Left or Right?

[DebW]

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.

[doc]

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.

[betagirl]

I unclip seated 99% of the time. I too have yet to perfect a track stand

[DebW]

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.

[Lise]

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! L.