I'm not an ambi-footer.

sarajoy
sarajoy Posts: 1,675
edited January 2009 in Commuting chat
I've found that I can only deal with putting my left foot down, and using my right foot to set off with.

If I try to stop leaving the left foot on the pedal and putting down the right foot, I tend to be very close to toppling over!

Is this normal, or as expected, a bit crap?
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Comments

  • robmanic1
    robmanic1 Posts: 2,150
    Is your left leg much shorter than your right? You're not Heather Mills are you?
    Pictures are better than words because some words are big and hard to understand.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/34335188@N07/3336802663/
  • Coriander
    Coriander Posts: 1,326
    Well, if it's not normal then I'm a bit crap as well, because I'm exactly the same.

    It does mean that if I have to unclip my right foot rather promptly I struggle and nearly topple...
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,714
    I always unclip my left foot when stopping at junctions, as it means I'm leaning towards the kerb, away from traffic that might squeeze past. However, I can also unclip my right foot with trivial ease. Just practise, it's a handy skill.
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    I have made it a habit to always unclip the left foot and put it down, it means that I don't have "clipless moments", and I am also leaning away from the traffic (unless waiting for a right turn). Using different feet at different times would surely get me in a mess!
  • biondino
    biondino Posts: 5,990
    I always unclip my right foot, probably because I'm left footed so it's just what comes naturally. But it's worth being sure you can do the other one as well because you will need to on occasion, intentioanlly or otherwise.
    My Focus / My Bob Jackson
    Blog (incl. bikes)
  • sarajoy
    sarajoy Posts: 1,675
    I'm not talking clipping here, just picking one or another foot off the pedal and sticking it on the ground!

    I think I naturally must try and shift my weight off the left of the bike all the time...

    ...it is even possible that I have one leg shorter than the other - certainly the bottoms of my trousers wear first on one side... very possibly the right, thinking about it...
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  • soy_sauce
    soy_sauce Posts: 987
    sarajoy wrote:
    I'm not talking clipping here, just picking one or another foot off the pedal and sticking it on the ground!

    I think I naturally must try and shift my weight off the left of the bike all the time...

    ...it is even possible that I have one leg shorter than the other - certainly the bottoms of my trousers wear first on one side... very possibly the right, thinking about it...

    i do the same too when i first start but now it fine with either way but i still prefer to start off with my left foot to pedal. i guess it just because i get used to it and it just feel more comfortable that way. :)
    "It is not impossible, its just improbable"

    Specialized Rockhopper Pro Disc 08
  • andy jackson
    andy jackson Posts: 34
    it is a chocolate foot moment?

    +1 for Left foot down
    Specialized Tricross SS FCN 4
    GT Zaskar FCN 10
  • greg66_tri_v2.0
    greg66_tri_v2.0 Posts: 7,172
    I've had this (heated) debate somewhere before.

    I always unclip with my right foot. My thinking is: I want to be able to stop myself falling to the right, because that's the side that the traffic's on.

    The flipside of this is: if you always unclip to the left, you'll be leaning to the left, so if you don't manage the unclip, you'll fall away from the traffic. If you don't manage the right foot unclip, and you're leaning to the right, you'll get squashed.

    However, I've never got jammed in on the right so that I was stuck and couldn't unclip. I have, however, unclipped on the right whilst leaning to the left and had a comedy moment falling to the left (away from traffic) with a free right foot.

    So my view is still that you're better off unclipping on the right.

    YMMV. :wink:
    Swim. Bike. Run. Yeah. That's what I used to do.

    Bike 1
    Bike 2-A
  • MrChuck
    MrChuck Posts: 1,663
    I can only just swing my leg over the saddle from the right side- does that count?
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    my wife is so sided she can only get on the bike one side, i'm the anoying either will do person.
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,714
    MrChuck wrote:
    I can only just swing my leg over the saddle from the right side- does that count?
    Actually, I can only get on the bike from standing on the left of it.

    Reason is that my left hip's damaged to the point that if I try to swing it over the saddle, it will dislocate...
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    I can only swing my right leg over the bike. It's not natural swinging over the left leg and have fallen over trying

    I unclip the left foot never the right.
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • greg66_tri_v2.0
    greg66_tri_v2.0 Posts: 7,172
    whyamihere wrote:
    Actually, I can only get on the bike from standing on the left of it.

    Reason is that my left hip's damaged to the point that if I try to swing it over the saddle, it will dislocate...

    I think I was just sick in my mouth...
    Swim. Bike. Run. Yeah. That's what I used to do.

    Bike 1
    Bike 2-A
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    I'm not either, although I am (was) trying to be. I always unclip the left and push off with the right, and had been taking steps to stop doing that all the time, as I'm on a FG it makes life even harder if you're always trying to go for the same foot!

    We will see how I go come Feb...
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • robmanic1
    robmanic1 Posts: 2,150
    Keep both feet on the pedals, the stabilisers will keep you upright :wink:
    Pictures are better than words because some words are big and hard to understand.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/34335188@N07/3336802663/
  • cee
    cee Posts: 4,553
    i suspect it is a chocolate foot thing....I keep my chocolate foot (left for me) on the pedal when possible, although I don't have any issue doing it the other way around....I just naturally put my right foot down.
    Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.

