Today’s QoW comes from RBR reader Jerry Arvesen. It’s a fun one. Let’s see how it plays out.
(We encourage you to submit you own QoW ideas using the Question of the Week Ideas link.)
Expert road cycling advice, since 2001
Today’s QoW comes from RBR reader Jerry Arvesen. It’s a fun one. Let’s see how it plays out.
(We encourage you to submit you own QoW ideas using the Question of the Week Ideas link.)
I hope your question of the week isn’t another political poll! That thought occurred to me as I looked at the results as saw about equal numbers of ‘right’ vs ‘left’ responses 😉 Personally I try not to put a foot down if I can avoid it – good time to practice track stands as long as you don’t fall over in traffic.
Left foot virtually eliminates the risk of a chain ring tattoo. Right foot greatly increases the probability.
Heavens NO! It is most definitely not.
I’ve always heard this, but I’ve never got a tattoo in the process of clipping in or out — with my right foot, always!
Always the right foot. If I’m next to a curb, I’ll stay in the saddle and rest my foot on the curb. Of course, if I’m stopping and dismounting I always get off on the left, like a horse. I don’t know why.
Several years ago I made a concentrated effort to switch from right to left foot out. I worked at it for over a month, but in the end couldn’t do it.
I’m a right footer, too. I once had a cleat issue on a ride and could not easily click out with my right foot. I was forced to the use the left and quite often had some catching up to do after each stop because it took me so long to click in with my left.
Once a lefty, always a lefty.
Would have been interesting to also know the dominant hand of the responders. I’m right handed and always clip in and out with my right foot.
Interesting that this should be the question of the week. I recently took to noticing which foot my fellow riders put down, and have asked a few about it. Most say that they feel as if they’d fall over if they put the opposite foot down. That certainly applies to me—one heavily oriented to the right side. I may try the left side some time when it’s safe, like on a grassy field. Being able to go either way could be useful in a pinch.
Clipping out left at a busy road intersection means that perhaps an unexpected fall/tip over will take you right and hopefully out of the path of traffic approaching from the rear. Still worthwhile even if you are in a bike lane that has a turn lane to the right of it, those vehicles should be going slower. Best to be proficient at either side, same with water bottles. Something to practice…..
I’m right handed and right side dominant, but I put my left foot down. Starting to pedal with my right leg seems most natural to me.