Pushing Your Bike

[Sachica]

Hi ladies,

I wanted to bring up the topic of pushing your bike around when trying to park/move it in tight places. I mean pushing as in standing next to it and pushing it with the handlebars. For a long time I would only move my bike by sitting on it and scooting it with my legs, but after I moved into my current house a year or two ago I had to get into practice of pushing it. We have a shed in the back that we store bikes in, so it isn't safe to ride them into the shed.

I must say that it is a good skill to get comfortable with. It has come in handy when my bike broke down and I had to push it home. Also, it makes me much less intimidated on tall bikes. Most of us feel comfortable riding tall bikes around when our feet are up, but that dreaded moment comes when we have to park it. I just stop some place level, get off, and push it in it's parking spot. This also comes in handy when you have to park on a hill. Way less trauma that way. 

[Ducgirl]

Sachica.... is there sort of a trick to how you balance the bike if you push it? I haven't tried to do that yet as I'm afraid I'll drop it. I have seen people kind of lean the bike on their hip...

[somegirl]

Just takes practice to find the balance.  A slight lean into your hip is good.  Might help to have someone else standing nearby the first time or so that you try it (so that you're not so nervous about potentially dropping it).

It is definitely a good option for us shorties!   Although I can't push it up a hill.

[Sachica]

Sachica.... is there sort of a trick to how you balance the bike if you push it? I haven't tried to do that yet as I'm afraid I'll drop it. I have seen people kind of lean the bike on their hip...

Basically I started by taking it off of it's kickstand and just feeling the weight balance. The bikes are surprisingly light and well balanced when they are straight up and down. Then I just practiced rolling it forward and backwards to get comfortable. I do lean it slightly towards me (a couple of inches) resting on my hip so I make sure it won't pull me over. The thing you want to avoid at all costs is having the bike leaning over away from you, because it can pull you over that way. If it feels really heavy, you are probably leaning it too much into you.

I can only push mine up a hill by getting a running start... and the time the bike broke down I somehow decided it wasn't that far and would be a good idea to push it a mile home... the first quarter mile was ok, but I started having to take breaks every 30 feet, and after I finally got it home I collapsed and couldn't move my arms for two days. 

[maillotpois]

I used to always do the back into my carport by sitting and scooting.  It required a LOT of back and forth maneuvering because of the other car, trailer, motos.  So at my husband's insistence, I've started pushing it instead.  It is a lot easier once I got the hang of it, though I am always afraid it'll tip over on the other side (the side I'm not on).  Which is ridiculous, because it's leaning into me.  But I'm paranoid. 

[zooom]

I would like to bring up 2 very important things on this issue....

1st isn't to scare you, but as a point of fact, the pressure you subject yourself to when pushing a bike while next to it can be bad. On a flat level surface not so much, but up a hill, you can unduly put pressure in places you might not think of. I herniated 2 disks in my lower back ( L5 and S1 ) by pushing my old 01 Monster 900 up a hill. You often when getting tired will moreso put yourself in the point of a wedge formation with the bike making it put pressure down the framework of your body. This is not a good thing to experience or feel, trust me. I did it and I regret it because I was stubborn and bullheaded that I wasn't going to let the bike be where it was and beat me. When you are are pushing uphill, you will find yourself not only fighting the balance weight of force laterally, but the gravitational force of a moving/movable object and it will wear you out and stress and pressure you. So please be careful and aware and listen to your body when it comes to doing things like this.

the 2nd is a trick my soon to be ex uncle-in-law taught me. He worked 3rd shift at the Harley plant in York and he said they often move all the bikes around this way and I was skeptical at 1st, but was amazed when I tried it and got used to it. You stand in front of the bike straddling the front wheel with the headlight in your gut ( or chest or crotch depending on light height and the level of vertical challenge you personally carry ) and you grab the bars. By manuevering the bike this way, you have more leverage and the bike is more situated nuetrally as far as lateral balance. You can also manage the balance quickly and easily when the bike may start to tip uncomfortably one way or another by a simple turning of the bars and you have easy leverage to right it instantly. You also use your core to push the bike this way as apposed to your upper body and arms. I have done this with all of my bikes since I learned this and it has saved me alot of grief and struggle in certain regards, especially in tighter situational circumstances when the space accomodation to be next to the bike isn't necessarily there and available.  No matter the weight of the vehicle either, it feels roughly the same, the only difference is the amount of leverage you might have when you try doing it with bikes that have clip-ons versus bars.

