Questions you'd like answering, regardless of how trivial they may seem

[Mad Doug Biker]

I must be exceptional as I find both my legs are strong enough for the initial pedal stroke.

I'm left legged... But predominantly* right handed.


* - Not entirely though.

 

[ianrauk]

I must be exceptional as I find both my legs are strong enough for the initial pedal stroke.

And I'm weird as I'm right footed yet I unclip with that foot and push off with my less stronger left leg.

 

[matticus]

In addition to keeping you clear of the drivetrain, most people who are right handed (the majority of te population) also have a stronger right leg, and that is what you want for the initial pedal stroke as you start

This is - IMHO - a completely pointless diversion, but it's Quite Interesting! I think you're wrong; I believe most people have more strength in the WRONG leg! Not sure where I first read this, but a quick google gives:

However, note that when a football is tossed with the right hand, a punch is thrown with the right hand, or a football is kicked with the right foot, it is the left leg and foot which must bear the weight and provide balance and co-ordination for the body. Therefore, in right-handed people it is natural for the left leg to become stronger than the right. Thus it is not surprising that when you ask people to ’just stand around’, body weight is not equally distributed between the legs; most people place more weight on their left leg and foot than on their right. The left leg is the strong support leg
https://www.sportsperformancebullet... right-handed people,foot than on their right.

Of course cycling might be different! If you find evidence, do report back :-)

 

[Alex321]

I must be exceptional as I find both my legs are strong enough for the initial pedal stroke.

I think most of us *could* start with either foot. But most *prefer* to always start with the same foot.

ASnd note both of those are "most". There are, of course, exceptions.

 

[Alex321]

This is - IMHO - a completely pointless diversion, but it's Quite Interesting! I think you're wrong; I believe most people have more strength in the WRONG leg! Not sure where I first read this, but a quick google gives:

However, note that when a football is tossed with the right hand, a punch is thrown with the right hand, or a football is kicked with the right foot, it is the left leg and foot which must bear the weight and provide balance and co-ordination for the body. Therefore, in right-handed people it is natural for the left leg to become stronger than the right. Thus it is not surprising that when you ask people to ’just stand around’, body weight is not equally distributed between the legs; most people place more weight on their left leg and foot than on their right. The left leg is the strong support leg
https://www.sportsperformancebulletin.com/training/techniques/practical-guide-on-how-to-identify-your-own-dominant-side-and-bring-the-other-side-up-to-par#:~:text=Therefore, in right-handed people,foot than on their right.

Of course cycling might be different! If you find evidence, do report back :-)

Interesting indeed.

And yes, it does make sense when you think about it. You are more dextrous with your "primary" hand/foot, but possibly stronger in the other one, particularly the foot/leg, for the reasons you give.

And while it may be a "completely pointless diversion", I think it meets the criterion of the thread title

 

[grldtnr]

Ah, well, I dunno about that? I naturally 'Lead ' with my right, , just because I am in the right frame of mind, you may say, but due to an injury to my Right leg , my left seems to be the stronger, more a case the right has atrophied , rather the left got stronger, have the dreaded Arthur Rightarse in my right hand,, and my left eye is the weaker, but I hear best with my left ear.
In fact I'd say I am a right basket case , as I've got older, but I still keep plodding on,
I prefer to start of with my left when cycling, mainly coz the right isn't what it was, but I unclip the right foot first, leaving me to lead with the left.
So perhaps there's some truth in what Matticus writes, but it's all hocum, I think, just coz I am a right handed person