Hane

I'll be 62 in October. I really want to start riding but I live on the second floor of my apartment building. My dilemma is how to safely and easily take it up and down the stairs.

billas

Welcome. Maybe get a light bike that you can bring up/down the stairs. Or even a folding bike might do.

cb400bill

Thread moved from Introductions to General Cycling.

subgrade

What exactly is the dilemma? Do you have a medical condition that impedes carrying a bike up and down the stairs, or is the stair well too narrow, or something else? Generally that should not pose much problems. Of course, a lighter bike makes it a bit easier, but one gets used to it either way. Just take it slow and take care to not bang against the walls and/or handrail. The grip used varies with the frame shape and size, but you should be able to figure out easily what is the most comfortable way for you.

JenGQ

I use to live in a second story apartment. What I did was hold on to the handlebars and lift the bike vertically so it was standing on it's rear wheel and then kind of let gravity "roll" it down each step. Not sure if that makes sense. Going up I just pushed it normally on two wheels.

Prowler 

We need a lot more information in order to help. Tell us about the stairs, straight, turns with landings, how much room at the ends. Tell us about the bike. Type, suspension, make and model. Go post some replays to 10 other members (nice useful stuff vs just garbage postings) then come back here and post pictures of the bike and the stairwell. Tell us about you - state of fitness, height, weight, how new to cycling...

At 68, I work part time at an LBS so I lift and carry all sorts of bikes, even up and down stairs. I have to be pretty careful some times. Some bikes are a breeze, and not just tiny carbon bikes. Some are just awful - "give me hazardous duty pay for that one." Lots of variations. Some bikes I can bounce around on one wheel, others need a fork lift. Some are well balanced others are hopelessly clumsy. There are some tips/tricks but sometimes you need to put safety first and then just tough it out to build the strength.

Tell us much more. You may be fine or you may be advised to get another bike. I see LOTS of people these days who have dug "an old bike" out of a shed cuz they now want to try cycling. Many of those old shed bikes are the worst. Many are not worth 1/2 hour's labor cost.

BTW all my own bikes are on the ground floor so the only lifting is onto my car rack. Easy peasy.

Phil_gretz

Use some variation of the cyclocross carry (pictured below). I started this method in my early teens. It has served me for nearly 50 years. You can do it, too.

rumrunn6

sympathies. I have to deal w/ 1 flight into my basement. so not a lot. but sometimes they can be challenging. watch your body & knee position & besure the stairs are free of obstacles

JohnDThompson 

Wide handlebars are what cause me the most problems carrying bikes up and down stairs.

Russ Roth

To make it easier there are frame bags that go in the corner of the frame and have a built in shoulder strap, they'll make it gentler on the shoulder for carrying it and are a good option.

BobbyG

If you have quick release wheels and a quick release seatpost, two trips may be easier than one (your knees may disagree).

Even removing just the front wheel may lighten things enough, or remove some bulk.

Folding bikes tend to be just as heavy as non-folding bikes, and sometimes heavier.

Also, a couple of types of straps may be helpful:

catacombs

How narrow are your stairs, OP?

hillyman

Montague's fold and some come with a bag or can be purchased separately. Takes up less space and easier to carry especially with bag

Oneder

If you can install an I bolt maybe you could lower it on a rope. The issue I'd have with carrying it downstairs is you could trip and kill yourself. OTOH if the stairs are straight down you could possibly ride down slowly.

Phil_gretz

The OP was concerned that he would be unable to carry a bike on stairs. I guess for some, riding down stairs is more controlled that walking down the same stairs.

Oneder

Depending on the stairs it can be, I do it all the time. Carrying down the stairs is awkward and you are very likely to trip.

subgrade

You must be descending very steep stairs then. I don't find carrying bike up or down normal (50%) stairs any more awkward than just walking up or down the stairs. Currently I have to cover only two flights of stairs, so I don't bother lifting it up on my shoulder as I would do for longer ascents/descents; I just hold it by the top tube, closer to head tube when going up and closer to seat tube when going down, with the other hand on the handlebars

Maelochs

Tip the bike onto the back wheel and keep one hand on the rear brakes, ... on the way down you can roll it backwards ... assuming over the shoulder doesn't work for you.

Since it is an apartment building I am guessing major mechanical modifications might not be viewed favorably by the management.

Oneder

It depends more on how narrow the stairs are. If they are narrow then it would be very awkward unless you lift up the bike overhead which might be hard for someone who is in their 60s. If they are narrow but not too steep then I would just ride down. Or even walk the bike down if very wide. I am not 62 yet only in 40s but should be doable to ride down if there are no turns and it's not too steep.

Oneder

You could also grab the grips and hit the rear wheel break and walk it down from behind while using the rear break to balance the bike. That should work. Edit: whoops did not see maelochs already posted that idea.

GlennR

I rather carry a light road bike than a heavy e-bike.

Charliekeet

My #1 tip is don't carry the bike up on your shoulder etc- if you lose balance, you're screwed. Keep its center of gravity lower than that, and don't have its weight up-hill (up the stairs) from you, so if you lose grip, it doesn't tumble back down and knock you down the stairs.
So I try to sort of walk side-by-side with the bike, one hand gripping the headtube/stem are or the front wheel (rather than handlebar/grip) to keep things centered, one on seat-tube or where seat tube meets the top tube for the majority of the lifting.

Wileyrat

I don’t know.

I’m 61 and I carry my bike upstairs with the top tube on my shoulder just fine. Anything else seems awkward.

wolfchild

I live on the 12 floor and I carried my 30 pound bike while also wearing a loaded backpack when one of our elevators was out of service and I didn't feel like waiting for the second elevator. I am only 50 so a lot younger than OP.

catacombs

Nice. I went to Berlin a few years ago and stayed a nine-story walk up, and I had never felt so winded. I don't know how I'd manage walking up 12 flights with a 30-pound bike.