Dismounting: Left, Right or Both?
Random cycling-related question of the day......
While out on my ride today, I started thinking about how I dismount from the bike - not something I have ever really considered before - no idea why it came into my head today. As best I can remember, I have always dismounted on the right, never the left. In fact I suspect there would be a relatively high probability I would fall over trying to exit stage left. So here are some questions: 1) is it unusual or typical that I can only dismount one direction? 2) does it really matter? Can anyone come up with scenarios with it is legitimately safer to be able to dismount in both directions? Perhaps to be able to keep the bike between the rider and a dog if unable to outrun the animal? |
I always dismount on the left, whether it's getting off the bike completely or just unclipping the pedals. Just what I'm used to. The only time I unclipped on the right I fell, so never again.
I don't see any advantages or disadvantages to either, unless you dismount at every light and you want to be on the right side to be away from traffic, but even then I can't see much of a safety advantage. |
always left for me. no reason really.
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Left. Same as a motorcycle. Most people probably got the left side habit as a kid with a bike that had a kickstand that always leans the bike to the left.
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I unclip my left foot when coming to a stop to keep my dominant foot on the pedal when leaving a stop, so I typically dismount left foot down as well. Do what's comfortable and safe for you.
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Mount/dismount on the left in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere mount/dismount on the right.
(On the equator, if facing east, mount on the left, dismount on the right. Vice-versa if facing west.) |
Originally Posted by tyrion
(Post 20350526)
Mount/dismount on the left in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere mount/dismount on the right.
(On the equator, if facing east, mount on the left, dismount on the right. Vice-versa if facing west.) |
Classic style Cyclo Cross racing dis-mounts and re-mounts are to/from the NDS as are the start drills for mass start race line up.
Left for me. -Bandera |
Originally Posted by tyrion
(Post 20350526)
Mount/dismount on the left in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere mount/dismount on the right.
(On the equator, if facing east, mount on the left, dismount on the right. Vice-versa if facing west.) |
Looks like I am in the distinct minority on this one...
I guess it all goes back to when I first leaned to ride a bike. I taught myself without training wheels and there was a little hill on the right side of the driveway. I always started from that little hill because I could reach the ground with my right foot as I tried to get going. Now that has stuck for 40+ years. Hadn't considered the cyclocross angle. |
Originally Posted by tyrion
(Post 20350526)
Mount/dismount on the left in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere mount/dismount on the right.
(On the equator, if facing east, mount on the left, dismount on the right. Vice-versa if facing west.) |
Originally Posted by pass the peas
(Post 20350523)
I unclip my left foot when coming to a stop to keep my dominant foot on the pedal when leaving a stop, so I typically dismount left foot down as well. Do what's comfortable and safe for you.
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Exit stage left. Maybe because I'm right handed? I don't know. It's just the way I've always done it.
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I unclip my right foot to stop. Always. Bonus of this, I can put that foot on the curb and stay seated while at stops.
I always get off of the bike to the right. ALWAYS. I can get on either way. Doesn't matter. I assume most, if not all of this is due to being left-footed. |
Originally Posted by Doctor Morbius
(Post 20350581)
Exit stage left. Maybe because I'm right handed? I don't know. It's just the way I've always done it.
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Also left. Done so since the J.C. Higgins that I got in 1956. Don't know why, though.
On my trike, I can go both ways throwing either leg over the cruciform, but that isn't really mounting, is it? |
Always left side mount/dismount. Reflective of my motorcycle background. Unclip either foot, depending on situation. Had a horse that only liked to be mounted from the left. I learned the hard way on that one.
-Kedosto |
Originally Posted by DGoodrow
(Post 20350590)
The larger question is, when unclipping, heal in...or out? I'm a heal in (toward the crank) kind of guy.
-Kedosto |
I unclip right foot first and dismount to the left. And I am left handed. |
Originally Posted by DGoodrow
(Post 20350590)
The larger question is, when unclipping, heal in...or out? I'm a heal in (toward the crank) kind of guy.
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Originally Posted by Kedosto
(Post 20350658)
Always left side mount/dismount. Reflective of my motorcycle background. Unclip either foot, depending on situation. Had a horse that only liked to be mounted from the left. I learned the hard way on that one.
-Kedosto |
Originally Posted by sdmc530
(Post 20350675)
I unclip right foot first and dismount to the left. And I am left handed. |
Just like a horse,
Mount & dismount on the left :D :50: |
Left for me. It dates back to my childhood, when every bike had a kickstand.
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Mounting bicycles from the left side goes all the way back to mounting horses. Horses tend to be sensitive (and often spooked) by mounting from the non-standard side, so it makes sense to consistently mount from the left side so that the more commonly dominant right hand can better help pull the rider onto the saddle. Yesterday I was brushing a large 16.5 hand tall, 1,700 lb Percheron who didn't like to even be approached from the right let alone mounted from the right. Bicycles naturally developed with the same convention so the drive-trains tend to be on the right side so as to avoid soiling one's trousers on the chain and the kickstand tends to be on the left so they can be more easily folded while standing on that side of the bicycle.
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