Survey

[Midmichigangal]

Which foot do you use to push off of when riding? I use my right foot to push off.

[Di bear]

Left, and I'm right handed. I also cost with my right crank back. I think it's because it's more stable in that position, so I keep my dominant foot there.

[bluebug32]

I use my right and I'm really realizing how weak my left has become! Time to get stronger. I really have trouble starting with my left foot though. I literally feel like I'll fall over if I clip in and start with that foot.

[IFjane]

Depends.....I don't use one over the other....depends on the stop - direction, camber, and which foot I put down first.

Does that mean I am ambifootxtrous???? :rolleyes:

[Midmichigangal]

I am left-handed and I use my right.

[Skierchickie]

Wow - I don't remember :rolleyes: I haven't ridden since October. Soon though - very soon.

Hey Di Bear - is that your Gu wrapper at the end of my driveway? It showed up sometime Friday before 8pm.

[VeloVT]

I'm left handed but right foot dominant. I unclip my left foot at lights and keep my dominant foot (right) clipped in. I **can** unclip right just fine if the situation requires it though :eek:.

[HoosierGiant]

Push off with the left foot -- am right-handed.

[solobiker]

I push off with my left. DH always tells me that I am doing it wrong as the way I do it I will get the chain ring mark on my leg. It has only happened to me maybe 2x and it has happened to him several times and he pushes off with the "correct" foot. I guess I just have the technique down:p

[VeloVT]

whether or not you get a chainring tattoo has nothing to do with which foot you push off with! it has to do with awareness about where your legs are at any given time. BF and I push off with the same foot, but he used to get tattoos all of the time. It was because when we stopped for a break, but didn't actually get off the bikes, he would have both feet planted around the cranks instead of forward, and he would let the bike lean... I pointed this out to him and he doesn't get them anymore (when stopped with both feet on the ground but still straddling the bike, it's better if both legs are in front of the crankset... or at least don't let the bike lean to the crank side :p). I guess if you unclip right at lights and don't want to get tattoos, just make a conscious effort to figure out when your leg is contacting your chain, and change your habits as necessary :D. Or just make peace with tattoos :eek:.

[solobiker]

I actually don't get the tattoos. I didn 2x and that was years ago when I let the bike lean on my right leg when I was reaching for something.

[solobiker]

I am not sure why DH thinks the way he does with the whole pushing off with the right foot vs the left. I have explained to him several times that my left leg is stronger so it is easier for me. He still thinks it is wrong. To me, if it works for me then it is right.

[OakLeaf]

I unclip right, when I coast on descents I prefer my left foot forward, I'm right-handed.

[wackyjacky1]

Geez, for the life of me, while I'm sitting here thinking about it, I can't think of which pedal is forward when I'm coasting. How weird. I'll have to make note of it when I ride tomorrow. I think my left pedal is forward...

I unclip my right foot at stop signs and such, mainly because if I'm close to the curb I can rest my foot there and not have to dismount.

(I'm right-handed, if that has any significance...)

[shootingstar]

I push off on my right foot..I'm right-handed.

I coast with my left foot forward...

[tc1]

Push off with right leg, 'cause that's the one with the wonky ankle. It is much easier to support myself on my left. I am practicing doing both, but not having much success. I am also practicing the technique of standing on the pedal instead of pushing, but that isn't working because that short amount of time where all the weight is on one leg scares me, feels too unstable.

I unclip either or both feet, any sequence. I practiced a lot with that, and it was easy.

[bean fidhleir]

I don't use clips. At lights I stand on my left foot and then push off with my right. I'm right-handed where dexterity counts.

[DDH]

I push off right but depending on what I am coming to at a stop depends on which foot I unclip. If I'm coming to a stop next to a curb then I unclip my right foot and take off with the left already clipped in. Doesn't happen often but I can do it. I don't think I could do it when first getting on my bike to take off though. Not sure why, but just doesn't feel right to lean the bike over the other way to be able to clip in on the left and take off. Weird!! LOL

I guess from a curb I am already up on the bike so that's the difference. :rolleyes:

[BeeLady]

I always leave my right foot clipped in and raise the crank to an upper position to push off using my right pedal.

