Left or right ?

[Katherine]

Left foot on the floor, the right always stays in the pedal. Just feels right but wish I could do it the other way round because sometimesI lean the bike against my right leg and get oil on me!

 

[MontyVeda]

I don't have clips but im a leftie, easier to stay sat in the saddle and put a foot on the curb

no clips here either, and I'm a leftie too, but i always put my right foot down... I guess there's no right or wrong way to do it.

 

[GlenBen]

Left foot out for me, prefer to push off with the right leg.

 

[Philh]

To add to the debate I am also a motorcyclist, you have to get off on the left side because that's where the stand is. When stopping it is always recommended to cover the rear brake in case of a collision from behind, holding the front brake will pitch you over the bars. Starting off on a hill it is also recommended to hold the bike on the rear brake to give max control over the throttle.

So moving to a bike it is natural to unclip and put the left foot down, also to mount from the left so the right foot is first on the pedal.

 

[TheJDog]

I have no idea, and I get on my bike from the right side too

That's just creepy.

 

[compo]

I am like the majority, left foot down and mount/dismount from the left. Occasionally when riding (and I have when motorcycling) and I have to stop for a short time such as at lights, as long as I am virtually on "auto pilot" I can find myself doing a lovely trackstand. The second I realise I am doing it though I have to put my foot down.

 

[DooDah]

I unclip both, with my arms in the air shouting WAHEY!!

 

[craigwend]

Generally (almost always) left & consequent ware on that cleat ...

 

[Bryony]

I unclip my left foot!

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Funny this subject cropped up. I've just got back from a tough couple of windswept hours and towards the end of the ride my right calf started to tighten up. I unclipped and straightened my leg for a few seconds to ease it off, and when I tried to clip back into the pedal I couldn't and had to stop and re-attach while stationary. I never have any bother clipping in with the left foot after moving off.

 

[Easytigers]

Left...strangely I had to think about it though!!!

 

[neil_merseyside]

I unclip and stand with either foot depending on nothing at all really. I will unclip kerb foot and stand on it (foot and kerb) ONLY IF someone is claiming the lane, if not it's either foot and stood in centre of lane.

 

[vickster]

Always left, it's the one by the kerb not in the road (mostly), never thought about it, just seems logical

It does mean that I often end up with cramp in my right foot if not unclipped for ages ouch

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I can only land on my right foot despite being left handed... but that has more to do with not being able to feel my left leg properly
I have found that it does 'dump' you into the middle of the traffic but my only other option is to fall over!

 

[H Bomb]

I did a bikeability course when I learnt to ride, and the instructor told me off for putting my right foot down as she said that meant I was ‘leaning into the traffic.’ Although this was a general point about stopping/starting I think, rather than when you’re at traffic lights.

But to be honest I still put my right foot down, for me it feels more natural and having got half a dozen or so commutes under my belt I haven’t felt that it’s made any difference to my safety. If I've stopped at a junction with no one behind me i'll put sometimes put my left down to try and get used to it though!