left foot forward?

[Chazmo]

Hey, gang,

I was wondering if folks here do the same thing I do. Namely, whenever I’m at rest on the pedals (coasting), my left foot is the one in front. Even when I stand up on the pedals, same thing. I’ll note that I’m right-handed, but in any sport where my feet have been perpendicular to forward travel, my left foot has always been forward. I’m not particularly good at any of those sports, by the way.

I don’t know if any of this explains why I ride this way. I can only say that doing it this way is what feels normal to me. When I put my right foot forward (which I often do if I’m leaning into a right-hand turn) I have to think about it, and it still doesn’t feel all that natural to me.

Any thoughts? Yes, I realize this is rather mundane, but these things occur to me.

 

[PHXRDR]

Now that you mention it;
Having always had a 'high step' as I do now and being right handed (although I don't know if it's relevant) I throw my right leg over to mount a bike. Therefore, the right foot takes the lead.
Upon stopping (at a light or sign), my left foot goes to ground, right remaining on the pedal. An exception to this is if at extreme right and there's a curb present.
Mundane, common cycling practice (?) but intriguing nonetheless.

 

[Chazmo]

...I throw my right leg over to mount a bike. ...

I hadn’t considered the mount, PHXRDR… Excellent point! I always throw my right leg over, and yes I start pedaling with my right foot. But, for me, that’s about the only time the right foot is forward. And, I think my left foot is what I usually lean on when I stop. Of course, I’m not big on stopping.

 

[sc00ter]

Right handed, right foot forward but favor left foot down at stop.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Don't worry Chazmo. I've noticed I stand on the pedals (an MTB technique) with the left foot forward!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Chazmo!

A proof!

 

[mrgold35]

Always swing right leg over ebike to mount, left foot on the ground, and start pedaling with right foot. Might be a different story if the kickstand was on the opposite side? I "feel" my left leg is a touch stronger because of playing basketball (jump higher off left leg from a run) and running track (left leg forward in starting blocks); but, I kick with the right foot when I punt or kicked field goals in (American) football. I haven't thought about it; but, I'll bet I would probably have my left foot forward or down 99.9% of the time (power stroke or getting ready to dismount in the reverse).

 

[Base]

Like as a karateka or boxer, right handed left leg front

Same for crashing on the MTB, 90+% left. Extreme crashes on the right (since no control)

 

[Watana Bob]

Pretty much the same, mount bike by throwing right foot over and start off pedaling with right foot, stop put left foot down. When cornering hard to the right, right foot is back, cornering hard left, left foot is back.

 

[BlackHand]

I'm left handed and right footed. I don't think that I favor either foot forward if I'm up on the pedals. But I definitely plant my right foot when mounting and when stopped.

The exception being when the bike lane dissolves into a right tun lane. Then after stopping I switch to my left foot planted and lean left so cars can turn right.

BTW, the quickest way to learn which foot you favor is to try clipless pedals after, about 25 years on flats

 

[Chazmo]

And what about coasting, guys? That was actually my original observation and I guess I didn’t ask it well in my first post...

And, while I’m at it, does anyone mount the bike from the right side and throw left leg over? In my life, I don’t think I’ve ever done that.

 

[Chazmo]

I don't think that I favor either foot forward if I'm up on the pedals

Yeah, for me, I totally favor left foot forward. Don’t know why!

. . . When cornering hard to the right, right foot is back, cornering hard left, left foot is back.

Now this is interesting (in a mundane kind of way…) I do the opposite. Cornering right, right foot forward. Cornering left, left foot forward. And, as I said, most of the time, left foot is forward anyway unless I’m thinking about it because that’s how I’m comfortable.

Anyway, thanks for chiming in, folks. I really should be out on the trail instead of typing here, but today kind of got away from me.

 

[Watana Bob]

I do favor left foot forward when coasting.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Cornering right, right foot forward. Cornering left, left foot forward.

Not quite correct.

• Cornering right, right pedal up
• Cornering left, left pedal up

It is the proper way to ever avoid pedal strikes. Observe racing cyclists, especially in gravel cycling. This, and also "counter steering" known from motorcycles is the only safe way to do the cornering at high speed.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Had to ride a few neighborhood laps to verbalize what my feet actually do — largely without consulting me. L = left foot, R = right.

Mounting high-step: R over rear rack.
Mounting step-thru: R over bottom bracket.
Stopped: L on ground, R up and forward.
Pedaling: R generally pushes a little harder.
Coasting: L down.
Leaned hard right: R up and forward.
Leaned hard left: L up and forward.

No real thought behind this. Pretty much happens on its own.

 

[Chazmo]

No real thought behind this. Pretty much happens on its own.

Excellent. My (lack of) thought exactly.

So, if I understood him right, I think @sc00ter tends to coast with his right foot forward. And, Jeremy coasts with left down.

I’m making no conclusions, but I think these facets are just instinct/wired behavior. Why do I coast with left forward and feel awkward any other way? Same with standing on the pedals. It’s probably same reason why I cross my right thumb over my left when I clasp my hands together.

Not quite correct.

• Cornering right, right pedal up
• Cornering left, left pedal up

Totally makes sense!

I don’t actually do that, at least not instinctively, but I’m rarely in a situation that it would matter. If I’m not pedaling through a turn, I seem to have the pedals level most of the time and left is forward unless I think about it!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

If I’m not pedaling through a turn, I seem to have the pedals level most of the time and left is forward unless I think about it!

No-one does pedal on sharp fast turns. It is fascinating to watch a large group of riders entering a corner, and everybody having the same side foot up

Some e-bikes are notorious for pedal strikes on a turn. The technique to raise the correct pedal can be learned!

 

[Chazmo]

No-one does pedal on sharp fast turns. It is fascinating to watch a large group of riders entering a corner, and everybody having the same side foot up

Some e-bikes are notorious for pedal strikes on a turn. The technique to raise the correct pedal can be learned!

Yup, that’s exactly it, Stefan. I haven’t ever ridden in large groups, and again what you’re saying makes total sense. And, yeah, pedal strikes sound nasty!

 

[Chargeride]

on the road right foot at the bottom of the stroke, off road depends on the terrain.

 

[stompandgo]

Right handed, right foot forward unless I'm in a turn, then outside foot forward. Crit racer habits.