Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Which foot do you unclip?

Search
Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway
View Poll Results: Which foot do you unclip?
Right foot (My right foot is dominant)
68
36.96%
Right foot (my left foot is dominant)
18
9.78%
Left foot (my right foot is dominant)
89
48.37%
Left foot (my left foot is dominant)
9
4.89%
Voters: 184. You may not vote on this poll

Which foot do you unclip?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-16-07 | 08:40 PM
  #1  
irideacenturion's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: Seattle
Which foot do you unclip?

I realize this is in no way, shape, or form important to my general knowledge base, but hell....I'm curious.

Which foot do you unclip when you're stopped/at a light and are you right foot or left foot dominant?

I always unclip my left foot. I chalk this up to years and years of snowboarding and being used to having my right foot clipped in all the time while using my left to push off the lift, etc.
irideacenturion is offline  
Reply
Old 07-16-07 | 08:42 PM
  #2  
Drakonis08's Avatar
Rower
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Nor Cal

Bikes: Van Dessel Hellafaster

Originally Posted by irideacenturion
I always unclip my left foot. I chalk this up to years and years of snowboarding and being used to having my right foot clipped in all the time while using my left to push off the lift, etc.
same
Drakonis08 is offline  
Reply
Old 07-16-07 | 08:44 PM
  #3  
Ritehsedad's Avatar
Tail End Charlie
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 545
Likes: 1
From: Maine, The Way Life Should Be

Bikes: Fuji Nevada MTB, Giant OCR1

Right.
__________________
Why isn't 11 pronounced onety one?
Ritehsedad is offline  
Reply
Old 07-16-07 | 08:46 PM
  #4  
CastIron's Avatar
Sensible shoes.
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 8,798
Likes: 0
From: St. Paul,MN

Bikes: A few.

Right foot to reach the curb when on bicycles. Oddly, left foot down on motorcycles (keep the right on the rear brake).
__________________
Mike
Originally Posted by cedricbosch
It looks silly when you have quotes from other forum members in your signature. Nobody on this forum is that funny.
Originally Posted by cedricbosch
Why am I in your signature.
CastIron is offline  
Reply
Old 07-16-07 | 08:48 PM
  #5  
Banned
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 0
From: United States

Bikes: roadbikes and full-suspension mountainbikes

Originally Posted by CastIron
"Right foot to reach the curb when on bicycles. Oddly, left foot down on motorcycles (keep the right on the rear brake)."
As a fellow motorcyclist, my technique is the same.
Blue Jays is offline  
Reply
Old 07-16-07 | 09:10 PM
  #6  
Ritterview's Avatar
Tandem Vincitur
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,317
Likes: 2
From: Northern California

Bikes: BMC Pro Machine SLC01, Specialized Globe, Burley Rock 'N Roll tandem, Calfee Dragonfly tandem.

I don't unclip. I trackstand.

(Well, for at least as long as I can, then it is the left foot so as to avoid chain grease on the ankle)
Ritterview is offline  
Reply
Old 07-16-07 | 09:21 PM
  #7  
ZeCanon's Avatar
Writin' stuff
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,784
Likes: 19
From: Durango, CO
right foot out keeps the chainring marks away
ZeCanon is offline  
Reply
Old 07-16-07 | 09:32 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,162
Likes: 0
From: Lake Stevens, WA
I really had to think about this one. Left, I think. I definitely have a dominant right side of the body, and so I'm pretty sure left is the one to come out first.
ryanspeer is offline  
Reply
Old 07-16-07 | 09:35 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area
I usually unclip with my right foot, but can usually use either one.
Randomus is offline  
Reply
Old 07-16-07 | 09:40 PM
  #10  
Gee3's Avatar
Senior Moment Member
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,362
Likes: 0
From: Daly City, CA

Bikes: Specialized Allez Elite Double & 2008 Look 555

Unclip right, right foot dominant. But my buddy is also right foot dominant but he unclips his left foot. Does that make him a goofy foot like in skate boarding?! hehe!
Gee3 is offline  
Reply
Old 07-16-07 | 09:41 PM
  #11  
CrimsonKarter21's Avatar
Mitcholo
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,850
Likes: 0
From: Oost Vlaanderen in mind, Cleveland in body

Bikes: 2010 Mitcholo w/ Sram Force/Red

My right foot is the dominant one, and I use the left for unclipping and kicking in MTB'ing.
In fact, this is what my Keo cleats looked like after 3500 miles. The bad one is the left, and I actually did a National Time Trial on that on Friday.
CrimsonKarter21 is offline  
Reply
Old 07-16-07 | 09:44 PM
  #12  
jschen's Avatar
riding once again
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,359
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA

Bikes: '06 Cervelo R3, '05 Specialized Allez

Right foot dominant. Generally unclip on the left because the first time I rode a road bike, that's what I did the first time I rolled to a stop. I am perfectly capable of unclipping on either side, but I generally unclip left.
__________________
If you notice this notice then you will notice that this notice is not worth noticing.
jschen is offline  
Reply
Old 07-16-07 | 10:04 PM
  #13  
grahny's Avatar
hobo
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,784
Likes: 0
From: CO
I used to unclip left always, then I broke my left wrist. I needed to start from a stop putting any weight on my right hand, which meant starting off with the left foot for balance... now I unclip right first always
grahny is offline  
Reply
Old 07-16-07 | 10:08 PM
  #14  
adam's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 0
From: Toronto area

Bikes: Cervelo, Pinarello, Specialized

Originally Posted by ZeCanon
right foot out keeps the chainring marks away
You would think that with the friends I ride, but they come home with rookie rings all the time. They all do right foot out.

