Newbie question... unclipping, stopping, horses

[Bluetree]

Hi gals

I saw a thread about equestrians and I it made me think about my form and how it has been affected by riding horses. I'm still new to cycling and I don't know if I am stopping and starting correctly. I don't want to start any bad habits that will be hard to change later, so here goes...

I'm right-dominant. Right now, unclip my right foot while I'm slowing down, then I put my left pedal down at 6 'oclock. As I come to a stop, I place my right foot on the ground. I spin my left around and unclip. When the light turns green, I shift my weight to my left leg (still on the ground), spin the right pedal up, and push down with my dominant right leg to get going.

When I think about it, I know it seems more efficient to unclip on my left, put my left foot on the ground and keep my right clipped in. Simple to take off, more efficient. However, I tried this and it just plain feels WRONG. It feels like I am about to dismount a horse on the wrong side. I can't help feel like my pedals are "stirrups" and trying to get off on the "wrong" side makes me feel unbalanced and insecure.

For the more experienced gals.. is this a hangup I should just try and get over... or is there a better way?

[kelownagirl]

I don't know what the official "correct" answer is but.. I think you should do whatever feels most comfortable - you're proably less likely to fall? I always unclip left first. Dh always unclips right first. I sometimes wish I preferred to unclip right first so when I stop at intersections, I could have one foot on the curb, but it just doesn't feel right...

[LBTC]

I like to unclip on the right, especially on roads, as I am very short and really appreciate putting my foot high on a curb!

I do think that anything goes, really, with unclipping, stopping and starting, to the point that you feel comfortable. As a mountain biker, too, though, I realize that it's important to be able to stop and start with either foot, as the terrain dictates. An example is that when you're getting going on a sidehill, you always want to mount from the uphill side....

That said, maybe it would be good to practice alternating the foot you start with. Starting doesn't have to be about the more powerful and dominant foot, it could be just about what works in that situation.

Keep riding, girl!
~T~

[roshelleuop]

Bluetree,

I have ridden horses since I was 8 (hunter/jumper) and it was neat hearing how you felt uncomfortable unclipping the left foot first becuase you felt like you would be dismounting from the wrong side. I never thought of it this way but can definitely understand why it would feel unnatural.

For some reason it does not feel unnatural to me and I am most comfortable unclipping my left foot first, then keeping my right foot clipped in. I rarely unclip my right foot. The only time I do is when I see a sticky situation coming up (usually an idiot driver talking on their cell phone, smoking a cigarette, eating a cheeseburger, and paying no attention to me) and I usually unclip them both at the same time and set my feet on the pedals, but don't clip back in. This way, I can put either foot down or both, and focus on the traffic in front of me instead of clipping out.

Just my two cents!

Hurray for fellow equestrians!!!!
Roshelle

[bonnie526]

I was encouraged by both dh and a friend to learn to clip/unclip from both sides. Since I'm just now learning, they thought it was best if I tried this from the start instead of waiting until I'm into a habit. I understand their point, however, there's NO WAY I can unclip from my right foot and start with my left foot. It just feels sooo wrong. I usually don't unclip my right foot at all during my ride unless I'm actually getting off the bike. I think I'll just stick with what feels comfortable for now. I don't need anymore accidents.

[kiwi girl]

I have riden a horse once in my whole life, and that was more than 20 years ago so what feels comfortable to me may not feel right to you... but this is what I do.

I'd consider myself right dominant (in that do virtually everything right handed and kick much better right footed at soccer). For me this means I want to push off with my right foot. I always unclip my left foot and put my left foot down. At interestions etc I'll leave my right foot cliped in and as the intersection clears or the lights change I'll move my right foot to the top of the stroke to push off.

Entering a potentially sticky situation I'll unclip my left foot, but leave it on top of the pedal, clipping back in once the situation clears.

I'd normally go many rides in a row without unclipping my right foot during the course of the ride.

[aicabsolut]

I see what you're saying, but to get off a horse, you'd step into that left stirrup as you kick the right leg free. This is how you fall over to the left. This is still how i will dismount a stationary bike or a bike on a trainer, though..but I'll also clip in there with left pedal first and stand on it like a stirrup.

I rode horses MUCH more than bikes (20 years riding horses now), but my comfort zone from day 1 on a bike was push off with right foot, put left foot down first. My natural coasting position is right foot in back stroke, so I'm learning to change how I coast so I can unclip left. I am right handed but half the time left-footed (I kick better right, but I'm a leftie for track and field and kickboxing, usually). I don't know if this makes a difference.

I start with my right leg because my left, more stable leg, can push off from the ground better. My balance is pretty poor on the right side for a variety of reasons.

Do whatever makes you feel comfortable and keeps you upright.