I see the pros pushing their bike by their seat, but when I try to do the same, my bike is wobbling all over the place, and cannot move in a straight line in the direction that I desire. I always end up holding onto the handlebars/stem to usher my bike in and out of transition.
It leaves me wondering why all the pros do it, and seem to be able to do it so easily. Is it easier for if I were pushing the bike (holding the seat, and seat only) at a faster speed?
Oh transition gurus, please grant me your infinite wisdom.
It shouldn’t be too hard to push by the seat and keep the bike straight (kinda like riding no hands). Two things might be causing problems: overly rough surfaces (that’s obvious), and brake/shift cables that are turning the front wheel to one side. If it’s the former, practice. If it’s the latter have the cable lengths adjusted at a bike shop.
well, you have to move your hands to the bars at some point to mount the bike. Keep it simple and run with the left hand on the left bar end. That way you’re prepped for your flying mount success/fail. Also makes it easier to steer around the uhhh “beginners”
When I started cycling, I could not hold my bike by the seat and walk or run with it in a straight line at any speed. After some practice, I can now do pretty much whatever I please. Just keep working on it and you’ll figure it out! Like the others said, speed helps keep it stable, just like when you’re riding it - and don’t overcorrect your movements.
Practice practice practice. Similarily with flying mounts, every time you ride practice flying mounts and dismounts. Every time you touch and move a bike, do it only by the seat. Hell I move my kids’ bike this way now as it’s become habitual.
Unless, as has been pointed out, there is a mechanical issue, your bike will want to roll in a straight line. Just go faster. Roll up and down in your driveway. When I first started I didnt think it would ever be easy, but it picked up very easy and now I dont see doing it any other way. Getting all tangled up in the handlebars really slows you down. Just practice.
Here is the trick: Make sure your bike is as close to vertical as possible. Any lean will result in a steer in one direction or the other. Its all about keeping the bike straight up and then slight leans to turn, just like riding with no hands…its easy once you figure it out…and reaching forward with the left hand to the bars when it is time to mount is much easier than trying to switch hands since you would have to when running with the hand on the stem/handlebar…
are you perhaps running in your cycling shoes? This would prevent you from running fast enough to keep the bike straight.
It’s way faster to run holding the bike at the saddle. Holding the saddle allows you much more room around the bike to actually open your stride and run. The saddle is also usually much higher than the stem or bars.
And you need to practice. I raced ITU for 7 years, and triathlon in general for 17, and we would still be out there a few times a year practicing transitions. I’m still amazed how so few amateurs practice a skill that is essentially free speed/time.
I see the pros pushing their bike by their seat, but when I try to do the same, my bike is wobbling all over the place, and cannot move in a straight line in the direction that I desire. I always end up holding onto the handlebars/stem to usher my bike in and out of transition.
It leaves me wondering why all the pros do it, and seem to be able to do it so easily. Is it easier for if I were pushing the bike (holding the seat, and seat only) at a faster speed?
Oh transition gurus, please grant me your infinite wisdom.
The reason why it is hard to do is usually due to weight Do you have a lot of weight between your aerobars? Like a bottle of fluid up there? The more weight you have there, the less stable it is. If you can have your hydration solution elsewhere it should be much easier.
Don’t believe me? Try pushing your bike from the seat with and without an aerobottle between the bars. A ***competely ***different experience.