How do you get going (and does it hurt)?

MrSweary

Greg66 Tri v2.0 wrote:

Instant clipless moment which caused a nice young lady to wander over to me and ask (with genuine concern) whether I'd had a stroke.

To which you replied "No, but if you're offering..."

I'm here all week folks.

davesnothere

Greg66 Tri v2.0 wrote:

Once upon a time I came to a halt on a road with a bit of a cant (not me, for once). Unclipped on the right but had to lean left a bit into the slope. Lo and behold suddenly my weight is on the left of bike, my left foot is still clipped in and my right foot is pawing at fresh air.

Instant clipless moment which caused a nice young lady to wander over to me and ask (with genuine concern) whether I'd had a stroke.

Went for a ride one wintery sunday morning. Stopped in at the stables to see my Mrs as she was having a lesson in the sand school. When i got back on my bike had a bit of trouble clipping in (later discover this was due to mud in cleats from stables) Eventually got going and didnt think any more of it for the next half hour.

Almost home and i hit the big climb up behind my house. Got to the top, blowing hard so decided to have a little breather at the junction. At 0.1 mph went to unclip, cleat completely solid so ended up keeling over in slo-mo & laying on my side in the middle of the (thankfully quiet) road flailing like a fish as i tried to unclip. Old boy walks round the corner with his dog and looks at me quizically ' you ok down there mate?'

Pufftmw

I'm a left footer

Instead of clipping in as I move off, the first left leg press is with the arch of the foot/heal and then as I rotate round again, ease into the clip ready for the next downward stroke. I guess that is a result of too many balls/crossbar interactions due to slipping foot but that technique means they don't happen now and allows me to move off quickly.

Always use too high a gear though :roll:

I can't trackstand & I'm not cool enough to lean against lamp-posts feet up. No back pain

warreng

I can't trackstand. I have tried to learn but gave up after getting to about a 50% success rate.

I got rid of my simglespeed for commuting after my knees started squeaking

rjsterry

It might be the courier bag. Me: bag on left shoulder, always start left foot down, first push with right foot and (try to) clip in the left as it comes round. I occasionally get a bit of soreness on the lower left back (might be the thoracolumbar fascia) and I've realised that I tend to tense my left shoulder to support the weight of the bag, which probably twists everything a bit lower down.

Since realising this, I've made an effort to keep everything straight when pulling away, although I am failing badly at reducing the weight on my shoulder.

mtb-idle

MTB SPD's with double sided pedals for commuting. Left foot down. dunno how it started, whether it was conscious or not.

In MTB there is a theory about your 'Chocolate Foot' i.e. you naturally have a favoured foot that you lead with. a bit like left/right hand.

As above, I try unclipping the 'wrong' foot and it felt really weird.

So to get going I have right foot clipped in at circa 1 to 2 o'clock, lights change, push down hard with right foot, swing up left leg which automatically finds the cleats, steer around all the ATGNI's who have pushed to the front and are now wobbling around slowly while looking down trying to clip into their Look Keo's or whatever one sided, impractical road pedals they are using, head down, drop the hammer and push hard for the next set of lights using this as an opportunity for interval training.

Stop at the next set of red lights, look cool, calm and collected and wait for the rest to catch up.

I've been doing this for over ten years and have over 120 sets of traffic lights en route. It just comes naturally now.

EDIT: No it doesn't usually hurt but it does create issues. Whenever i have knee, hamstring, back pains it's always, always my right glute that is rock hard and needs physio attention every 12 to 18 months.

mosheehan

Greg66 Tri v2.0 wrote:

mosheehan wrote:

left foot if I'm doing a CX dismount.

DO that a lot at traffic lights?

FOCUS!!!

I see it as showier than a tw*t stand...

No, the CX dismount is for the end of the ride (or when I have to run up a set of steps at the side of a canal lock)

pblakeney

Greg66 Tri v2.0 wrote:

Don't gear down for pullaways, which I'd imagine doesn't help.

Probably not.
I always drop to the small ring when stopping. Couple of turns to get going, and back to the big ring.

tgotb

mosheehan wrote:

No, the CX dismount is for the end of the ride (or when I have to run up a set of steps at the side of a canal lock)

I actually needed first aid after a CX remount last year. The remount area was quite bumpy, and the bike jumped up just as I was about to hit the saddle, causing me to miss the saddle; the first part of me to make contact with the saddle was my "cocked" right leg, which landed on the spinning tyre. Who knew a Grifo tread could do so much damage? By the time I crossed the finish line, the whole of the back half of the bike and both legs were covered in blood; fortunately Veronese appeared, as if from nowhere, with a cold bottle of Leffe :-)

greg66_tri_v2.0

cjcp wrote:

Generally start in the 50-15,

A sensible and reasonable choice. The gear of choice for normal cyclists everywhere.

cjcp wrote:

sometimes the 50-14.

