Printable View
OK, I'm now very suspicious of everything my mother told me about her past. Is there some secret family I don't know about? This describes my mother also. But you should insert the word "very" in front of "nuts."Quote:
Originally Posted by Robbin_G
I wonder if this skill is common amongst lefties.
I seem to be unclipping BOTH feet all the time (seems the best way to avoid falling over - I have a grand total of six (6!) falls from a standstill to my credit...)
I reckon it would offer much more natural writing mechanics (for lack of a better wayto describe it). Lots of lefties have writing that slopes noticeably "backwards" because it allows much more comfortable writing posture.Quote:
Originally Posted by SadieKate
I unclip to the right, get on the bike from the left side. My right leg is stronger than my left, and I'm right handed. But I shoot pool lefty :D Go figure.
I just started w clipless in middle of March this year. I 'taught' myself and just naturally went to unclipping right. Fell 2 times at stops when I unclipped but forgot to lean enough weight to the right and did a sloooww topple to left. Luckily nowhere near traffic(I'm new remember!). Anyway love this thread. When I first started biking last Sept I just always pushed off with left foot and stopped with right foot down first so the SPD just followed suit. Also can only mount from left (I feel silly because I tried once or twice from right but can't get it together so....and I have to walk my bike on left side too.
I'm wondering if the "mount horses from the left" is why the chain is on the right side of a bike? To keep you away from the chain when pushing the bike or mounting. Anybody know the historical origin?
Another unclipping question: Are there people who unclip while seated and others who unclip while standing on one foot? I always do it standing because my hip/leg/ankle don't turn far enough while seated. The Speedplay pedal directions said to unclip with the pedal forward (3 o'clock) and that would imply sitting.
Interesting question. The historical origins of "rules" is very interesting as it often has no relevance with what is happening today. For example, a properly trained dog will always heel on the left. Why? Because you "are" carrying your gun on your right. I'm about as anti-gun as they come, but my 90lb girl always heels on the left.
As for unclipping seated or standing, usually seated. Unless I'm doing a poor impersonation of a track stand and run out of room to inch forward. Then I unclip standing.
I unclip seated 99% of the time. I too have yet to perfect a track stand :)
By unclip standing I wasn't implying a track stand. You need to unweight the foot being unclipped (assuming you remove it from the pedal as you unclip), so one foot down with weight on it, one foot up. In essence, unclipping as you get off the seat and prepare to put one foot down. The 28 degree heel-out required by the Speedplay pedals is difficult for me to achieve any other way.
So today, mindful of this thread, I paid attention to how I unclip. And the answer is: It Depends! If I'm going to turn left, and I've gotten myself into the left lane, then I unclip left. If I'm going right or straight, I unclip and lean to the R. So I am ambifooterous after all! :p L.