Cycle Shoes

in message <[email hidden]>, Mark South

(') said:

"Dave Larrington" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Michael MacClancy said:

I'm sure that most people only unclip one when stopping, usually
the less dominant leg.

I'm right-handed and right-footed, yet by immutable habit will always
put my
right foot down. I mormally put my right hand down as the camber of
the road makes it easier, but will use the left if there's railings
or a handy
kerb. When taking off afterwards (or starting the trike) I'll use
either foot.

The leg you put down should generally depend on which side of the
traffic you are.

Surely which foot you put down depends a bit on the camber of the road.
You generally need to put the uphill foot down (unless the camber is
slight) because if you try to put the downhill foot down you'll
probably topple over anyway. In my experience, of course.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; when in the [censored], the wise man plants courgettes

"Michael MacClancy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mark South said:

"Dave Larrington" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Michael MacClancy wrote:

> I'm sure that most people only unclip one when stopping, usually the
> less dominant leg.

I'm right-handed and right-footed, yet by immutable habit will always put

my

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

right foot down. I mormally put my right hand down as the camber of the
road makes it easier, but will use the left if there's railings or a handy
kerb. When taking off afterwards (or starting the trike) I'll use either
foot.

The leg you put down should generally depend on which side of the traffic

you

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

are.

Why? What book's that in?

Having a bad day, Michael?

It's taught in the Safer Cycling course given to schoolkids for example. They
get told to stop at the left side of the road and put their left foot down
because that way:

A. They run less risk of a truck running over their toes

B. They are leaning away from the traffic so if they do keel over they run less
risk of having a truck run over their head.

Quoted message said:

An American book I have says you should put down your left foot but
probably forgets that some people have a dominant left leg and would rather
put down their right foot. Anyway, my book obviously relates the foot to
'handedness' and not traffic.

So all people are right-handed? NO, BUT THEY WILL BE WHEN GEORGE THE FOURTH OF
AMERICA BECOMES KING OF THE WORLD!
--
Mark South
Citizen of the World, Denizen of the Net
<<Tiens! Ce poulet a une grenade!>>

Quoted message said:

Surely which foot you put down depends a bit on the camber of the road.
You generally need to put the uphill foot down (unless the camber is
slight) because if you try to put the downhill foot down you'll
probably topple over anyway. In my experience, of course.

For me, I *have* to unclip my right foot first and put that one down *always*.
Don't ask me why, but if I attempt to unclip my left foot first I have great
problems! I'm the same whether I'm on platform pedals, toe-clips, no toe-clips
or clipless - it has to be right foot out of pedal first. Go figure ;-)

Cheers, helen s
(cackfooted, obviously)

--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam--
to get correct one remove fame & fortune
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Simon Brooke said:

Surely which foot you put down depends a bit on the camber of the
road. You generally need to put the uphill foot down (unless the
camber is slight) because if you try to put the downhill foot down
you'll probably topple over anyway. In my experience, of course.

You must be riding one of those funny upwrong things.

--
Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

Victory is ours! Down with Eric the Half A Brain!

Mark South said:

A. They run less risk of a truck running over their toes

B. They are leaning away from the traffic so if they do keel over they run less
risk of having a truck run over their head.

ICBW but I think I got into the habit of putting the left foot down by
default as that was the obvious one to have on the ground when I was
mounting a bike with a "you'll grow into it" sized frame from a kerb and
heading off on the LHS of the road. And when coming in to land on a
nice raised kerb while headed in the same direction. It was just easier
that way round. Similarly I mount the bike from the left by default,
and actually have to think about it to get on from the other side...

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

"Simon Brooke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

in message <[email hidden]>, Mark South

(') said:

"Dave Larrington" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Michael MacClancy wrote:

> I'm sure that most people only unclip one when stopping, usually
> the less dominant leg.