ARE YOU FUCKING MENTAL? ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE YOU KNEES EXPLODE?

Ye Gods. Some people. Mad. Mental. Completely irresponsible on every conceivable level.

greg66_tri_v2.0

rjsterry wrote:

It might be the courier bag. Me: bag on left shoulder, always start left foot down, first push with right foot and (try to) clip in the left as it comes round. I occasionally get a bit of soreness on the lower left back (might be the thoracolumbar fascia) and I've realised that I tend to tense my left shoulder to support the weight of the bag, which probably twists everything a bit lower down.

Since realising this, I've made an effort to keep everything straight when pulling away, although I am failing badly at reducing the weight on my shoulder.

^ This is interesting. Not least because I've noticed that when I'm stressed/tired at work my left shoulder seems to rise up all by its lonesome as if I am trying to hold an invisible (but still quite large - I don't look like a bloody hunchback) phone between my shoulder and head.

Asymmetry. Not good.

veronese68

This has made me realise that I must have been left foot down since I was a kid. Had a 'clipless' moment in my late teens on my old Falcon 10 speed. Back in the days when 10 speed meant 10 speed. Racing my mates in a car to a party after the pub, cut across a golf course and my lace got caught in the chain, chain came off and locked the back wheel. Lace had my foot stuck to the chainset so I couldn't put my foot down on the right, keeled over onto my right side. Always put the left foot down.
Back to the subject matter. As he has just said asymmetry is not good, does this mean G66 is going to get a backpack? Do Cervelos have rack mounts so he can use panniers? Maybe a Carradice would do the job.
I should probably hide having made those suggestions.
Also reading TGOTB's post I thought maybe he did that at every race, then I realised it was the one I was at. Beer is the best medicine.

waddlie

What are the benefits of a courier bag over a half-decent backpack?

tgotb

Waddlie wrote:

What are the benefits of a courier bag over a half-decent backpack?

For some reason there was a vogue, a decade or so ago, for trying to look like a cycle courier; I'm sure this was part of the reason for the early popularity of fixies, before they were adopted by people with identikit beards. I don't see many drivers trying to imitate DHL employees, so I'm not sure what was special about the ones on bikes...

hopkinb

TGOTB wrote:

Waddlie wrote:

What are the benefits of a courier bag over a half-decent backpack?

For some reason there was a vogue, a decade or so ago, for trying to look like a cycle courier; I'm sure this was part of the reason for the early popularity of fixies, before they were adopted by people with identikit beards. I don't see many drivers trying to imitate DHL employees, so I'm not sure what was special about the ones on bikes...

Apparently it's now in vogue to look like a Deliveroo person

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/sho ... -must-have

rower63

Quite often my technique is to push down with right foot in 39/19 (say), spin up, front-shift to 53/19, freewheel for 10-20m, apply brakes, stop, dismount, reattach chain to big-ring front teeth, set off again in 53/19 very slowly.

rjsterry

Waddlie wrote:

What are the benefits of a courier bag over a half-decent backpack?

I find it covers a lot less of my back and keeps well out of view when shoulder checking. The weight is also higher up than a backpack, which I find more comfortable.

rjsterry

Greg66 Tri v2.0 wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

It might be the courier bag. Me: bag on left shoulder, always start left foot down, first push with right foot and (try to) clip in the left as it comes round. I occasionally get a bit of soreness on the lower left back (might be the thoracolumbar fascia) and I've realised that I tend to tense my left shoulder to support the weight of the bag, which probably twists everything a bit lower down.

Since realising this, I've made an effort to keep everything straight when pulling away, although I am failing badly at reducing the weight on my shoulder.

^ This is interesting. Not least because I've noticed that when I'm stressed/tired at work my left shoulder seems to rise up all by its lonesome as if I am trying to hold an invisible (but still quite large - I don't look like a bloody hunchback) phone between my shoulder and head.

Asymmetry. Not good.

IIRC you reposition the bag quite often when riding, as if it is slipping round. Could this be causing you to hunch one shoulder to hold the bag still?

greg66_tri_v2.0

rower63 wrote:

Quite often my technique is to push down with right foot in 39/19 (say), spin up, front-shift to 53/19, freewheel for 10-20m, apply brakes, stop, dismount, reattach chain to big-ring front teeth, set off again in 53/19 very slowly.

Laugh! This is basically why I never shift across the front rings unless I absolutely have to.

greg66_tri_v2.0

rjsterry wrote:

Waddlie wrote:

What are the benefits of a courier bag over a half-decent backpack?

I find it covers a lot less of my back and keeps well out of view when shoulder checking. The weight is also higher up than a backpack, which I find more comfortable.

This is dead right. Backpacks leave my back soaking. Courier bags don't. Weird but true.

rjsterry wrote:

IIRC you reposition the bag quite often when riding, as if it is slipping round. Could this be causing you to hunch one shoulder to hold the bag still?

