Dismount Difficulty Due to Flexibility Decline
 

I hope I don't get stove up that much. But if I do, that'll be one of the reasons I move to a recumbent bike or trike as suggested by others.

But have you tried just leaning the bike over as you let your one foot go to the ground then the saddle won't be quite as high as when vertical. And though I've not found a use for them, perhaps a dropper post might help you. Like a lot of stuff that's moved from mountain bikes, bmx and other genres, these are coming to road bikes too.

I second the suggestion. I'm not as old as the OP, but I have flexibility issues in general and hip problems (labral tears), etc. When I'm having more hip pain then usual, leaning the bike way down to the side makes it much easier for me to swing my leg over the saddle, whether mounting or dismounting.

I've thought about getting a mixte, you know with a low top bar like what was called a ladies bike. You can throw some drop bars on it.

Sounds like you're not at this point yet but last year i got my wife a "low entry" bike since she couldn't ride otherwise.

https://i.imgur.com/pdDBNcq.jpg

I don't have a problem on the road but lowering the dropper on the mountain bike makes mounting and dismounting a lot easier on steep or uneven ground.

Can you swing your foot forward and over the handlebar? I've been doing it that way for years (decades, actually).

A dropper seatpost. You push a lever on the handle bar and the seat will lower. They can be had in different lengths. The one I have drops 125mm, almost 5 inches. If you love your bike and want to keep it this could be a solution, if a dropper seatpost will fit.
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....Y300_QL70_.jpg
A 'bent is a recumbent bike.

"Bent" = recumbent bike or trike. Been riding one for 21 years now. Not because of limited mobility but because I came down with cyclist palsy (carpal tunnel syndrome) that only got fixed two years ago thanks to our wonderful (tongue-in-cheek) medical system that forces us to avoid treatment until it becomes absolutely necessary. I can still get out of the seat 9" off the ground on my Catrike 700 but there are two wheeled versions like my Linear long wheelbase with underseat steering that is super easy to get on and off.

Durn blinky . You might need to come out into the daylight more. Dropper post I might can let slide on as I only fully understood what they were a year ago. But bent's? That's been a term for recumbents for quite some time. And I do think it was used as a term for them in the previous 20th Century. <grin>


(just a friendly yank on your chain. Please don't get offended)

Is your balance good enough that you can do this while coasting? Do what you’re doing now, but keep your left foot on the pedal, swing your right leg over the rear wheel as you coast to a stop. Basically a slow cyclocross dismount.

This is such a brilliant idea for anyone who struggles with swinging a leg over a saddle. You would need a small enough frame so that there is at least a few inches of seatpost visible above the seat tube.

John

What I was suggesting above is called the "step down" in this video, about half way through.

Good reminder to do my stretching after each ride.

I never thought I wanted one until I got a mountain bike that came with one. Now, I never want to mountain bike without one.

I've seen them in 27.2 diameter, which is common in road bikes, for less than $100.

I don't know why you have to pass your leg over the saddle. I haven't done that in 40 years. I simply step over the top bar of the bike, like I would if I were stepping across a wire fence. If I want to cheat a little, I lean the bike away from me, or towards me, and bring the frame up vertical as I get myself straddling the top bar. Both feet on the ground, then I step into the pedals. Dismounting is just lifting the one foot over the top bar again while the other foot is flat on the ground. I'm 68. Not very flexible. It's not difficult; it's so simple that I don't think about it.

recumbent.. There's a whole subforum, if you dare