Poll for those who ride clipless

[Jiffer]

I'm right handed and unclip the right first. My right leg is stronger and that's the leg I want stability with for stopping and holding up the bike. I snowboard "regular", which is typical for right handed people. However, my daughter is right handed and snowboards "goofy", which is typically how left handed people board. She also skateboards like a lefty.

I think unclipping with the leg on the side that is your "stronger" side (that you write with, etc.) would probably be the norm, but certainly not a rule to live by. Each person has to go with whatever feels right to them.

While we're on this subject, I don't get why it is referred to as going "clipless", when in fact, there ARE clips! It seems to me that clipless would refer to pedals that you don't clip into. Is this just a TE term that some confused TE person came up with or is this actually how it is referred to in the cycling world. DH has been cycling a long time and has never heard of using clips as being "clipless".

I've been going to ask for some time, so this seemed an opportune time!

[makbike]

It simply depends on which bike I'm riding. If I'm on my "little blue bike" (DF) I unclip my right foot first. If I'm on my recumbent I unclip my left foot first. Go figure!

[Chile Pepper]

While we're on this subject, I don't get why it is referred to as going "clipless", when in fact, there ARE clips! It seems to me that clipless would refer to pedals that you don't clip into.

Well, before there were clipless pedals, there were pedals with toe clips--the old straps that you just shoved your feet into. So when the toe clips were eliminated, the pedals were called clipless.


I'm right handed and I clip my right foot out first.

[GLC1968]

Nope, 'clipless' is definitely not a TE thing. It refers to riding without toe clips as shown is this picture (sorry, it's the best one I could find):

[Tri Girl]

Interesting question... never really thought about it.
I'm a lefty and unclip with my right foot. I do so because my left leg is stronger, and when I get going again I want to start my downstroke with my strongest leg. Just the opposite of others it seems. I don't want my strong leg down, I want it on the pedal so I can take off strong.

[dex]

...when I get going again I want to start my downstroke with my strongest leg. Just the opposite of others it seems. I don't want my strong leg down, I want it on the pedal so I can take off strong.

That's my rationale, too. (I'm also a right-hander who unclips on the left first.)

[rij73]

Interesting question... never really thought about it.
I'm a lefty and unclip with my right foot. I do so because my left leg is stronger, and when I get going again I want to start my downstroke with my strongest leg. Just the opposite of others it seems. I don't want my strong leg down, I want it on the pedal so I can take off strong.

That's exactly why I'm a righty and unclip the left!

[northstar]

Right handed, clip out right foot first.

I think it's important to do what comes naturally! Thinking too hard makes clipping out way harder than it should be! But I did notice the other day that it feels "funny" to me if I unclip my left foot first. Hmmm...