Nah. That's just me showing off. Half the time I'm not moving it. I'm just touching it and saying to the person behind me "look how easy I'm finding it this speed. How're *you* doing?"

ETA: GODDAMMIT! Now you've got me 70% convinced that I am hitching up my left shoulder against the strap! Damn you and your so-called "insights" rjsterry!

itboffin

Greg66 Tri v2.0 wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

Waddlie wrote:

What are the benefits of a courier bag over a half-decent backpack?

I find it covers a lot less of my back and keeps well out of view when shoulder checking. The weight is also higher up than a backpack, which I find more comfortable.

This is dead right. Backpacks leave my back soaking. Courier bags don't. Weird but true.

rjsterry wrote:

IIRC you reposition the bag quite often when riding, as if it is slipping round. Could this be causing you to hunch one shoulder to hold the bag still?

Nah. That's just me showing off. Half the time I'm not moving it. I'm just touching it and saying to the person behind me "look how easy I'm finding it this speed. How're *you* doing?"

it was my courier bag that put the final nail into my neck so too speak, can't even put it on empty now without pain.

Lose the bag if you want to save your body (for medical science)

greg66_tri_v2.0

"Courier bag neck" is not a recognised medical condition (though "courier bag lower back" may be; Im not sure yet).

Are you sure it wasn't the daily 24 can slab of Special Brew that you were hauling around?

joncomelately

I absolutely cannot wear a bag on a bike otherwise my lower back and neck instantly start complaining. Panniers all the way for me (plus, there's something even more satisfying about overtaking when you have panniers on).

Start wise, I always shift down several gears (run a single front ring on my commuter) and put my left foot down. Then, right foot to 12 o'clock, big push with the left and press down on the right, try and clip in on the left at 12 o'clock (which usually fails when I'm riding 'the good bike' with Keos and I forget they're not double sided and the backside of the axle is quite slippy) and you're away.

Now, I have longstanding right lower back and gluteal pain, but I'm pretty sure this is because I always carry the kids on my left hip and the big'un has just crossed the 98th centile for weight. The 'little'un' has just crossed the 91st, but she's still the tiny one...

Pufftmw

MTB-Idle wrote:

MTB SPD's with double sided pedals for commuting. Left foot down. dunno how it started, whether it was conscious or not.

In MTB there is a theory about your 'Chocolate Foot' i.e. you naturally have a favoured foot that you lead with. a bit like left/right hand.

Interesting. I was doing a skills day with Tony Doyle/Jedi/UKBikeSkills and I have always led with my right foot on the level, though left foot goes down when I stop. I was landing the jumps at an angle until Tony saw this and told me to lead with my left - immediate straight landings!

I too use double sided MTB SPDs

asprilla

I put my left foot down. It means I can put it on the kerb and stay in the saddle. It also means I can push off with my favoured (although not stronger because I'm badly put together) right leg.

Pushing off doesn't hurt. Well, apart from the SS at 49/17 where Church Road crosses the A305 in Richmond. That hurts.

itboffin

funny you should mention beers in the bag as I have on more than one occasion ridden with a case of beer on my back including a short ride in the Pyrenees

that was before I put two and two together

gbsahne001

Gear down and try to time lights, track stand for a bit (very badly) and then when all else fails; Right foot down

faster97

Interesting thread. I unclip and put my right foot down, but I'm now wondering if I'd be safer if I tried to change that to the left so that I'd be leaning away from the traffic. Probably impossible to change now.

I don't have any back issues, but I do have imbalances which cause me to often have hamstring/ITB issues on my right leg - maybe the way I wait at the lights on the bike has something to do with this.

I always change down to 50-28 at any stop, which still feels like a really high gear to set off with, so I'm surprised to see people who set off in higher gears. This allows me to accelerate hard and get settled on the bike before being passed by the traffic. I know that's cross chaining, but so what??

If I leave it in 50-25, I just feel like I'm wobbling away slowly and that it's somehow more dangerous.

arthur_scrimshaw

cougie wrote:

Right foot down is wrong if you're in the UK. If you cant get the foot out, or it slips - you're out into traffic.

Always do the foot nearest the pavement.

+1 - always left foot.

mtb-idle

Pufftmw wrote:

MTB-Idle wrote:

MTB SPD's with double sided pedals for commuting. Left foot down. dunno how it started, whether it was conscious or not.

In MTB there is a theory about your 'Chocolate Foot' i.e. you naturally have a favoured foot that you lead with. a bit like left/right hand.

Interesting. I was doing a skills day with Tony Doyle/Jedi/UKBikeSkills and I have always led with my right foot on the level, though left foot goes down when I stop. I was landing the jumps at an angle until Tony saw this and told me to lead with my left - immediate straight landings!

I too use double sided MTB SPDs

He ain't called the Jedi for nowt! What a super-chilled dude, amazing bike skills, living the dream. Really nice guy, I first met him through MTB circa 2004 at Chicksands