For You, Is Left Right or is Right Right?

[kgantz]

As I continue to learn safe riding techniques on my Quest, I seem to run various experiments to try and figure out what are the best techniques for me. On the subject of starting off, I instinctively tried using my stronger leg (the right one) as the one on the pedal in the power position while using my left leg to keep myself upright while stopped. Then, just to see what would happen, I swapped legs and used my left leg to start pedaling and my right leg as the support. To my surprise, I seem to have straighter starts using my weaker leg as the power generator. I am wondering what other people's experience has been. Do you use your strong leg to start or the weaker one?

 

[John Tolhurst]

Use the strong leg, push

Use the strong leg, push outward slightly. You can try turning the wheel away from the pushing leg before you start.

 

[hurri47]

Three thoughts on starting

It's interesting that John suggests the strong leg, because my experience as a beginner matched yours - I was better pushing with dominant hand and non-dominant leg together.

However, I'm trying to switch to dominant leg because that's how I do it on all my other recumbents, and I have a long-standing habit of only unclipping one leg. I prefer to not have to think about which one that is today.

I've also been watching a lot of videos with people named Parker in them, and I'm struck by how much both of them DON'T start by just sitting back and pushing. There is a lot of Flintstoning going on, or at least pushing off with the non-pedalling leg. It makes me wonder if I'm chasing a non-achievable ideal by wanting to start smoothly like I do on my other bikes.

-Dan

 

[MrSteve]

Starting

Whichever leg you use, be smooth.
You know, apply power to the pedal smoothly.

Sit upright and try starting, you may have better balance.
Sitting upright, you might also have better control over your power
and your arms won't have enough leverage to overpower your leg.
See?
You'll be learning to steer with your leg!
Mr. Tolhurst's helpful hints are all about steering with your leg.

When you have mastered starting, try starting on a gravel road...
and when you have learned that, try starting uphill.

You'll know you've mastered starting your Cruzbike,
when you can start off with no hands.

I'm not there yet... and I've been riding my Cruzbike, exclusively, for years.

Good luck,

-Steve

 

[John Dorlon]

It's funny this thread came

It's funny this thread came up when it did. I have been a dominant (right) foot starter for a year and a half now. But in the past few weeks I have been switching to non-dominant.

When I start with my right, I sometimes get a little bit of a left steer as I am getting started. If I'm going to have any unwanted steer as I get started, I'd rather steer to the right (which means using my left, non-dominant foot). In this case, I guess it isn't about dominance or non-dominance, just left or right.

But in terms of dominance and non-dominance, I think I get faster starts when I start with my non-dominant foot already clipped in. The dominant foot seems to be better than the non-dominant at supplying a good push against the pedal before it is clipped in.

The only problem with non-dominant starting is that as I am approaching the stop, I like to pull out my non-dominant foot to get it ready to hold me up when I'm stopped. This still feels weird when I do it goofy foot (with the other foot) Hopefully that will pass.

I rarely do any flintstoning when I start off. It doesn't help me.

-John

 

[Eric Winn]

I think I use either

I think I use either depending on the terrain and slope but tend to use my right more than my left.

I don't flintstone, I just go.

Lately I've been tweaking my seat fit more and have also been trying going uphill without sitting forward, instead trying to plant my back more into the seat. Cold weather and work and family priorities have deferred a lot of my riding so I haven't done much with this yet, but it is looking and feeling promising.

-Eric

 

[Mark B]

I push off with the stronger

I push off with the stronger leg and counter steer, as John suggests. I also pull the pedal all the way through the pedal stroke until my left foot catches up with the pedal. This prevents the herky-jerky start and really helps on an incline.

Mark

 

[Ivan]

Like Mark, I start by pushing

Like Mark, I start by pushing with my strong leg. I don't bother sitting forward unless I am on a moderate uphill. I push with my right leg while pulling on the bars, then I quickly pull down and back with my right leg while quickly getting the left foot up. I find that the pulling with the right pedal really helps for smoother and straighter starts with less wheel spin.