Here's a question - how do you guys and gals manage stop signs when you have to start again going up a hill? That's about the last obstacle/hurdle I have as far as making buying decision.

Let me know - thanks.

Ummm, I put down my feet, and then when it's clear, I put my feet on the pedals again and go.....it's not rocket science! The higher a gear you're in, the tougher it becomes, obviously.

You can also slow down and check out an intersection before you stop. You may not have to actually come to a complete stop if the road is clear.

I advocate a complete stop, as that's the law!

That being said, there are two kinds of stops. One, where there is no reason to stop for traffic, in which I come to a complete stop, stay clipped in, with pedals in 3 and 9 oclock position, and pedal away as soon as I've stopped. Two, is with traffic involved. Stop, unclipped, feet or foot down, and then go when it is clear.

On a recumbent, facing a hill, it ain't that easy !!!

Ummm, I put down my feet, and then when it's clear, I put my feet on the pedals again and go.....it's not rocket science! The higher a gear you're in, the tougher it becomes, obviously.

On a recumbent, facing a hill, it ain't that easy !!!
Sure it is. Gear way down as you approach, and don't be afraid to use small rings.

If the grade after stop sign is like 6 degrees plus - then what? There ain't no way I'm hoppin' on and getting the rig going from a dead stop on that kinda grade :)

On a recumbent, facing a hill, it ain't that easy !!!

OK, it's not as easy as falling off the bar stool after too many beers but really, it's not impossible. You make your stop after dropping into granny gears. Don't clip in until you're comfortably spinning along if you are using clipless.

Oh yes, and don't death grip the handlebars and pull hard against them as that will cause you to oversteer and wobble all over the place. Find a quiet hill on which to practice.

If the grade after stop sign is like 6 degrees plus - then what? There ain't no way I'm hoppin' on and getting the rig going from a dead stop on that kinda grade :)
Sure you can. Granny ring, one of the larger cogs. You can start a lot steeper than that.

Forget the bike......get a TRIKE!!!!
and you won't have that problem, it's more relaxing and it's a heck of a lot more fun too!!!!!!!!!

Get a Trike ????? I do hope to ... some day :)

For me, I also drop to a very low gear right before the stop. At the stop, I always put one foot down "leaning the bike slightly that way" keeping the other foot clipped in. When taking off, I push off a bit with the down foot, then intentionally spin "pushing and pulling" with the clipped-in foot to get a bit of momentum. I then worry about getting the other foot on the pedal and clipped in. Since I use the combo cage / SPD pedals, I often have to quickly flick the pedal with the toe of my shoe so the SPD side is towards me. It did take me a bit of practice to where I felt assured I could do it without worries even on hills. At times I find it best to have the "I can do this" attitude vs. the "I don't know if I can, and fear the penalty if I don't"

Forget the bike......get a TRIKE!!!!
and you won't have that problem, it's more relaxing and it's a heck of a lot more fun too!!!!!!!!!
For stop and go, trikes are the only way to ride. If I'm only going to putter about in town, that's what I always choose.

Gear down and like Vik says, do a rolling stop while watching for cars. If there's light traffic and enough room, you can also usually make a right turn without stopping.

It'll come with practice. That was my last hurdle too.

Though there are certainly exceptions out there lurking somewhere to test us, I've never encountered a stop sign on a hill steep enough to cause any big problems.

I first practiced uphill starts on our driveway which has a 14 degree slope. Since I did not know that at the time, it learning wasn't too tough.

All my adventures in involuntary low speed handling come on fairly flat ground, riding in the big ring and one of the small cogs, and then making a water or dewatering stop. The gear that was so easy to turn at 18 MPH all of a sudden wants to put up a fight when it's time to start.

Some have suggested the biggest/smallest combination as a fine theft deterrent when the bike is parked where the major risk is a ride off. <G>

I've found that thinking ahead and gearing down is important, but I've also found that gearing too far down is not good either. You start to spin too quickly and too easily and there's little resistance so balance is tougher. Experiment a bit and you'll find and automatically pick the correct gear for the grade.
Once or twice on a really steep stop I'v made sure there was no traffic and started out sideways, even a bit downhill then turned uphill once I got going. Don't do it in heavy traffic though!

My hill home is about 7-9 % and I never make it up it, so stopping and starting has become easier as time goes on. :)

Gearing down as mentioned above is the key.

Steven

Get into low gear before you stop. What else???

Right offhand, I can't think how I'd work that on a steep uphill on a regular bicycle. But I don't recall ever passing an intersection cluttered with stalled cyclists, either.

For stop and go, trikes are the only way to ride. If I'm only going to putter about in town, that's what I always choose.



Trikes are good for 'puttering' out side of town too.....I do it every chance I get.

It takes a little practice, but it won't take you long to be able to start your bike from rest on a steep uphill. (There is one short climb outside my office which I measured at 12 percent grade. When I first bought a recumbent, I would stall on that section even if I was already moving. Within a few weeks, though, I could start from rest on it with no trouble, as long as I'm geared way down.)

Worst-case scenario, though...if there's a stop sign, there must be a cross street. If you really can't get the bike started again -- forgot to gear down far enough before stopping, maybe -- you could always turn right onto the (hopefully less steep) cross street, pull a U-turn, and turn right again.

I've started from a dead stop on an 8% grade; and if I can do it with a lowracer,then just about anybody should be able to do it with a more normal recumbent.

"Never stop anywhere on a public thoroughfare without gearing down to first gear first."

That's my advice. I follow it -- most of the time. When I forgot to downshift is when I've had beaucoup de trouble.

Here's a question - how do you guys and gals manage stop signs when you have to start again going up a hill? That's about the last obstacle/hurdle I have as far as making buying decision.

Let me know - thanks.

Basically, all it takes is 3 things. PRACTICE, PRACTICE and PRACTICE.