I'm a full member of the club!

**Bikingmomof3** · 10-13-2006, 09:18 AM

Quint,

Congratulations on getting your fall over with..

I cannot recall who asked, but for the record, I unclip left.

**suzieqtwa** · 10-13-2006, 09:26 AM

Im still in toe clips ,but always stop with my right foot, I leave my left foot tight in the strap. I will go clipless when I get my road bike in March. Ill probably unclip the same foot. Im right handed.

**Aint Doody** · 10-13-2006, 09:58 AM

Left foot unclipped first. I'm right-handed.

**chickwhorips** · 10-13-2006, 10:02 AM

congrats and welcome to the club!

i usually unclip left, unless i have to unclip right. but left is the one i don't think about unclipping, it just happens.

**emily_in_nc** · 10-13-2006, 04:49 PM

Wow, I am really in the minority here. I am right handed but always unclip RIGHT. I do like that that makes the lean before stopping against traffic, but I don't know if I consciously learned to do it that way for that reason. I think, actually, that my DH taught me to use clipless years ago, and that's the way he did it, so that's just the way I learned. He is also right handed, btw. It feels totally foreign to even imagine doing it the other way, but now that I am mountain biking more than road riding, I've been told I really do need to get comfortable unclipping on either side. There is even a skill when going around a tight turn/switchback to unclip the inner foot, put it down and kinda pivot the bike around the turn if you can't make it without putting a foot down. I can kinda do this on a right turn since that's the side I unclip on, but haven't dared to try it on a tight left yet.

Emily

**tygab** · 10-13-2006, 05:38 PM

I unclip left and am right handed. It works for me and I have no desire to worry about learning to unclip right. Maybe when that's the only thing left on my 'stuff to learn about cycling list' I will...

**lauraelmore1033** · 10-13-2006, 06:36 PM

I'm right handed and unclip on the right. When I first went with clips (clipless) it really made me notice that my left leg was kinda lazy; my right leg was doing most of the work when it was all about simply pushing down. There was no way I was going to trust my left foot to get the job done. Now that I'm clipless, both legs are working equally, but I don't think I would ever change.

**quint41** · 10-14-2006, 03:19 AM

By the way, MDHillSlug -- I love your avitar!!!

**quint41** · 10-14-2006, 03:24 AM

One last thought (I promise) ... who's the smarty pants who decided to call these things CLIPLESS pedals?? Have you tried to explain the technology to anyone lately? "Well, there are special shoes with cleats under the ball of your foot, and those cleats CLIP INTO THE PEDALS. They are called CLIPLESS pedals." Huh??

Only because this is a WOMEN'S forum and I'm SURE there are no men reading, I'll suggest this ... did a GUY decided to call them clipless??

OK, I'm sorry in advance! I love men, too.

**CyclChyk** · 10-14-2006, 05:45 AM

Oh I'm sure it was a guy thing.

Most definately.

**chickwhorips** · 10-14-2006, 11:52 AM

you know i always wondered the same thing quint

**BeeLady** · 10-14-2006, 12:38 PM

When I bought my clipless pedals and shoes (i.e., without toe clips!), I was taught to unclip left and push down on the pedal from one o'clock position with my right (stronger) leg. This makes a big difference in our group social rides as I can get a good straight push with my right leg and can get going, wobble-free, on a straight line.

I saw one of our group stop and lean against a curb with her right foot. When she took off she was dangerously against the curb, with the gutter trash, etc. When she moved away from the curb she almost caused a major wreck by running into all the riders on her left who were keeping their lines

. Lesson for me: stop where I want to be starting from especially when riding with someone else.

Saw lady go down due to clipless incident on Thursday night. Her friends on both sides were able to catch her and help break her fall. Would rather go down like that than some other ways I know of!

**HillSlugger** · 10-14-2006, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by quint41

By the way, MDHillSlug -- I love your avitar!!!

Thanks! I wish I could take credit for it but I stole...er...found it out on the web.

**pyxichick** · 10-14-2006, 04:34 PM

Pedal Wench,

One day I noticed that my fellow riders always got chainring tattoos, but I never did. I couldn't figure out why, since I clip out right, and I'm much more of an amateur than my buddies.

Then it hit me. I rarely use my big ring. This means it's not greasy and doesn't leave a mark.

My solution for you is to keep the big ring clean!

**quint41** · 10-15-2006, 04:11 AM

I love the big ring! That's where I get all my speed! The guys I ride with always chastise me for riding on the big ring. It's not like I do it excessively, but I'm very confortable there on the flat. If I'm more comfortable and not taxing myself or the bike on the big ring (and I get exhausted spinning on the flat like they do), why not use it? Why do they put a big ring on the bike if not to use!

The big ring is my friend.

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