your steed, but also your adherence to La Vie Velominatus.