I keep rolling back!

JJGallagher

I practise on a slope in my local Lidl carpark and never roll but when I am in first at a junction and see a big shiny new car right up at my bumper I panic and inevitably roll back and panic and conk out

I am able to do a handbrake take off (hillstart) and have to do it on even the most gentle slope where more experienced drivers don't so I worry that I'm too slow and holding everyone up which is my first fault.

But the real problem is this. I find the bite. Off with the handbrake and creep forward. Now, if the coast is clear off I go no bother but if something is coming clutch and brake. This is where I roll back.

When I see something coming do I then :

Clutch and brake. Back into neutral. Handbrake on. Into first and hillstart again.

Or

Clutch and brake. Stay on brake. Bring clutch up to bite and quicky switch to gas and take off.

I'm trying to watch my friends feet but they go so fast I can't make out what they are doing and if I ask they look at me like I'm a moron and say 'sure you just hold it on the bite'.

username123

Try not to worry, this is something that you get better at with experience.

For your specific question Id say do whichever is less likely to panic you. An extra 2 seconds is not going to kill anyone.

When I was learning I used the handbrake a lot because I felt better that I wouldnt roll back, it takes practice and time to get to the point where you are comfortable doing it without the handbrake.

You dont need to:
Clutch and brake. Back into neutral. Handbrake on. Into first and hillstart again.

You can:
Clutch and brake. Handbrake on (while still using footbrake). Bring clutch up to bite and quicky switch to gas - release handbrake - and take off.

Its more like doing your second method but using the handbrake as an extra safety method. Just remember to release it or youll try to drive off with it on and my first car used to let me do this but then Id be driving around a bit more slowly and wrecking the handbrake!

loobylou

Clutch and brake. Handbrake. Hillstart. Theres no need to go back to neutral, unless you are going to be there for some time. Even in that case, its handbrake first, then neutral.
The second method you describe will get easier for you as your control improves, especially with a diesel car.
For the time being stick with using the handbrake.

Edit; as username123 just said.

NothingMan

It sounds like you're doing everything right but just letting your nerves make you react without thinking.

Keeping your handbrake on and bring the clutch to the bite as you go on the accelerator then dropping the handbrake as you start to go is the way to do it.

Do NOT do it the way you think your friend is, by keeping your foot on the brake as you bring the clutch to the bite, this will just lead to cut outs and more panic, hence more mistakes. Doing a proper hill start the way you described, even on a gentle slope, is the way to go. Keep doing that. It's a good habit to get into.

Once you've passed your test and you're more confident you may find yourself holding the car on a hill with the accelerator and clutch but I don't think that's technically right and may fail the test (not sure on that though).

Skyrim

'The Bite' Is that the point where you feel the vehicle making a move?

Compton

yes