I'm right-handed and right-footed, yet by immutable habit will always
put my
right foot down. I mormally put my right hand down as the camber of
the road makes it easier, but will use the left if there's railings
or a handy
kerb. When taking off afterwards (or starting the trike) I'll use
either foot.

The leg you put down should generally depend on which side of the
traffic you are.

Surely which foot you put down depends a bit on the camber of the road.
You generally need to put the uphill foot down (unless the camber is
slight) because if you try to put the downhill foot down you'll
probably topple over anyway. In my experience, of course.

Of course, that's true. Most paved roads are close enough to level that it
doesn't matte, but the exceptions do test the rule quite strenuously.

And off-road the slope defines everything one does. Not that I'd want you to
think I'd ever do anything so dumb as to put the wrong foot down and fall
downhill or anything.
--
Mark South
Citizen of the World, Denizen of the Net
<<Tiens! Ce poulet a une grenade!>>

Mark South said:

"Michael MacClancy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mark South said:

"Dave Larrington" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> Michael MacClancy wrote:
>
>> I'm sure that most people only unclip one when stopping, usually the
>> less dominant leg.
>
> I'm right-handed and right-footed, yet by immutable habit will always put

my

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> right foot down. I mormally put my right hand down as the camber of the
> road makes it easier, but will use the left if there's railings or a handy
> kerb. When taking off afterwards (or starting the trike) I'll use either
> foot.

The leg you put down should generally depend on which side of the traffic

you

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

are.

Why? What book's that in?

Having a bad day, Michael?

It's taught in the Safer Cycling course given to schoolkids for example. They
get told to stop at the left side of the road and put their left foot down
because that way:

A. They run less risk of a truck running over their toes

B. They are leaning away from the traffic so if they do keel over they run less
risk of having a truck run over their head.

Quoted message said:

An American book I have says you should put down your left foot but
probably forgets that some people have a dominant left leg and would rather
put down their right foot. Anyway, my book obviously relates the foot to
'handedness' and not traffic.

So all people are right-handed?

No more so than on the so-called Safer Cycling course you refer to.

--
Michael MacClancy
Random putdown - "I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't
it." -Groucho Marx
www.macclancy.demon.co.uk
www.macclancy.co.uk

Simon Brooke said:

Surely which foot you put down depends a bit on the camber of the road.
You generally need to put the uphill foot down (unless the camber is
slight) because if you try to put the downhill foot down you'll
probably topple over anyway. In my experience, of course.

I've never had a problem and always put my right foot down. I'm left
handed and left footed.
--
Michael MacClancy
Random putdown - "I feel so miserable without you, it's almost like having
you here." -Stephen Bishop
www.macclancy.demon.co.uk
www.macclancy.co.uk

"Michael MacClancy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mark South said:

"Michael MacClancy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Thu, 13 May 2004 13:13:34 +0200, Mark South wrote:

> "Dave Larrington" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
> news:[email hidden]...
>> Michael MacClancy wrote:
>>
>>> I'm sure that most people only unclip one when stopping, usually the
>>> less dominant leg.
>>
>> I'm right-handed and right-footed, yet by immutable habit will always put

my

Quoted message said:

>> right foot down. I mormally put my right hand down as the camber of the
>> road makes it easier, but will use the left if there's railings or a

handy

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> kerb. When taking off afterwards (or starting the trike) I'll use either
>> foot.
>
> The leg you put down should generally depend on which side of the traffic

you

Quoted message said:

> are.

Why? What book's that in?

Having a bad day, Michael?

It's taught in the Safer Cycling course given to schoolkids for example.

They

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

get told to stop at the left side of the road and put their left foot down
because that way:

A. They run less risk of a truck running over their toes

B. They are leaning away from the traffic so if they do keel over they run

less

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

risk of having a truck run over their head.

Quoted message said:

An American book I have says you should put down your left foot but
probably forgets that some people have a dominant left leg and would rather
put down their right foot. Anyway, my book obviously relates the foot to
'handedness' and not traffic.

