How to wheel/push my bike about?

Ok, confession time........

I've been riding since 17 (now 22) and yet there's one thing I have *never* been comfortable with and that's wheeling my bike around when I'm not sitting on it.

Whenever I take it in for a service or whatever, the way they wheel them about makes it look so effortless but I really get nervous when I do it. It's nothing to do with strength, more the fact that I feel I can't control it fully.

Does anyone else have this problem? I always get on the bike when wheeling it in/out of parking spaces etc. I know about leaning it into your hip while standing on the left of the bike but even so.....

Any tips?

i have a seat cowel on mine but i also leave the grab rail on its handy to hold on to while moving around and getting the bike onto the paddock stand.

[Stu]

I stand on the right not the left and leave the stand down then it can't fall either side. And yes I am very careful to watch the stand catch on something and flick up.

I'm useless as well. Even worse on the bike.

At the moment I hold the handlebars for control, lean it into me and hook my leg against the crash bung to push the bike backwards and forwards.

I think the proper way to do it is to have one hand on the handlebar and one on the grab rail (if you have one). Practice makes perfect.

ive only ever dropped bikes while astride them.

[fizzwheel]

I prefer to sit on it and paddle it about, or better still ride it to move it around.

Originally Posted by Law

I think the proper way to do it is to have one hand on the handlebar and one on the grab rail (if you have one). Practice makes perfect.

However if I'm moving it around and I cant paddle it ( i.e backwards up a slope ) then I do as Law says. I've pushed my SV up a steep slope into my garage like that way.

Personally always been a bit envious of folks who can comfortably paddle away whilst sat on the bike - legs are a bit to short to get any sort of leverage.

Anyhow, off the bike, personally I keep to the left of it, both hands on the bars (not sure how I could cover the front brake with one hand on the grab rail - even if stood to the right I think I'd feel too twisted). Keep it leant into you as if it falls away from you then there's bugger all chance of holding it (well, there's bugger all chance of me holding it) wheras it'd have to be at some serious angle to fall into me.

Dropped a bike getting it off a centre stand once though, so I'm by no means an expert

My IAM group hold regular 'machine control days', and one the subjects is just this - moving your bike around. You end up being able to walk the bike around, walk yourself around the bike while holding it up, etc. I can't remember if this included pulling it it of spaces from the front holding the bars. The day also taught you how to pick it up once you'd dropped it.

Originally Posted by chazzyb

The day also taught you how to pick it up once you'd dropped it.

I find sheer embarrasment imbues one with superhuman strength

Law - Yeah I believe that's the proper way to do it as well, handlebar and grab rail. Still find it tough though, better try wheeling it up and down the street I guess.....not quite as impressive as riding off on the thing so I might feel a bit sheepish

Kwak - How on earth have you dropped them while astride the bike?! you got midget legs? That's how my dad dropped his Pan, it got so far over before his feet touched the ground that it was way too much weight to hold.

Chazzyb - That's where my dad picked it up from as well, and I had to do it on my CBT and test of course but no need since. Might see what the IAM group is like up my way, cos I went with the Devon crowd a couple of times and it was quite good fun....although a little older than suits me social-wise.