blinky

I'm a senior in my 70's that has enjoyed road biking ( with a road bike ) for many years - wasn't sure if this question should be in the Adaptive Cycling sub forum - I'm roughly 6"2" with long legs relative to my torso and so my seat is set pretty high ( used the method in LeMond's book to set the height ) - in my younger years I would dismount by holding the bars , left leg on ground , and then swinging the right leg backwards and over the saddle - that maneuver has become impossible - so now I either find a curb or lay the bike down between my legs and then try to get a separation between legs an bike , requires some good balance .

My wife has suggested that ,while holding each seat stay , I go on tip toes and push the bike and saddle forward so now all I have to do is lift my right leg over the rear wheel to freedom - was wondering if any other senior riders have experienced this dilemma and what their solution was or if anyone just has a thought on how to solve this problem - I've even thought about wearing a small backpack with a couple blocks of wood on straps to give me that extra few inches to get the leg back and over the saddle

Thanks in advance for your time and thoughts .
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xroadcharlie

Get one of those mountain bike seats you can lower with the remote.

I ride one of those comfort bikes with sloping tubes to ease my dismount over the low top tube. My next bike will be one of those low entry style, AKA a girls bike...l ain't proud at 64.

shelbyfv

More ideas from a similar thread. Dismount Difficulty Due to Flexibility Decline

Ptcycles

I had to drop down one size of frame to dismount a bike. A few saddle and stem adjustments and I am back at it.

blinky

Thanks , I submitted the question to the 50 Plus sub forum but also thought it would be good to post it here as well .

burnthesheep

I've watched a guy in our one ride group that will rotate his crank, then while standing over the top tube lean the bike way over to that same side he moved the crank up so it doesn't hit the ground. Then he steps over/out. Lowers the top tube or step over by however long your arms can dangle the bike down at an angle.

Not sure what kind of bike you own, but if you own a bike with a round seat tube you could buy a dropper seat post like the MTB folks use. Then when you want to get off lower it down all the way.

DenBoy

I'm in my 80's, and I use a "cowboy" mount & dismount to help me clear the seat. That extra 6" makes such a difference that I use that mount almost exclusively. The rolling dismount takes a little more room, and practice -- but has the same advantage. If I'm stopped in a crowded area I just step a little farther away from the bike (than I.did 30 years ago), and just lean it toward me enough that I can clear the seat w/o giving away my age.

IcySwan1

I, too, and am in my 70s. I can currently dismount OK, but wish I had bought a smaller frame. I see a step through in my future.

Mike

nomadmax 

Lean the bike over toward the drive side and put your left leg over the bars instead of the saddle. Usually it's lower.

HelenP

Maybe a little too creative, but a women’s bike frame.

topnohu

I had to drop down one size of frame to dismount a bike. A few saddle and stem adjustments

pickings

Thanks

Moe Zhoost

I'm in my 70s and have not yet found dismounting a significant challenge; however occasionally I have to abort and retry. Leaning the bike over is very helpful.