A Study in Casually Deliberate: Start Properly
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:
CX*
XC is a mountain bike format.
I firmly fall into the first method of mounting my road bike. Sadly.
Did I spy Vos being the example at 1:20 of how to not get back on at the top of a hill? If flailing about is good enough for a world champion, it’s good enough for me.
@RedRanger
Your attitude is defeatist. Very disappointing.
@Owen
Your attitude is escaptionalist. Also disappointing.
I prescribe a course of Rule V to you both and expect you to feel better after five to ten hill repeats.
Hmmm…why dismount at all..?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0oGMix5X44
The absolute worst is the “apply force/attach foot/lead with your left, followed by a downward thrust and then throw your right leg over the saddle unknowingly realizing that you aren’t either twisting the left crankarm off or trying to auger the whole damn bike into the ground mount which might have worked on your Schwinn but makes you look like an absolute twat on anything nicer than a Rockhopper so learn how to hop on the saddle and engage both feet within a couple of seconds of each other and ride off or run the risk or looking like a wanker or a dweeb depending on your country of origin.”
@Haldy
Jesus fucking christ. Did you read the article? The V is so strong with you, yet…
@frank
Yes, yes…I read the article. But it is so much more fun just to let fly and have fun. I think it was someone…umm..oh wait..it was YOU who told me nobody actually READS the articles, they just let fly with comments.
@Haldy
What article ?
@Barracuda
My point exactly…I just deemed it the appointed..”it’s time to screw with @frank” hour…
@frank
Not to mention..in my branch of Cycling…we bring people to hold us up when we start a group ride-
Cross is cool, but the Road is smooth. Your mounting style seems a lot like the swimmers’ technique for getting into a rowboat.
1. Stand on the left side of the bike. Kick the left crank to about 9 or 10 o’clock.
2. Firmly grip the hoods, step into the left pedal with the left foot.
3. Push down hard enough to get through the wobble zone, then gracefully swing the right leg over and step into the right pedal.
4. Take a couple of mellow cranks out of the saddle, then gently have a seat.
The steps are numbered, but it’s all one fluid motion.
A word to the wise: keep a firm grip on the bars and keep ’em straight before getting the second leg over or you’ll kiss the pavement. Seriously, with tongue.
Durianrider can be both funny and annoying at the same time, but probably not ever casually deliberate.
^ Amen.
What I would see if I tried the running mount/dismount = Fluidity, grace and style
What others see if I tried the running mount / dismount = new born giraffe trying to walk for the first time.
Best I stick to the one foot pedal/roll/cleat in other foot tried and true method.
Starting off after a traffic stop when on the retro bike running toe clips and missing a engagement I just ride across the intersection pedaling with the pedal in the upside down position until I get to the other side then deal with it.
@frank
Is being escaptional like being exceptional? Because if it is, I like it.
It’s been pouring rain here for days, so it’ll be a 5 and 9 situation.
@Haldy
When is it not “Time to Screw With @Frank Hour?”
@Owen
Well, agreed, but I have to work, train and such so I try to limit my daily taunting. Otherwise I’d be at it all day and not accomplish anything else.
@Haldy
Now given the colouring of your stable I’m hoping you’re one of the immaculately turned out fellows with the pink/blue long sleeves 2nd in from either side. If that’s you far right I’ve a couple of questions about what the holy fuck you have on the lower half of your legs?
@Mikael Liddy
I am in the pink and blue to the left of the pic. To be somewhat( well not really..) fair, this was taken when Marymoor park was taken over by the Susan G Komen 3 day walk. Since my team already wears pink we just had to show up to show support, others made poor choices in adding pink to their ensemble.
Instead of the pink leggings or whatever they were the way to go would have been just a pinkish arm band, then everyone would just think you were wearing a Rapha jersey.
@Chipomarc
Agreed, but I think the pink compression socks was all that was available to him at that moment.
Timing, gentlemen, timing. I either judge the switch on the lights just right (to the annoyance of my already unclipped buddy), or else take the opportunity to practice my track stand….. Or flail around madly whilst grabbing the nearest piece of street furniture.
I can execute a very smooth CX style remount on my mountain bike or commuter, but I’m fucked if I’m going to be doing any sort of running in my road shoes/cleats.
I’ve mediated long and hard on CX, because it looks like a laugh and everyone says I’d be good at it (I have a skill of looking like i’m about to fall off my bike almost constantly, but staying upright), but I think I’ve decided I can’t be doing with a) the hassle of constantly cleaning and repairing a bike and b) running.
@Haldy
That is outstanding
When rolling up to a set of red lights, I tend to ease up to time the green with out unclipping. I try not to get to the front row of cars as they try and give you least amount of space to clip in. Go for a light pole to, sign post to hold yourself up while clipped in a few cars back.
Tried MTB racing with quite a few A over T’s. I’m a bit like Joey, and don’t get to remount;
Casually Deliberate – if you miss with the first couple of attempts then pedal one footed while pretending to shake out the muscles in the other leg, regroup and try again. Repeat as necessary – if you are still repeating a mile or two down the road look for street furniture.
@Haldy
True, but usually the first five posts are people correcting grammar mistakes, and THEN all y’all move on to jumping to conclusions and veering off-subject. I was just surprised to see it start that much sooner. Maybe that’s the curse of not enough typos?
@@BikeMike
Excuse me, this is how my grandmother used to mount her bike.
@Barracuda
@Owen
It is not.
Just to prove the point that Mary V can crush a remount.
@Mikael Liddy
He’s the one with the pink bars, not the pink stripper socks.
@RobSandy
Who said anything about running, FFS. What site do you think you’re on? Keep it Casually Deliberate and do it from a standing start.
@sthilzy
An unexpected bonus of this article is that Joey’s OK resurfaced. Cheers!
@frank
Vos can fly!
So @frank, are you just daring us to see how many us can crush our nuts?
Surely a track stand at traffic signals is both convenient and aesthetically pleasing? I’ve never knowingly missed an opportunity to show off.
@frank
Exactly. Here’s The Prophet demonstrating proper technique:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/30679014/merckx-mount.gif
@RobSandy
Despite a truly ugly WC kit. That woman would lay waste to most people on this site, I’d wager. She’d crush fools and not even take it out of the business end of the Belgian compact.
@frank
Maybe, but to me, I felt the inclusion of the instructional video required a little counteractive taunting
@pistard
This, although he could have a little kick to set off and it would be even more awesomer.
@frank
Can’t ever get enough of the spectacular “Joey” dismount. A salutary lesson for us all on how not to do it.
@frank
So wtf IS “escaptional”??
@Owen
Most people? Everypeople I would wager..
A interesting quick read….
Why Do We Get on Bikes From the Left?
@Oli
Perhaps it’s in the same family as “strategery.”
@Beers
I don’t know everyone, and at least a couple pros hang around, so I’m hedging a little. But I’d bet it’s close to 99%.
^ She’d whoop my ass, that’s for sure. I’d probably thank her for the privilege, too.
@Ccos
Haha, berilliant!
Pedalling one-footed or with cleats balanced on the pedal are pretty handy techniques too. No need to go all the way around with one foot either, just half-pedal and make use of the freewheel.
Maybe its just me but the title photo is a bit sexy isn’t it?