World champion Peter Sagan has a habit of coming up with videos that should be filed under “don’t try this at home,” and his latest is no exception as he changes, mid-ride, from sitting astride his bike to what is, in effect, a side-saddle position more commonly adopted by some female equestrians.
Have a nice week and ride your bike! Pekný týždeň všetkým a nezabudnite bicyklovať! pic.twitter.com/qYPzDjCgp2
— Peter Sagan (@petosagan) November 7, 2016
It’s a great bit of bike handling from the 26-year-old Slovak, and culminates in him sitting on the top tube of his bike in a pose more often associated with a woman riding a horse side-saddle.
The style of riding has been traced back to the ancient world then became popular among the aristocracy in the middle ages when Anne of Bohemia devised a saddle she could ride on while travelling to England in 1281 ahead of her wedding to Richard II.
The saddle design evolved over the centuries – Catherine de Medici is said to have helped develop it in the Sixteenth Century – and more recently Queen Elizabeth II rode side-saddle at Trooping the Colour for more than three decades, the last time being in 1986 after which she switched to a carriage.
1 thought on “Video: Peter Sagan rides side-saddle”
I need to learn this move.
I need to learn this move. Used to do it over the top tube way back when, but once I went clipless (and started riding proper bikes) the risk of scratching the frame became far too evident.