So all people are right-handed?

No more so than on the so-called Safer Cycling course you refer to.

I guess that you really are having a bad day.

It's not the "so-called" Safer Cycling course, it's the course called Safer
Cycling.

And the reason there for putting the left foot down is because one drives on the
left in the UK.

Now I'll leave off. You can make some further short-tempered remarks at your
leisure by way of having the last word.
--
Mark South
Citizen of the World, Denizen of the Net
<<Tiens! Ce poulet a une grenade!>>

Peter Clinch said:

Quoted message said:

I'm thinking about buying a pair, too. My trainers keep sliding off the
pedals when they are wet, which can be a bit dangerous. The Shimanos look
good; I don't want to spend a fortune either.

A pair of Zefal toe cups will stop them doing that, but cycle shoes are
a win in any case because of the stiffer sole.

I used to use those with training shoes, Peter. I trashed several
pairs of shoes in the ball of the foot (football?) area, probably
because the shoes' soles were too flexible.

James

On Wed, 12 May 2004 11:50:03 +0100, "Dave Larrington" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

What Pete said. Well I recall a something written by the Wise Mr.
Ballantine:

Wise Mr. Ballantine: I'd like a pair of ski boots, please.
Ski Shop Lackey: And what sort of boots does Sir require?
Wise Mr. Ballantine: Ones that fit.

On a skiing holiday many years ago there was a girl staying in the
same chalet as me many years. She was a beginner and bought a loverly
pair of Salamon Force 7 skis because she liked the colour. How to
waste several hundered quid in five easy minutes.

James

On Wed, 12 May 2004 15:10:15 GMT, Velvet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I can see no good reason why I should add spd's into the equation of
cycling in traffic when I'm still not able to signal in traffic.
Signalling, to me, is something I need to get under my belt before I
start having to think about unclipping, and I can do without being
nervous about unclipping/falling off whilst in traffic while I master
that :-)

Hi Velvet

Why not try riding in the normal position but with one hand an inch or
two about the bars? You wil be easily able to grab the bar should you
wish and won't have a possibly destablising arm out to one side. After
a while, when you become comforatable doing this, you hopefully will
feel more confident in sticking your arm further out.

James

James Hodson said:

On Wed, 12 May 2004 15:10:15 GMT, Velvet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I can see no good reason why I should add spd's into the equation of
cycling in traffic when I'm still not able to signal in traffic.
Signalling, to me, is something I need to get under my belt before I
start having to think about unclipping, and I can do without being
nervous about unclipping/falling off whilst in traffic while I master
that :-)

Hi Velvet

Why not try riding in the normal position but with one hand an inch or
two about the bars? You wil be easily able to grab the bar should you
wish and won't have a possibly destablising arm out to one side. After
a while, when you become comforatable doing this, you hopefully will
feel more confident in sticking your arm further out.

James

Yep, that's one of the things I'm doing when the opportunity arises. I
can manage to scratch my nose, but realise I do need to manage with one
hand only for longer than that takes. Much of it is nerves I think
though - if I can scratch my nose, for heaven's sake, I should be able
to fling an arm out to the side!

--

Velvet

Velvet said:

Yep, that's one of the things I'm doing when the opportunity arises. I
can manage to scratch my nose, but realise I do need to manage with one
hand only for longer than that takes. Much of it is nerves I think
though - if I can scratch my nose, for heaven's sake, I should be able
to fling an arm out to the side!

There's no need to fling it out. A violent movement like that may cause
problems. Just hold it out. Anyway, the usefulness of a lot of indicating
by cyclists is questionable and, in some cases, indicating is to be
avoided.
--
Michael MacClancy
Random putdown - "He is not only dull himself, he is the cause of dullness
in others." -Samuel Johnson
www.macclancy.demon.co.uk
www.macclancy.co.uk

Michael MacClancy said:

Velvet said:

Yep, that's one of the things I'm doing when the opportunity arises. I
can manage to scratch my nose, but realise I do need to manage with one
hand only for longer than that takes. Much of it is nerves I think
though - if I can scratch my nose, for heaven's sake, I should be able
to fling an arm out to the side!

