How often do you straddle the top tube on your mountain bike?

No clearance is no problem if you're always on the pedals.

By Jeff Barber
March 9, 2025

4 comments

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A mountain biker climbing a rocky path in a forested area, wearing a helmet and gloves, with a smile on his face. The cyclist is dressed in a light green shirt and dark pants, surrounded by trees and fallen leaves. — File photo.

Standover height is an important bike dimension in terms of utility, and it also has a big influence on how bikes look. For many years, bent top tubes ensured plenty of standover height; today, straight, sloping tubes are much more common.

Which got us wondering: How often are we straddling/standing over our bikes anyway? For example, if there’s a short hike-a-bike section, some riders will completely dismount to the side while others will sorta duckwalk with the bike between their legs. I’ve even known some riders to mount a bike from the back of the bike, skipping the top tube altogether.

Me? I occasionally sit on my top tube at rest stops and will duckwalk the bike short distances.

Is it a rookie move to straddle the bike, or is it valid/necessary at times? Sound off in the comments below!

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4 Comments

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Retrac1107 North Carolina // 2025
5 hours ago

I always dismount completely to walk the bike. I swing my leg over the back of the bike to mount it, and I either sit on the seat, or off the bike. Sometimes I'll spin the bars around and sit on the front wheel

0 reply

Bontrager fan 1972 New South Wales // 2023
7 hours ago

I straddle the top tube when mounting the bicycle . I don't have the strength anymore , to mount from the rear hopping onto the saddle . Also for fear of groin injury . I have osteoarthritis but once moving , I am a modest rider . I have a Factor Ostro 8 road bicycle , but don't use it anymore .

Sunspot Colorado // 2019
1 hour ago

Isn't aging grand?
I am in the post cancer treatment era and strength is a serious factor. Regaining strength and body mass is a slow road to recovery.

There is loads of room with my EnduroBMX that my bike can lurk under me.
As far as mounting, that varies since it is situational.
There is a very nice frame pad on the top tube for those trail rips that can lead to a knee smacking the top tube. Trialsy, pithy bike that happens to be full punkass!!

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