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Hello all,
After playing at cross on my mtb last year, I took the plunge and bought a proper bike a few months ago. Love riding it and seem to be getting my technique well sorted, except for one problem. I'm really struggling to remount and maintain speed.
I've been trying to sort this for a couple of months. Every time I try, I seem to either come to a stop or hook my shorts/groin up on the saddle. I've watched plenty of videos and looked at instructional stuff, but just don't seem to be able to get it sorted.
I have wondered if it's a confidence thing, as I have no proble remounting like this on my mtb (which has 100mm of suspension to cushion the blow).
Any hints?
Less baggy shorts, Lower seat post.
Don't lower your seatpost, you're on the bike on a mostly flat course for 99% of the time. You must be in lycra already if you've bought the bike, shirley?!
I can't remount particularly well yet, but the best advice I've had so far is practice doing it in one motion whilst stationary, then work up to speed. Stepping 'into' the bike with the left foot on the last step also helps me.
Try watching a few of these:
http://www.cyclocrossvideos.com/cx/misc/1999_dismount_slow_motion.html
http://bikehugger.com/2008/09/huggacast-56-cross-tips-1.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2mQJkllTKM&feature=related
and one to dream about - the fixed cross dismount!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2gwN_kDLmA
I am definitely rocking the lycra and definitely don't want to lower my post as I'd lose more time than would gain.
Think that's good advice about practice from low/no speed. On reflection, I think I may perhaps have been trying too hard without getting the basics right.
More tips welcome.
Dyffers, just watched the video you suggested on Bikehugger and was most useful. May thanks. Just off to the garden to practice now.