How to Get in Motion - Mounting

Here is the simplest way to get on your bike quickly and safely, and get pedaling. Face your bicycle with one hand on the handlebar and one hand on the seat. Rotate the crankarm on your side of the bike until pointing straight forward. Raise your leg that is closest to the back wheel, lifting that foot over the top bar (in front of the seat) and lower to the ground on the other side. Now face forward with both hands on the handlebar. Lean your weight onto the leg you just placed over the bike. Put your foot on the pedal that you placed in the forward position. Give a little push with the leg you are leaning on, center your weight over the bike, give one good pedal stroke to the foot already placed on the pedal and move your other foot into place while coasting. Do not sit on the seat yet! Pedal a couple strokes to get your balance and then sit down.

Don't push on the ground a couple times with either foot to get momentum. Don't stand beside the bike and run and try to leap on. These methods just get you hurt.

The above detailed method is easy and effective. Later you'll probably get good enough at mounting your bike to shorten this process to the following:

Face bicycle with both hands on the handlebar. Rotate the nearest crankarm to forward position. Place foot on pedal, give one hard downward stroke. Swing other leg over seat, dropping foot into position on the pedal and GO.

Obviously this is a lot faster, but definitely is too difficult until you get your balance down really good.