benajah

I just cannot dismount at a full clip, I have to slow way down. Any suggestions as to technique or things I can do to practice? Right now I have to come to a skidding stop.

flargle

1) Don't step through. Just dismount with your right foot behind, it's not any slower or less safe, and it's what the vast majority of elite racers do.
2) Test whether you prefer having your left foot clipped in until the last moment, or unclipping early and resting it on top of the pedal. Personally, I prefer staying clipped in.
3) To get the dismount as fast as possible, you have to move your right hand to the top tube and support a good part of your weight on that right arm before the dismount.

Most importantly:

4) Practice, practice, practice. Start at a crawl, then ever so gradually speed up. Don't speed up until you have it nailed slow.

Cynikal 

Build some PVC barriers but don't glue them together. Set them up in a park with enough space. That way if you completely botch it you won't get hurt.

benajah

good advice. thanks

fietsbob

Simon Burney's cyclocross book is in it's 3rd edition, he has several pages
on dismounts in various situations speeds etc. getting off on a hill is of course different than barriers in a flat surface..

(I just have 1st&2nd edition)..

flargle

Excerpted, with photos, here:
https://www.active.com/cycling/Articl...Remounting.htm

Photo #3 on page 2 is what I meant by supporting your weight on the top tube.

Dan The Man

When I was a kid I used to think it was a really neat trick to stand on both pedals at 9 and 3 O'clock and jump off both pedals at the same time keeping my hands on the handlebars and landing beside your bike. You could probably do it at up to 15 kmph pretty easily (being unclipped). You could do something similar and jump off the back, snagging the seat as it goes past.

But realistically, the easiest way to get off is to just swing your leg over. Find a gentle hill and practice coasting along with one foot on the pedal, the other foot just behind it and both hands on the handlebars. The balance and steering feels a bit different because you are off-centre of your bike. The important thing is not to lean the bike too far or you will have an unpleasant crash.

HawgFuel

watch other people and practice practice practice. I found tons of videos on youtube demonstrating dismounts. It is somewhat intimidating at first but not that difficult once you get the hang of it. If people are passing you through the barriers practice more