How do you push?

SimonAH

On those rare occasions when you're not using the thews of steel to turn your crank into an oval blur how do you push your machine?

Personally? From the saddle, not to pose but so's I don't keep smacking the same spot on my leg with the pointy bits on my track pedals.

Mr Plum

From the saddle. Anything else just feels a bit clumsy and awkward.

t4tomo

definately by the saddle using a bit of lea to steer it hrough the commuters at Euston.

A womon once jumped in shock as I was just behind and to the side of her as the bike had overtaken her, but she hadn't clocked me - she thought the bike was as super-well balanced runaway!

lost_in_thought

Always by the bars, I've tried pushing it by the saddle, but it just doesn't seem to work - the handlebars are too turny or I'm too lacking in coordination!

dhope

Saddle, or handlebars if it's a heavy bike

jonginge

Always the bars/stem. For me, it's way more maneuverable. I've also tried the saddle technique: not great unless your headset is a bit knackered

rolf_f

lost_in_thought wrote:

Always by the bars, I've tried pushing it by the saddle, but it just doesn't seem to work - the handlebars are too turny or I'm too lacking in coordination!

This is why she isn't allowed anywhere near the Spitfire!

rjsterry

Right hand at arms length on the stem: easy to control with other hand free and the bike is far enough away to not kick the pedals.

Clever Pun

JonGinge wrote:

Always the bars/stem. For me, it's way more maneuverable. I've also tried the saddle technique: not great unless your headset is a bit knackered

When I'm pushing the bike there's generally peds about so the stem just gives more control. pushing by the seat like that and it'll be clipped all the time making progress awkward

redvee

Rolf F wrote:

This is why she isn't allowed anywhere near the Spitfire!

kelsen

Depends which bike really. The Tricross goes all over the place if I try to push it by the saddle whereas the weekend bikes are pretty stable by the same method.

Agent57

I selected bars in the poll, but then I thought about it and realised that most of the time I probably use the stem. Sometimes the saddle.

Mr Plum

kelsen wrote:

Depends which bike really. The Tricross goes all over the place if I try to push it by the saddle whereas the weekend bikes are pretty stable by the same method.

Pushed my Tricross 3 miles by the saddle a couple of months ago when I got a puncture I couldn't repair. Easy when you've got a bit of balance/hand-eye coordination :P ...granted I was walking along empty rural roads with no peds to clip the bars.

Generally I find that pushing it by the bars or stem gives me arm/back ache after a couple of hundred meters - with the saddle I can walk in a very natural upright position and it's very little effort.

hatbeard

I thought the point of a cross bike was you can chuck it over your shoulder

ride_whenever

If quiet then the saddle, bars for more control. Although I've found out today that the cables on the caad are so short that there is no need for anything other than the saddle!

notsoblue

hatbeard wrote:

I thought the point of a cross bike was you can chuck it over your shoulder

You mean portage....

rick_chasey

The answer should really be for anyone who considers themselves a 'true' cyclist:

" I never push my bike. I only ride my bike."

Agent57

Rick Chasey wrote:

The answer should really be for anyone who considers themselves a 'true' cyclist:

" I never push my bike. I only ride my bike."

What about through pedestrianised town centres with "no cycling" signs? O_o

richk

I had to push this morning when my chain broke

Used all 3 listed methods at differing times...

kelsen

Agent57 wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

The answer should really be for anyone who considers themselves a 'true' cyclist:

" I never push my bike. I only ride my bike."

What about through pedestrianised town centres with "no cycling" signs? O_o

I think the comeback to that would be "Ride around it of course!"

mkirby

Stem for me. If i push by the saddle i end up doing ever decreasing circles.

thecrofter

Saddle, let's just be honest, 'cos it looks cooler!!

CiB

Saddle, obviously.

When wheeling Boy Jr's bike back from school in the morning [his mum collects him in the evenings in the car] I like to ride mine & steer his one-handed alongside, as that has to be the coolest thing you can do when you're 14. Prob not if you're a bit beyond that tho.

dhope

CiB wrote:

Saddle, obviously.

When wheeling Boy Jr's bike back from school in the morning [his mum collects him in the evenings in the car] I like to ride mine & steer his one-handed alongside, as that has to be the coolest thing you can do when you're 14. Prob not if you're a bit beyond that tho.

There was a guy doing this on the way back from work yesterday. Not sure I'd fancy cycling one handed and steering another back in rush hour by London Bridge though.

soundninjauk

Stem. If I try from the saddle I suddenly find myself walking my bike into the nearest hedge.

mudcovered

hatbeard wrote:

I thought the point of a cross bike was you can chuck it over your shoulder

Oh yes. Had to do it on a couple of occasions this year. Once when I got a puncture and once when I blew out my rather over worn back tyre in the middle of the countryside. :oops:

First occasion was a carry of about 0.5 miles and second about 4 miles. I can now seriously vouch for the Kona Jake as a cross bike you can carry comfortably.

Mike

itboffin

mind control natch - why dont you ...?

rjsterry

CiB wrote:

Saddle, obviously.

When wheeling Boy Jr's bike back from school in the morning [his mum collects him in the evenings in the car] I like to ride mine & steer his one-handed alongside, as that has to be the coolest thing you can do when you're 14. Prob not if you're a bit beyond that tho.

Mad skillz <ahem> indeed. Think I'd painfully write off both bikes if that were me.

SimonAH

When I bought the Curbside for MrsAH before Christmas I had Wiggle deliver it to my office. Built it up at lunchtime and then trided the one-had push one-hand steer technique to get it home.

Unfortunately I'm reasonably large and MrsAH is vanishingly small so the bar-height differnce was not feasible.

I ended up by riding mine with the Felt slung over the shoulder 'cross style' all the way home - not very comfortable, but got there!