There's no need to fling it out. A violent movement like that may cause
problems. Just hold it out. Anyway, the usefulness of a lot of indicating
by cyclists is questionable and, in some cases, indicating is to be
avoided.

Yeah, I know flinging's bad, but I was trying to get across it should be
something I can just *do*... not have to think about compensating for
it, etc.

--

Velvet

Velvet said:

Michael MacClancy said:

There's no need to fling it out. A violent movement like that may cause
problems. Just hold it out. Anyway, the usefulness of a lot of indicating
by cyclists is questionable and, in some cases, indicating is to be
avoided.

Yeah, I know flinging's bad, but I was trying to get across it should be
something I can just *do*... not have to think about compensating for
it, etc.

Yes, and people *should* be able to ride with no hands but many can't/won't
and it doesn't stop them cycling. You're trying to solve a problem that
doesn't exist, it seems to me.
--
Michael MacClancy
Random putdown - "Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever
they go." -Oscar Wilde
www.macclancy.demon.co.uk
www.macclancy.co.uk

On Thu, 13 May 2004 16:03:29 GMT, Velvet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Yep, that's one of the things I'm doing when the opportunity arises. I
can manage to scratch my nose, but realise I do need to manage with one
hand only for longer than that takes. Much of it is nerves I think
though - if I can scratch my nose, for heaven's sake, I should be able
to fling an arm out to the side!

Try freewheeling at the same time. Not pedal motion to put you off.

James

James Hodson said:

On Thu, 13 May 2004 16:03:29 GMT, Velvet <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Yep, that's one of the things I'm doing when the opportunity arises. I
can manage to scratch my nose, but realise I do need to manage with one
hand only for longer than that takes. Much of it is nerves I think
though - if I can scratch my nose, for heaven's sake, I should be able
to fling an arm out to the side!

Try freewheeling at the same time. Not pedal motion to put you off.

James

I do, that's the only way I can get the hands off ;-)

--

Velvet

Michael MacClancy said:

Velvet said:

Michael MacClancy said:

There's no need to fling it out. A violent movement like that may cause
problems. Just hold it out. Anyway, the usefulness of a lot of indicating
by cyclists is questionable and, in some cases, indicating is to be
avoided.

Yeah, I know flinging's bad, but I was trying to get across it should be
something I can just *do*... not have to think about compensating for
it, etc.

Yes, and people *should* be able to ride with no hands but many can't/won't
and it doesn't stop them cycling. You're trying to solve a problem that
doesn't exist, it seems to me.

Not really - I am, currently, not able to signal to other road users
what I want to do. I need to be able to do this, though I realise it
won't be possible in ALL cases, where it is, it should be done.

For example, I think it'd be easier to pull out into the stream of
traffic to do a right turn off a more major road, if I could stick an
arm out and thus indicate to the cars behind that's my wish/intention,
and that yes, I WILL be looking to pull into a gap between them, and
thus then cross, potentially stop, toward the middle of the road.

--

Velvet

Peter Clinch said:

ICBW but I think I got into the habit of putting the left foot down by
default as that was the obvious one to have on the ground when I was
mounting a bike with a "you'll grow into it" sized frame from a kerb and
heading off on the LHS of the road. And when coming in to land on a
nice raised kerb while headed in the same direction. It was just easier
that way round. Similarly I mount the bike from the left by default,
and actually have to think about it to get on from the other side...

You beast of Beelzebub, Peter. Mounting from the right side and
putting ones right foot down first is the only correct way to do
things. Of course, I'm left handed so am also a spawn of Stan.

Whenever I have to do an emergency unclip with my left foot I find it
almost impossible to get going again until I've unclipped my right
shoe and reinserted my left.

James