[mangeldbug]

I am short and cannot physically push the bike while seated on it - my toes barely touch the ground.  Im not 100% comfortable with pushing the bike around while standing next to it, again probably has something to do with my height, but I can do it.  I typically lean it against my hip, but I have gotten better about holding it upright away from my body.  But I will sometimes get my husband to do it for me when in gravel or on hills...

[Slide Panda]

One thought on this subject - get a spotter if you're uncomfortable. It's a tried an true method for learning a difficult, physically strenuous task. Having someone at the tail end of the bike, just in case can help with the mental hurdle of standing the bike up while standing beside it. The spotter's not there to do any of the work - hopefully it all goes well and they aren't needed at all, but just that presence can help.

Alternately, if you know someone with a dirt bike, try that first if they will let you. Dirt bikes are lighter, generally, than monsters. Get a feel for something lighter and move on to the heavy stuff. 

[victor441]

I would like to bring up 2 very important things on this issue....
the 2nd is a trick

thanks!...that really does work well, have been pushing (and riding bikes for many years but that never occurred to me...

[mangeldbug]

Alternately, if you know someone with a dirt bike, try that first if they will let you. Dirt bikes are lighter, generally, than monsters. Get a feel for something lighter and move on to the heavy stuff. 

Dirt bikes are generally a LOT taller than Monsters though too.  Pushing while sitting on it might not be possible, and pushing while standing next to it could also be awkward since the bars would be up by your nose rather than at your chest.  Thats mainly for vertically challenged people like me though...

[CaraBiner]

I'm too short to back my bike into a parking stall. I usually put the kickstand down then dismount instead of trying to balance the bike while dismounting. Then I put the stand up and push with the bike leaning on my hip.
Motorbike boots aren't too grippy on the bottom so you have to be careful that you don't push too much with your feet and that the surface isn't too wet or slick, takes practice for sure.
I work in a motorbike shop and watch the boys pushing the bike from the front of the handlebar, I haven't tried this tecnique yet.

[badgalbetty]

I used to work in a bike shop, in fact I have worked in a few.
The easiest way to push a bike on level ground is to be confident about it and let it lean into your hip slightly.Let your right hand cover the front brake lever and use your left for most of the pushing, small steps and watch where you are going.Stop every now and then to catch your breath and rest. Dont push your bike with your helmet on. There may be traffic and you need to see and hear . Remember at this point you have become a pedestrian.You might get off track and walk into the road. Keep your wits about you.
I would not attempt to push a bike uphill, been there done it got the t shirt.It is dangerous and to be honest with you there is no reason to do it.I don't care what people say about my lack of strength. If you drop your bike you will also have a lack of money. That means no make up, cute shoes or dinners out for a couple of months!
Men who push their bikes up hill do so because they think they are tough and strong.........ever watch one go beet red and start wheezing within 10 feet?
Put it on the stand, turn the wheel into the kerb, leave it in 1st gear, go get a truck or tailer to either bring home or take to shop.

[dolci]

You stand in front of the bike straddling the front wheel with the headlight in your gut ( or chest or crotch depending on light height and the level of vertical challenge you personally carry ) and you grab the bars. By manuevering the bike this way, you have more leverage and the bike is more situated nuetrally as far as lateral balance. You can also manage the balance quickly and easily when the bike may start to tip uncomfortably one way or another by a simple turning of the bars and you have easy leverage to right it instantly. You also use your core to push the bike this way as apposed to your upper body and arms.

I tried this for the first time a few weeks ago because my bike was parked downhill against a curb.  Worked like a charm.  I had someone spot me (since it was the first time) but it went off without a hitch!