A bit too one-sided

[kimikaw]

Curious how many of us are one-sided when it comes to our bikes. As in mounting and dismounting...not just dominant foot or which one touches down first unconsciously. I knew with my road bike that I unclip left foot at stops. I also know that I'm more or less right foot dominant, but am comfortable in "ready" or "neutral' position with either leg forward.

What I didn't realize is how strongly I am wired to mount and dismount from the left - right leg over. In fact it is awkward, uncomfortable and difficult to mount/dismount to the right/ left leg over. Maybe all the years riding horses as a teen?!?

And what's weird is I can look and consciously put right foot down first in some places. But getting off/on that way. Not so much.

Which on some trails, in some places is not ideal.

[OakLeaf]

Very much so.

The last bit of retraining my braking habits after my crash last winter, is learning to drink left-handed. It is NOT going well.

[Catrin]

I am VERY one-sided. I can only start, and stop, with my right foot. I have experimented and if I think very carefully about it I can touch my left foot to the ground, but it is very hard to do that. I suspect part of it is sub-consciously protecting that foot since it has been reconstructed (the back half).

I realize this is probably not a good thing for trail riding...

[Becky]

Absolutely. I clip, unclip, and "power stroke" for wheelies with my right foot. I can do all of those things left-footed, but it takes a consideraby larger amount of thinking to do so.

As for mounting and dismounting, I've always done that from the left to stay out of the drivetrain.

[goldfinch]

Absolutely favor the right. I always put down the left foot when I stop. I always mount from the left. I am not sure that I could do it the other way around.

[Hi Ho Silver]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that has to mount from the left side. After I walked my bike out to the parking lot this morning to start my ride, I actually had to walk clear around the bike so I could mount from the left - just could not get myself to mount from the right! ...sigh...

[bmccasland]

Another left mounter, although I unclip with my right foot. My brain has trouble with coordination if I try to mount from the right.

And we mount horses from the left because that is the side our sword would be on if we were Knights back in the day. Sword on the left hip, to be grabbed with the right, and proper, hand.

[sarahkonamojo]

Interesting, I have just been obsessing about this short coming in my riding. I am always on the left of my bike. That means all of my crashes are on the right side. Not good for the derailleur hanger. I have recently been trying to ride my commuter bike from the right. It is very difficult, but i feel I need to develop that side a little. And it is very difficult, even on on flat pavement, to get on and off the bike on the right side.
S

[jessmarimba]

I'd like to take back what I said. I still always mount/dismount left, but I can apparently start or stop with either foot wherever and clip in/out with either foot first (as i learned in a race this morning).