I think I started doing left foot out ages ago (almost 20 years now) to avoid the grease on my leg... and it just stuck.

And... my right leg is (I think) stronger, so I can get a good push off on the right leg while already clicked in.
adam is offline  
Reply
Old 07-16-07 | 10:16 PM
  #15  
BitterSweet's Avatar
OCP (Second Generation)
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina

Bikes: 2008 Cannondale Capo, Cannondale Road Tandem, Carbon Fiber Road Bike.

I am right side dominate but I unclip my left foot. The one time I tried uncliping my right foot I almost feel over. It was sad. So after that I stuck with my left foot.
BitterSweet is offline  
Reply
Old 07-16-07 | 10:32 PM
  #16  
velomedieval's Avatar
Spandex Disaster
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 554
Likes: 0
From: Hillsville

Bikes: Scott Contessa CR1 (2006); Kona Dew Deluxe (2005); Roadmaster Little 500 SS (1997); Peugeot UO10 (1980)

Left foot unclipped, left foot dominant.
__________________
Post Tenebris Lux
velomedieval is offline  
Reply
Old 07-16-07 | 10:45 PM
  #17  
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 8,546
Likes: 5
From: Boulder, CO
always clip out right. also, can do little u-turns right, but not left. anyone else w/ the same corrrelation?
valygrl is offline  
Reply
Old 07-16-07 | 11:12 PM
  #18  
Dr_Robert's Avatar
AKA Nathan
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
From: Columbus Ohio
I trackstand for as long as possible. If I have to unclip, it's almost always left foot first (unless I lose my balance to the right side).

-DR
__________________
'08 Bianchi San Jose
'06 Giant OCR C3
'04 Specialized Hardrock Comp
Dr_Robert is offline  
Reply
Old 07-16-07 | 11:20 PM
  #19  
SweetLou's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 1
Both. I used to unclip only the left (right foot dominant) but after reading others say you should do both in case you lose your balance to the right. So both, but always lean to the left and clip in with my right first.
SweetLou is offline  
Reply
Old 07-17-07 | 12:08 AM
  #20  
Jinker's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa,ON

Bikes: Univega Via Montega, Nashbar Aluminum frame/105 roadbike

Bizarre. I unclip with either, depending on the situation.

If I pull up next to a curb, the right one often comes out giving me the option of remaining in the saddle.

If the road is sloped/crowned I'll often unclip and lean towards the slope. At an intersection if I have to dive/drop the bike, leaning up hill gives less distance to fall.

I couldn't tell you which foot is dominant...

Derek Zoolander: I'm not an ambi-turner.
Jinker is offline  
Reply
Old 07-17-07 | 12:13 AM
  #21  
sfrider's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,743
Likes: 203
From: San Francisco, CA and Treasure Island, FL
Originally Posted by CastIron
Right foot to reach the curb when on bicycles. Oddly, left foot down on motorcycles (keep the right on the rear brake).
Same here.
sfrider is offline  
Reply
Old 07-17-07 | 12:18 AM
  #22  
jpatkinson's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: San Diego

Bikes: Gunnar, Surly

Right foot in US, left foot in Japan [curb side when waiting at the light].
jpatkinson is offline  
Reply
Old 07-17-07 | 12:23 AM
  #23  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 756
Likes: 0
From: SoCal

Bikes: custom built roadie

im usually right foot dominant, but on the bike im left foot dominant. i unclip with my right tho.
stea1thviper is offline  
Reply
Old 07-17-07 | 03:10 AM
  #24  
powerglide's Avatar
~ Going the Distance ~
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,180
Likes: 0
From: Hermosa Beach, CA

Bikes: 2006 Bianchi Carbon 928, 2002 Gary Fisher Utopia

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ght=right+left
powerglide is offline  
Reply
Old 07-17-07 | 04:17 AM
  #25  
Turboem1's Avatar
Banned.
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 883
Likes: 0
From: Long Island

Bikes: Lemond Reno

I unclip whichever side has a place for that foot. Although if I cam coming to a stop with nothing in site on a perfectly flat road i would unclip the left and stand on that. I am right side dominant.

I think we also need a poll for which you clip in first. That doesnt have to change depending where you are.
Turboem1 is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.