How to carry a step-through/mixte bike

Question

How can one carry a bike with a step-through/mixte frame effectively?-- In comparison, any diamond-frame bike is a breeze for me to shoulder regardless of weight (okay, carrying a 25+-kg roadster is not exactly enjoyable, but it can be done): I've tried carrying a "true" step-through frame (but never a mixte) and it seems that, no matter how I hold the thing, I feel like an idiot and become exhausted after only a couple of minutes.

Online, I haven't been able to find much actual info on how to do it despite loads of discussion about how diamond-frames are so much easier to carry. On Lovely Bicycle!, however, there is an explanation of doing this for different models of step-through bike, but unless the girl pictured in that post is a deadlift champion, I don't see how it's possible to hold those bikes for very long.

Nhân Lê · Accepted Answer

Find the centre of mass of your bike, which is usually just above the BB+downtube.

There are two strategies for carrying the bike, assuming that the bike does not have any heavy accessories such as pannier rack+bag, which would otherwise alter the centre of mass of the bike:

flat/downstairs: one hand go over the top tube, grab the down tube so that the bike naturally leaning forward. The seat should rest on to your shoulder. Your shoulder carry most of the bike's weight. 
upstairs: reverse the bike, one hand on down tube (or chainstay for a very tight stairs) with the (back of the) seat resting on shoulder. Again, your shoulder should carry most of the weight of the bike.

Downstairs/Flat

Upstairs: as Criggie has suggested, carrying on your left (non-drive side to your body) would be cleaner (although my pants are usually black and my bike has a chain guard so I have no problem). I would like to note that if you choose this option, take care not to dirty your sleeve. Holding the seat tube is a little bit awkward, you could try to hold the crank and see if it fits your style. You can also use the other hand, holding the chainstay, to guide/stabilize the bike

Criggie · Answer

I have a crook shoulder so can't put a lot of weight on it.  But our office bike room is on the first floor (second floor) and there's a stairwell to get up there.

So I stand on the left, non drive-side where its cleaner, put my arm over the top tube and grasp the seat tube between the bottom bracket and the seat tube drink cage.   On standing, the nose of the saddle ends up above my right shoulder and the seat post presses against the back of my shoulder.

I use my left hand on the left handlebar drop, so its easy to pivot the wheel for going around corners in the stairwell.

Also the bike is well balanced, so there's not a lot of front/back heaviness.

I used to do this with the 30 kg ebike too, so weight isn't a big issue.
Road cleats on tiles are slippy, so I always de-shoe and carry them in the left hand.  Everything goes in one trip unless I've brought the trailer as well - that's a second trip.

Do you want photos ?

How to carry a step-through/mixte bike

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