I was told when I first went clipless to get in the habit of always unclipping one foot. So far it has served me well.

I don't want to rely on curbs as I ride in traffic often and the right curb, unless I am turning right and sometimes even then, is a dangerous place to be when starting off at an intersection. I'd rather take the lane than get into a confrontation with an auto who is making a right turn.

When I coast I don't pay attention to which foot is forward as long as my cranks are level.

[RoadRaven]

I always push off with the left, with my right at 10o'clock

And like BeeLady, I alwayas unclip the same foot (left) when I am stopping.

And about chainring tats... I even get them on my right leg! Dunno how... just lucky I guess!

[Di bear]

Wow - I don't remember :rolleyes: I haven't ridden since October. Soon though - very soon.

Hey Di Bear - is that your Gu wrapper at the end of my driveway? It showed up sometime Friday before 8pm.

Um, if it's chocolate, it could be. I usually eat Hammer Gel, though, and I'm using less gel this year cuz I really don't need it unless I'm doing a longer ride. I don't think I've lost any wrappers cuz I'm pretty good about making sure they're in my pocket. I fold them up a certain way to minimize goo leakage into my pocket. ;)

[sundial]

Left :)

[indysteel]

Push off with the left foot -- am right-handed.

Me, too. Must be a Hoosier thing!

[mimitabby]

I am not sure why DH thinks the way he does with the whole pushing off with the right foot vs the left. I have explained to him several times that my left leg is stronger so it is easier for me. He still thinks it is wrong. To me, if it works for me then it is right.

Solobiker, tell DH that the gals on TE say YOU ARE RIGHT!


I'm very left handed and it would be quite awkward to start doing everything from the other side!

wasn't it Sheldon Brown who had his bike set up with the chains and rings on the opposite side of his bike? Tell your husband that you want THAT too. :D

[GLC1968]

Under normal circumstances, I stand on my left and push off with my right. I can do it either way depending on the situation though.

Oh and, I write right-handed, but do many, many other things with my left, so I'm kind of ambidexterous.

[RoadBunner]

Clip in left foot first, push off with left, clip in right.

Coast with right back.

I prefer to "walk" my bike when I'm standing on the left and always get on by swinging my right foot over. I think this is a by-product of riding horses.

I am right-handed.

[ehirsch83]

After growing up riding horses my whole life, my left side is now the dominant one! even though I am right handed.. so I get on the bike from the left, i clip in on the right and push off from the left..... I have a very hard time doing things with the right leg for dominance issues... it is funny at times

[F8th637]

I'm left handed but right foot dominant. I unclip my left foot at lights and keep my dominant foot (right) clipped in. I **can** unclip right just fine if the situation requires it though :eek:.

I'm exactly like Liza. I am right hand and right foot dominant but left-handed and I try to always unclip with my left first.

[VeloVT]

I prefer to "walk" my bike when I'm standing on the left and always get on by swinging my right foot over. I think this is a by-product of riding horses.

I am right-handed.

There's a very good reason to "walk" on the left side of your bike... avoiding tattoos, chainring bites and other kinds of messy drivetrain encounters :D.

[silver]

Me, too. Must be a Hoosier thing!

nope! but maybe I'm so far South I'm not a real Hoosier anyway :p

right handed, push off (unclip first, clip back in last) with the right.

[short cut sally]

I unclip my left foot, put that down. My right foot remains clipped in and I will find the upmost position, so I can push off with my left and put weight into my right leg to get my momentum going so I can clip in. That is usally done simultaniously or automatically, and sometimes it takes me a few strokes around to get my left foot properly clipped in. I am very much right handed.