left foot forward?

[Base]

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!

Have to on my fixed-gear ;P

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I have a really hard time seeing myself leaned over far enough to get a pedal strike with the cranks horizontal. Ever.

 

[Chazmo]

I have a really hard time seeing myself leaned over far enough to get a pedal strike with the cranks horizontal. Ever.

Yeah, same here. It’s not a technique/situation that I have to worry about. But, if I were a racer or pack rider, I could certainly see it!

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Yeah, same here. It’s not a technique/situation that I have to worry about. But, if I were a racer or pack rider, I could certainly see it!

Just checked my SL: With the cranks horizontal, the handlebar end is a foot off the ground when a pedal first touches down.

I've watched a lot of pro racing in the last 3 yrs. Never once saw even a master descender like Pidcock or Vingegaard get anywhere close to that lean angle.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Jeremy it is because you never ride in rough terrain.

Also, rising the inward pedal, pushing the outward pedal down and countersteering all belong to the technique of taking tight corners at high speed.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Jeremy it is because you never ride in rough terrain.

With all due respect, you have no idea how I ride.

 

[Chazmo]

Just checked my SL: With the cranks horizontal, the handlebar end is a foot off the ground when a pedal first touches down.

I've watched a lot of pro racing in the last 3 yrs. Never once saw even a master descender like Pidcock or Vingegaard get anywhere close to that lean angle.

I have to say that some of the rutted single tracks I ride where I’m basically following a 3-4” ditch could present a problem if I were ever to really heel over for a turn. But, I’m not much of a hero when it comes to that. In such an event, I’d be going slowly and maybe even get off the bike. Usually I stay on the bike, but if the bed of the trail is rocky/rutty I sometimes walk.

 

[stompandgo]

I have a really hard time seeing myself leaned over far enough to get a pedal strike with the cranks horizontal. Ever.

I don't corner hard with the pedals horizontal, ever. The outside leg is down, straight out, and my arms are holding the bike down and my body up to stabilize the fulcrum.

The picture in my avatar is not tilted, it's horizontally flat. I am pedaling through this corner because I am attacking the field. To do this, you have to be a good bike handler, and know your bike very well.

No Vingeego, though. That guy is amazing on descents.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Also, rising the inward pedal, pushing the outward pedal down and countersteering all belong to the technique of taking tight corners at high speed.

Maybe so, but you can countersteer in any pedal configuration, and I no longer take tight corners at high speed. However relevant that may be to racers, it's not relevant to many members here.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I just wanted you to try the technique on a soft bend to broaden your horizons As you approach the bend at a higher speed, support your body on the outside pedal being down and push your leg downwards. You'll notice the bike wants to turn into the desired direction! I actually learned this watching a programme of the cycling photographer Szymon Gruchalski (I love the man and trust his racing experience). Since watching that program, the proper orientation of pedals on turns has become my second nature.

 

[harryS]

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.

With over 60 years if hopping on from the leff side, that;s a good way to get killed, I think,

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I just wanted you to try the technique on a soft bend to broaden your horizons

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.

As you can see, I don't lean hard with the cranks perfectly horizontal. But even if I did, there'd be no risk of a pedal strike in my normal riding. Used to be more fastidious about that sort of thing in my MTB days, but those day are gone.

I've never raced, but I suspect that racers have their inner foot all the way up in part to be ready to power out of tight corners.

 

[Chazmo]

With over 60 years if hopping on from the leff side, that;s a good way to get killed, I think,

It never even occurred to me until @PHXRDR mentioned it earlier… If there’s anything universal about what we’ve been bantering about here, it’s that NOBODY throws their left leg over to get on the bike. The kickstands are always on the left side, so that sort of makes sense… But when I was brought up riding there weren’t kickstands on ten-speeds. I think something else is afoot here. Get it? Afoot?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I think something else is afoot here.

Horse riding. Especially with a sword.

A similar thing: entering a commercial airplane from the left has its origins in seafaring. It is the port side as opposite to the starboard

 

[6zfshdb]

I don't do single track or downhill anymore so pedal strikes aren't a problem. I coast with one foot down to take some weight off my sore butt. Whichever leg is down is the one that hurts the least.

 

[Chargeride]

These guys are rubbish

 

[Stefan Mikes]

These guys are rubbish

Yet it works as shown. It is just the proper technique. Not that anyone must ride properly. I try.

I coast with one foot down to take some weight off my sore butt. Whichever leg is down is the one that hurts the least.

If I need to relieve the butt, I just stand on the pedals.

 

[PedalUma]

I am almost always pedaling, either forward to go or backward when coasting. And I most often position for a tight turns by pedaling backwards so the inside pedal is up and weigh is on the outside pedal. On eBikes I normally launch with the left pedal down, pushing, or I should say kicking like a skateboard, twice with the right foot so I do not lurch under power because I have some initial momentum from the kicks. I am ambidextrous.

 

[6zfshdb]

View attachment 192825
Yet it works as shown. It is just the proper technique. Not that anyone must ride properly. I try.

If I need to relieve the butt, I just stand on the pedals.

Tough to do with a bad knee.

 

[BlackHand]

If there’s anything universal about what we’ve been bantering about here, it’s that NOBODY throws their left leg over to get on the bike.

Spoken like a true right hander! I mount the bike from the right pretty often. Right foot planted is more natural for me. I end up mounting from the left as well, mostly because of the kickstand on one bike and the direction I am getting out of the garage and around the car in the driveway.

You might or might not find it interesting that I tilt the bike in the same direction to throw my leg over it no matter which side I'm mounting from: towards me if I'm on the right or away from me if I'm on the left.