Cleat release-which direction do you?

[Zen]

I will

How long have you been doing that?
Do you ever forget?

[Aggie_Ama]

Heel out.

And much to my husband's horror I have to unclip with the left or I fall over. He is convinced I am going to wreck one day because I can't unclip right and lean right. I couldn't figure out how to tie my shoe laces until I was almost 7 (even then only the two bunny ear method for a couple more years), didn't ride a bike until I was 9 (not for lack of trying) and still can't swim worth a dang. I really don't think he should push the issue on anything athletic or physical, if I am riding clipless that is enough. I also have to have my Look Keos on the loosest setting possible, for me if I can't just pop out it is too tight.

[Cataboo]

I mostly unclip with the left foot - I've had a few near falls when I have to unclip with the right.

[Zen]

I mostly unclip with the left foot - I've had a few near falls when I have to unclip with the right.

Are you left handed?

[Cataboo]

Are you left handed?

Yep.

[Crankin]

Aggie, I think you are my twin sister. Didn't learn to tie my shoes until I was 6. Used the bunny ears for at least 2 years after that. I also learned to ride when I was 9, almost 10. And, I always unclip left. I know when I started with clipless, i did it right and now I don't remember why I switched. But, on my mountain bike, unless I'm in a very scary situation, I can use both feet.
One time, I decided to experiment and try to unclip right when I was coming down my driveway, to the part right in front of my house. I unclipped my foot, but I felt like I could not lean right and put my foot down! I quickly clipped back in and unclipped my left foot and stopped. My whole body felt wrong when trying to lean right; I just couldn't do it. I also cannot get on my bike from the right side... yea, I know my laterality is messed up.
After almost 9 years, I think it would be hard to retrain myself. I've had the same comment from a few people about how this will lead to killing myself, but so far I've been able to stop in some pretty tough situations.
And I clip out by twisting out (Speedplays). I know I have clipped out by turning my ankle in with spds, but not in a long time.

[ny biker]

I will

How long have you been doing that?
Do you ever forget?

I have always been a freak.

[Aggie_Ama]

Crankin- I am glad I am not alone! I have known I was always a slow learner at mechanical things. I am okay with it. DH makes it look so effortless I want to slap him though. We roll up to a light with a curb on the right, unclip right. We are turning left and there is a median, unclip left. Doesn't even look like he has to think about it which is probably why he thinks I shouldn't have to only unclip left to stay upright.

And I am very much right handed but somehow can only unclip left. Not even sure how it started. I can hardly butter bread left handed.

[ny biker]

DH makes it look so effortless I want to slap him though. We roll up to a light with a curb on the right, unclip right. We are turning left and there is a median, unclip left. Doesn't even look like he has to think about it which is probably why he thinks I shouldn't have to only unclip left to stay upright.

I must unclip right and put my right foot down first. If I ever try to unclip first with my left foot, I will fall over to the right.

[OakLeaf]

Didn't we have a poll last year about which side we unclip? I thought left was the majority.

I'm a rightie. Which is kind of odd since you always put your left foot down first on a motorcycle. But then, I rode bicis for years before I got a moto, and I guess when I picked it back up that was still in my muscle memory.

[Crankin]

I think for me, it is muscle memory. I could retrain myself, but like Aggie, anything that smacks of mechanical or a combination of mechanical and eye-hand is really hard for me. That's why I have always done well in "individual" sports, as team sports seem to require coordination I don't have.
I am right handed, but, I am definitely stronger on my left side. I always hold my coffee cup in my left hand, kick with my left foot. In yoga, I am always the one who wants to start the pose on my left side... so I pay close attention, to make sure I am in synch with the rest of the class.
As I have said before, if my former gym teachers could see me now, they would not believe it. Getting certified to teach aerobics was probably the biggest confidence builder in my life... more than any "professional" achievement, getting my master's degree. Same thing for leading bike rides. I might not be the fastest, but I have skills that I can teach others. OK, totally getting off topic here.
Actually, I had very little trouble learning to use clipless pedals.

[Zen]

Didn't we have a poll last year about which side we unclip? I thought left was the majority.
.

Well...the original question was about heel direction.
The thread took a turn. As usual.

[emily_in_nc]

I must unclip right and put my right foot down first. If I ever try to unclip first with my left foot, I will fall over to the right.

Me too!

[Cataboo]

Hrm. I might have to check which foot I actually disconnect with, because me disconnecting with my left sounds odd 'cause that's the ankle I always sprain and I usually make my other foot do everything for fear of spraining it.

Shoe tying was probably around 6 or 7, as well, I think. Telling left & right... I always wore bracelets on my left hand to make myself remember which way was left. I still will grab my left wrist to try to figure it out. I can generally tell left from right, but I always have to think about it. So if someone says turn left, there's usually a good probability I'll go right until I think about it.

Muscle memory - I am much better at doing something and getting it naturally. Someone that tries to break down what I'm doing into little steps or tells me to concentrate on one thing will usually end up "breaking" my ability to do something until I somehow manage to make it happen naturally.

I might be somewhat retarded.

[tantrumbean]

I unclip left, because even before going clipless I was told to always put my left foot down first as that means I'm leaning away from traffic, so it became a habit. Before that, my right foot always went down first. However, now leaning to the right to unclip right when necessary always instills panic in me. The clipping out is easy, but leaning to the right has become really difficult!!!