SPD Encouragement needed

[uforgot]

I had a rather long post, Catrin, but then we posted at the same ridiculous hour of the morning, and I see why you want to try it! Good luck.

Just want to note that I threw out the clipless pedals too. Just like Knotted. I rode them for 3 years, never had a problem with them, I just prefer to not use them and the special shoes they require. I'm having fun with my bike and I can just hop on and ride around town now whenever I want. I can also hop off and run after any amazing little thing I want to photograph.

Here's an interesting thread we had. Lots of different opinions. Like always.

[Catrin]

I saw your original post in my email box

In the end, I will decide when I walk into the door today whether the experiment will come now or later. I do have BMX pedals - and while my feet do stay on the pedals keep my legs torn up where they wallop me. The pedals are now looking pretty bad - so I will walk out with new pedals today - one way or the other.

The nice thing about the Shimano pedals is that I can use either kind of shoe with them - and I LIKE that - especially if the teeth on the platform side are substantial enough to keep my shoe on the pedal. There is a reason why I have put up with having my right calf torn up all summer from the spikes on the BMX pedals - my feet are quite stable on them - which is a great thing!

[uforgot]

Let us know how it goes.

[OakLeaf]

What Knott said, and ALSO, it's okay to put your right foot down first.

So do I. I know we're in the minority. Always have, probably always will. Bicis aren't "meant" to be dismounted one side or the other (unlike motos, which do require the right foot on the rear brake, and even after a 12 year hiatus from bicycling in which I rode tens of thousands of moto miles putting the left foot down, I still unclip right).

People say it's normal to put your non-dominant foot down first, but I'm right-handed and right-footed. What I am, though, is left-eyed (cross-dominant people are also in the minority), and I wonder if that's it. Think I'll post a poll....

[sundial]

Did the SPD thing and I've converted to platforms. I climb big hills better on platforms. I can wear virtually any shoe that I want to. I can change the foot position on the platforms and give different muscle groups a rest which is especially nice on a long ride. My knee is a lot happier too. Platforms help you connect with the die hard, competitive, weight weenie, hammerfest cyclists who secretly admire your courage to challenge convention. Give the SPDs a chance and if it doesn't work out, you have a myriad of choices for platforms.

[uforgot]

I always put the right foot down first too. I'm right handed, but what I like to call, left footed. I do left cartwheels, left splits and left kicks better. As a dance teacher, I find that there are always a couple of girls, even though they are right handed, do these things better on the left too. Opposite the majority. I also wonder if that is the difference, since we have had this discussion before.

[KnottedYet]

I'm left dominant (hand, leg, eye) and I always put my right foot down first. I always manage my water bottle with my right hand.

My dominant side stays in charge of the bike. I like the bike more than the ground or bottle, I guess!

[Crankin]

I have mixed dominance, which I am sure plays a large part in my messed up perceptual/spatial skills. Right handed for writing, but do a lot of other stuff with my left. Left footed/eyed. Can't even approach my bike on the right side, like if I have to walk it, I can't do it from the right. It just feels wrong. Can only do the water bottle with my left hand, and even that is shaky. When I go down stairs or hike, I use my left foot first, although with running, I switch between both. Thus, I clip/unclip left, although I swear, I started with the right and switched after I read something, which I can't remember. I can unclip right on my mountain bike, which is more for survival, I think!
In the end, it really doesn't matter. Although I pretty much cannot ride without being clipped in. My feet fly off of the pedals and I find it very hard to get started.
I can't imagine unclipping with both feet every time I had to. I am not sure how I would get off the seat and I imagine myself impaling my nether regions on the saddle! The process of unclipping, slowing, and putting my foot down is so automatic and fluid. I really do not feel like I am leaning the bike, although I must be.

[TxDoc]

Every woman should have her own pedal wrench and her own vibrator, and know how to use them.

KnottedYet - LOL!!!
This wins the contest as the best TE Forum quote ever.
Now I have to dry up the keyboard, good thing I was drinking plain water instead of the usual coffee...
There should be a rule or something - "Don't drink and read the TE forum"...

[JennK13]

What Knott said, and ALSO, it's okay to put your right foot down first.

So do I. I know we're in the minority. Always have, probably always will. Bicis aren't "meant" to be dismounted one side or the other (unlike motos, which do require the right foot on the rear brake, and even after a 12 year hiatus from bicycling in which I rode tens of thousands of moto miles putting the left foot down, I still unclip right).

I'm right footed, and even when I ride a moto, I put my right foot down!! I always brake using my hand and my foot brake, but as I actually come to a stop, I'm shifting with the left foot, and I always have put my right foot on the ground. Guess it's just natural to do the same on the bike