Cross Practice Follow-up - Dismount Technique

Cyclocross Pedal Dismount Technique

3 Variations

1. Right Leg Step around -

Clip out of right pedal, stay clipped in with left foot, coast near dismount point, then click out of left pedal as you swing your right leg around, over your seat, to basically hit your ankle on the back of your left shoe, at same time putting right foot down on ground behind your left leg. This is possibly the best choice when having to pedal all the way up to a barrier or if the approach to barrier is more straight.

2. The Step through -

 Stepping through with the right while clipped in still on the left, then putting inside (right) foot down at the same time you unclip with your left. This is a tough move and requires quite a bit of trust and practice in your pedals, confidence in your heel twist and can possibly put you face/chest first into a barrier in some conditions (mud). If you are getting tired or tired in a race, this might not be the best technique to use. In some cases this is faster, but it requires enough speed and coasting time to provide you with the extra time needed to make this dismount a success.

3. The Left Foot Pre-Unclip -

Clip out of the left pedal first, rest your left foot on top of the left pedal, then click out of your right pedal, swing right leg over and step off left pedal It's much easier to step off the bike if you are not attached to either pedal.This would depend on the approach to the barrier and how long you need to pedal up to the dismount point. This might be the safest or the most dangerous dismount of the three. Your foot can slip off of the pedal prior to getting your other leg swung around. This might not be a good recommendation without flat (bmx) pedals and just depend on the pedal used (& could be really ugly with egg beaters).

NOTE: Don't forget the bit about moving your right-hand from your hood to your top tube prior-to unclipping. (when dismounting to the left of your bike) Keep your elbow between you and the bike and pick it up in the same place every time - which is the balance point of the bike.
 
There are three options here, each one has it's pro's and con's. I would suggest trying them during your weekly skills practice - (you are spending a day a week fine tuning your skills right?) - then apply them in a cross practice situation and see what works.

comments anyone?  Questions?