    H.G. Wells.
  • sarajoy
    sarajoy Posts: 1,675
    Chocolate foot - hrm, slang for preferred foot?

    Anyway glad I'm not completely abnormal, just a little bit odd ;)
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  • cee
    cee Posts: 4,553
    sarajoy wrote:
    Chocolate foot - hrm, slang for preferred foot?

    Anyway glad I'm not completely abnormal, just a little bit odd ;)

    yes! The same as snowboarding......the foot you have at the front is the chocolate foot. right footers are goofy, while left footers are regular.
    Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.

    H.G. Wells.
  • don_don
    don_don Posts: 1,007
    cee wrote:
    i suspect it is a chocolate foot thing....I keep my chocolate foot (left for me) on the pedal when possible, although I don't have any issue doing it the other way around....I just naturally put my right foot down.

    FGS don't start the 'chocloate foot' thing or we'll be back to toe-sucking again... :roll:

    FWIW, I'm always more comfortable putting my right foot down, but I think I agree with biondino that its because I'm left-footed.

    I got to work today and was about to cheekily roll through the gap in the wall as I usually do. Someone was coming out though, so I had to stop rather quickly and had a 'nearly forgot to unclip' moment.

    I'm hoping the subsequent, slightly panicked, 'double unclip and jump to the ground narrowly missing the top-tube with my crotch' move looked cool rather than moronic :oops:
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    Snowboarding, I'd lead on my left leg

    Skateboarding I push on my right foot.

    Football I kick with my left foot. (Apparantly when I was young I was two footed)

    Cycling I set off with my right leg.

    In fact I write with my right hand but if I'm playing basketball I shoot with my left.

    Maybe I was dropped when I was a baby....
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Greg66 wrote:
    I've had this (heated) debate somewhere before.

    YMMV. :wink:

    :lol::lol: Yup, remember that one!
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    I use both, but, more recently been using the right.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • soy_sauce
    soy_sauce Posts: 987
    DonDaddyD wrote:
    Snowboarding, I'd lead on my left leg

    Skateboarding I push on my right foot.

    Football I kick with my left foot. (Apparantly when I was young I was two footed)

    Cycling I set off with my right leg.

    In fact I write with my right hand but if I'm playing basketball I shoot with my left.

    Maybe I was dropped when I was a baby....

    you are not alone.... 8)
    "It is not impossible, its just improbable"

    Specialized Rockhopper Pro Disc 08
  • bornagainbiker
    bornagainbiker Posts: 127
    I'm a lefty :lol: but over the years I've HAD to develop a decent dexterity with my right hand, it can get tedious when everything is setup right handed so you just adapt to it.

    I always tend to put my left foot down it just feels wrong to lean to the right with right foot down.

    Still kick like a girl with my right foot though :wink:
  • gtvlusso
    gtvlusso Posts: 5,112
    Robmanic1 wrote:
    Is your left leg much shorter than your right? You're not Heather Mills are you?

    Just blurted out my tea......very funny.

    Personally, I would go down the "never put your foot down route" - I don't mean anti-gravity, i mean lean against anything and everything - still begs the question which foot to start with, well, I go with the cheicken or the egg theory....i.e. I don't care or know! Ambidextrosol!
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    I'm a left foot unclipper though I ahve been known to use the right, think this is cause I'm right handed.

    If stopped at lights in traffic is it acceptable to lean/put your hand on a car/bus beside you?
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • biondino
    biondino Posts: 5,990
    Nope - not on a car anyway. Doubt the bus driver will notice and even if he does, it's not his personal vehicle. Still wouldn't do it though, l as they have a habit of moving off without warning!
    My Focus / My Bob Jackson
    Blog (incl. bikes)
  • Greg T
    Greg T Posts: 3,266
    My left leg, despite resembling my right leg in most respects is in fact only there for show and to stop my wife's knickers falling down on Fridays, when I am allowed to wear them to work as a special treat (for me).

    If I unclip my right foot and drive on with my left the effect is zero and I have to rely on the spin of the earth and my own inertia to get me moving. I am very inert however so this is OK.

    I'm thinking about taking my left crank off completely as it can't make much difference.

    Also when I use my left leg it feels like someone else is riding my bike.
    Fixed gear for wet weather / hairy roadie for posing in the sun.

    What would Thora Hurd do?
  • Clever Pun
    Clever Pun Posts: 6,778
    bornagainbiker wrote:
    I'm a lefty :lol: but over the years I've HAD to develop a decent dexterity with my right hand, it can get tedious when everything is setup right handed so you just adapt to it.

    I always tend to put my left foot down it just feels wrong to lean to the right with right foot down.

    Still kick like a girl with my right foot though :wink:

    ditto, with cycling I put down what ever foot is required at the time left or right, it's never been a problem

    I'm ambidextrous with kick boxing as well, slightly preferring the normal right hand stance (out of practice more than anything) but have a mules kick on my left
    Greg T wrote:
    Also when I use my left leg it feels like someone else is riding my bike.

    The stranger? do you sit on it first to heighten the effect?
    Purveyor of sonic doom

    Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
    Fixed Pista- FCN 5
    Beared Bromptonite - FCN 14

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