Effective Way to Carry Your Bike

anirban · Feb 10, 2007

There have been many instances, when we came across a section of trail which is un-rideable, or is just too scary to ride (in my case). How do you carry the bike with you when you walk over that section?

I have seen many people carrying their bikes on their shoulders, or on their backs... but I never quite figured out the jujitsu involved to get the bike up there. Usually, I just roll the bike with me... and sometimes its just not efficient enough. Carrying a bike seems to be a lot more efficient...

so what is the right way to carry a bike?

Thanks a lot!

alexg · Feb 10, 2007

To answer this question, check out some pics of cyclocross races on velonews.com or cyclingnews.com. The pros typically shoulder the bike or grab the toptube with one hand and handlebars with the other. Suspension designs in mountain bike frames can complicate the shouldering of the bike. I hope this gives you some ideas.

SteveUK · Feb 10, 2007

Full sus' frames can be a bit awkward because of their 'unusual' design. The most comfortable way I've found to carry mine is to put my shoulder under the saddle, grab the drive-side chainstay with my right hand and the left hand upper-stanchion (triple-clamps) with my left. The bike kind of finds its own balance, and the padding on my backpack, combined with the nice rubber 'hand grip' on the front of my DMR saddle means that it's all fairly well cushioned. I can carry my Big Hit (40+lbs) for quite a way using this method.

anirban · Feb 10, 2007

SteveUK said:
The most comfortable way I've found to carry mine is to put my shoulder under the saddle

That seems to a good way, except that my saddle has two steel frames going under it.. and no matter the kind of padding that I have on the shoulder strap of my backpack... the steel trusses of the saddle really puts the pinch in the shoulder...

And the very nice description that you gave- is it with the bike on your left shoulder or right?

Thanks a lot!

PS The bike that I am talking about is a hardtail.

SteveUK · Feb 10, 2007

I carry on my right shoulder; too many complications on the left, what with the chain, chainrings, guide, etc. I use a Specialized BG saddle if I'm going on longer rides, and that's bloody terrible for this method of carrying, but it's still more comfortable than any other method I've tried. Hard, pointy saddles aside, you could still carry a hardtail like this. Your shoulder goes in front of the seatpost, by the way.

OnTheMoment · Feb 10, 2007

Not sure what you're riding, I have an Ellsworth Moment which is a pretty standard four bar setup, looks a lot like a Kona Coiler If you're familiar with that one.

I use it as a cross country rig so the saddle is too high to use it as a handle, if I do the bike gets in the way of walking so I use the old cyclocross method: Just grab the top tube right in front of the seat tube with the palm up with your right hand, doesn't matter if you're a southpaw. with your left hand hold the left grip and bicep curl the bike up you your shoulder.

BillWeg · Feb 10, 2007

Duude.. you are just making a mountain out of a molehill..... carrying abike is not as hard as you are making it feel. just pickup the thing with the top tube and rest it on ur shoulders.. whats the big deal?? unless ofcourse you are riding a 50lbs huffy or something.. I think thaht this is very close to a dumb question..

Sixty Fiver · Feb 10, 2007

There are no dumb questions unless they involve chicken and panyhose...

Shouldering an FS bike could be a little complicated because of the geometry and in many cases, the extra weight of some models.

If the bike is a hardtail shouldering it should be easy... I have a small frame pack / shoulder rest that I swap between all my bikes and it makes long hauls very bearable as it spreads out the weight across a larger area.

anirban · Feb 10, 2007

BillWeg said:
Duude.. you are just making a mountain out of a molehill..... carrying abike is not as hard as you are making it feel. just pickup the thing with the top tube and rest it on ur shoulders.. whats the big deal?? unless ofcourse you are riding a 50lbs huffy or something.. I think thaht this is very close to a dumb question..

I just wanted to learn something... sorry if the question ticked you off.

And with regards to your comment on the quality of my question-

Sixty Fiver said:
There are no dumb questions unless they involve chicken and panyhose...

........ I rest my case!

SteveUK · Feb 10, 2007

I have unwanted chickens residing in my pantyhose. I've tried napalm, yoghurt and asking nicely, but they still won't leave. There are three of them. Any suggestions?

anirban · Feb 10, 2007

How about putting them in the freezer with the rest of the chickens?

Now on a serious note- I was wondering if there would be any pictures that anyone could point me to (or post here), so that I can get a better idea of placement on the body?

Also, what are the common ways to carry a FS bike?

Thanks a lot for the feedback!

BillWeg · Feb 10, 2007

Well, if you want to learn, you need to ask intelligent questions. just think logically... carrying a bike... wtf dude? this aint rocketscience.

Sixty Fiver · Feb 10, 2007

Once the chickens start nesting in the pantyhose there's almost no way to get them out.

anirban · Feb 10, 2007

BillWeg said:
Well, if you want to learn, you need to ask intelligent questions. just think logically... carrying a bike... wtf dude? this aint rocketscience.

Thanks for the advice. But if you think these questions are dumb, then you should not waste your time clicking on the thread link and then reading it.

snowdenn · Feb 10, 2007

how do i know if my questions are intelligent enough for you?

BillWeg said:
Well, if you want to learn, you need to ask intelligent questions. just think logically... carrying a bike... wtf dude? this aint rocketscience.

seriously, comments like these ruin the forums.

really, i didnt know i had to measure up to somebodys standard of intelligence to post questions on the beginners forum.

you want logic, heres some:

its simple. this is the beginners corner. if you are a newb you come here to find help. if you are not a newb, you come here to give help.

otherwise, you can go take your bad self over to wherever they need geniuses like you.

me, i am a newb and heres my idiot question: can someone explain to me why these rocket scientists show up on mtbr and make fun of our ign'ant questions? is it because they are so much smarter and can prove it to everyone by saying how stupid these questions are? is that why? cause i dont get it. but then, im not a rocket scientist.

LoneRanger · Feb 10, 2007

it seems that the original poster (anirban) is acutally a rocket scientist. so now we know who the real dumba$$ is

anirban · Feb 10, 2007

I was wondering if anyone has anyone would like to share how they carry their FS/HT bikes... pictures would be a lot helpful!!

jeffscott · Feb 11, 2007

Sorry no pictures.

The Transrockies 2006 video has several hikabike sections, with many different styles of bike carry. Almost no one exactly the same. Pick up the video.

Saw more than one woman carry her bike with the front of the saddle resting on top of the helmet, looked pretty good.

Last year I sometimes hooked up a golf bag strap from seatpost to stem. Worked good on several long scree climbs. So did one guy in the TR.

Best suggestion is play around with yours. There are certainly times when pushing a bike just doesn.t cut it. Big scree is one!!

cdaddy · Feb 11, 2007

google "cyclocross" and click images. You should get alot of photos - some of which will most def show racers carrying their bikes.

anirban · Feb 11, 2007

cdaddy said:
google "cyclocross" and click images. You should get alot of photos - some of which will most def show racers carrying their bikes.

I can get an idea of how the cyclocross guys are carrying their bikes... but I assume their bikes are a lot lighter than the mountain bikes.. so I was thinking that maybe the mountain bikes would be more effectively carried in a different manner...

Thanks for the replies!

Steve, do let us know what you did with the stubborn chickens.

Effective Way to Carry Your Bike

anirban

alexg

SteveUK

anirban

SteveUK

OnTheMoment

BillWeg

Sixty Fiver

anirban

SteveUK

anirban

BillWeg

Sixty Fiver

anirban

snowdenn

LoneRanger

anirban

jeffscott

cdaddy

anirban

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