Which side do you get on and off from?

[snorri]

I had difficulty with that question, in fact I got it wrong first time.

 

[Specialeyes]

Left handed and for reasons that now escape me, I generally mount from the bike's right hand side, and clip my right foot in second.

 

[NorthernDave]

If I'm out and about its on / off from either side, depending where I'm stood, never really thought about it before today. (I'm right handed)

However, setting off from home I always mount from the left - this is due to wheeling the bike out into the ginnel behind the house and setting off downhill to the road. In fact I can't even remember setting off up the hill, even though I could if I wanted to.

 

[Ian H]

What about those of us who are ambidextrous? Actually, I always put the right foot down, though I can dismount and mount either way. And I always clip-in and start left-footed.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

Right handed and always the right side. I also unclip with my right foot rather then the conventional left.

+1

 

[phantasmagoriana]

I was always taught to start pedalling with the right foot. It's something I always did, and do, so when riding fixed commuting, I'd rotate the back wheel back to a point where I could start right leg first. I can't start left first. Habit.

I'm the opposite - always unclip my right foot and start off with the left. I don't think I could start with my right leg!

 

[Smokin Joe]

Recumbent trike, so I stand in front of it and lower myself into the seat, rather like flopping into an armchair.

 

[wheresthetorch]

I'm sure when I did my cycling proficiency back in the 70s, we were told to get on/off on the left-hand side as it's away from the chain. I think they referred to 'clean side' and 'dirty side'.

I also always dismounted/mounted motorcycles the same way, as it's the pavement side.

 

[psmiffy]

Left hand side - Right hand applying front brake - right foot in clip at 2 O'clock

Thats what my dad taught me

Mounting from the kerbside is pretty much the convention whatever country you go to

 

[livpoksoc]

Usually clip left side first and swing the right leg over. Bit of a knee kniggle though so at the moment I'm clipping after I get my leg over.

Either way I unclip the right foot by default when getting to a junction.

 

[slowmotion]

I'm right -handed and right-legged so it's easier to swing my right leg over and off the bike. That means I start and end up standing on the left side of the bike. My left leg co-ordination is simply atrocious.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

I get on from the left, and unclip right first which then means I am "in the road" when I unclip rather than on the kerb. I'm right-handed and left-footed. And fab-u-lous.

 

[Julia9054]

I am strongly left handed and always start off pushing down on my left pedal. When I stop, my right foot goes down first. I went on a couple of tandem rides with someone who was the other way round. He was in charge and I found it incredibly difficult to start and stop on the "wrong" foot!

 

[DiddlyDodds]

I am right handed but plating football am left footed, but always put my right foot on the peddle first.

 

[Brandane]

Left hand side - Right hand applying front brake - right foot in clip at 2 O'clock

That all sounds a bit restrictive. What happens if you want to go for a ride at any other time of the day, rather than 2.00?