Originally Posted by San Rensho

This is all you need to know. Forget everything else.

It works in any orientation. When working on my car I can be completely on the other side of a Fastener and all I have to do is point my thumb in the direction I want the Fastener to go and my fingers curl in the direction to turn it. No need to visualize a clock or anything else.

Just watch out for a left-hand threads, which I don't think exist on bicycles.