Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Do you favor one foot forward for descending?

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Do you favor one foot forward for descending?

Old 03-09-20, 09:26 PM
  #1  
Captain_Canada
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 45
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts
Do you favor one foot forward for descending?

Taking cornering out of the equation, do you have a "stance" when descending long straight descents? When you're going too fast to pedal (for me, around 35 mph).

I noticed I default my right foot forward and put my weight on my left leg. If I hit a rougher patch of road and need to muscle through it, my right foot's always forward.

Left foot forward when not cornering feels pretty foreign.

Is it normal to have a preference? Just noticed I do this today. I switch it up cornering but then go back to right foot forward as a default.
Captain_Canada is offline  
Old 03-09-20, 09:36 PM
  #2  
canklecat
Me duelen las nalgas
 
canklecat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,522

Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel

Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4559 Post(s)
Liked 2,798 Times in 1,798 Posts
Depends. If I'm going for speed and conditions are right (tailwind, sufficiently steep downhill, pavement not too choppy), I'll tuck and set the feet at 3 and 9 o' clock, knees in, etc. There's one particular downhill along one of my usual routes where coasting like that is as fast as, or faster than, my best efforts pedaling with 52/13 maximum gear.

Otherwise I seem to favor having one foot down at 6 'o clock, usually the right (?)... or is it the left? Now I'll need to go ride again to be sure which.
canklecat is offline  
Old 03-09-20, 09:42 PM
  #3  
Carbonfiberboy 
just another gosling
 
Carbonfiberboy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,501

Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004

Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3873 Post(s)
Liked 1,920 Times in 1,369 Posts
My cranks are horizontal, right foot forward. I think my pedals are equally loaded or my cranks wouldn't be horizontal. So level pedals, weight in my feet, knees gripping TT, hands in the crooks, elbows pulled in, chin low, easy to move butt off saddle for bumps.
__________________
Results matter
Carbonfiberboy is offline  
Old 03-09-20, 10:08 PM
  #4  
Johnny Rad
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Zion
Posts: 632
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 40 Post(s)
Liked 9 Times in 9 Posts
My cranks are also horizontal; right foot forward.

As for my hand position, I employ Niabli’s pt 1 approach with them in tight near the stem.

Then I add some Pantani with my butt off and behind the saddle with my zyphoid process on the nose of the saddle and chin hovering just above the steerer.

https://www.velonews.com/2018/07/gea...osition_473015

https://www.velonews.com/2017/05/new...-faster_437636
Johnny Rad is offline  
Old 03-09-20, 10:16 PM
  #5  
Seattle Forrest
Senior Member
 
Seattle Forrest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,645 Times in 6,054 Posts
Left foot forward, even track standing through a light. Cranks horizontal.
Seattle Forrest is offline  
Old 03-10-20, 01:47 AM
  #6  
bpcyclist
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Portland
Posts: 1,115
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 451 Post(s)
Liked 364 Times in 227 Posts
I aim for horizontal, but sometimes forget and end up with left at 6 o'clock for extended periods. Usually in the drops when going that fast, which is not that often.
bpcyclist is offline  
Old 03-10-20, 05:07 AM
  #7  
Sy Reene
Advocatus Diaboli
 
Sy Reene's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,613

Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4717 Post(s)
Liked 1,526 Times in 997 Posts
Horizontal, with left foot forward. Gives me the quickest access to jamming the coaster brake with my right foot (stronger).
Sy Reene is offline  
Old 03-10-20, 06:02 AM
  #8  
nomadmax 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 2,409
Mentioned: 93 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1103 Post(s)
Liked 1,824 Times in 878 Posts
I had the opportunity to work with Hans Rey on a project once and he gave me some pointers/instruction. His description of the leading foot was "your chocolate foot", meaning which one you like/feels the best for descending or trials work. For me it's my left foot forward, pedals at 3 & 9. I think it's because my right leg is a little stronger and it supports my weight better if I have to hover over the saddle.
nomadmax is offline  
Likes For nomadmax:
Old 03-10-20, 06:56 AM
  #9  
texaspandj
Senior Member
 
texaspandj's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Heart Of Texas
Posts: 4,238

Bikes: '85, '86 , '87 , '88 , '89 Centurion Dave Scott Ironman.

Mentioned: 99 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1605 Post(s)
Liked 582 Times in 379 Posts
Horizontal, because I think it's more aero.
Left leg in front I think because I generally fight orthodox (and it carrys over to cycling).
texaspandj is offline  
Old 03-10-20, 07:06 AM
  #10  
Rides4Beer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: VA
Posts: 1,437

Bikes: SuperSix Evo | Revolt

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 733 Post(s)
Liked 815 Times in 414 Posts
Cranks horizontal, left foot forward, in the drops, elbows in and knees tucked against the top tube, no super tuck I'm big enough that I haul down any descent without getting too crazy. lol
Rides4Beer is offline  
Old 03-10-20, 07:53 AM
  #11  
noodle soup
Senior Member
 
noodle soup's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 8,922
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4717 Post(s)
Liked 1,882 Times in 998 Posts
goofyfoot, same as when surfing or skateboarding.
noodle soup is offline  
Old 03-10-20, 07:55 AM
  #12  
2cam16
Senior Member
 
2cam16's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: San Mateo,Ca.
Posts: 4,350

Bikes: TRIMMED DOWN THE HERD

Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1089 Post(s)
Liked 928 Times in 594 Posts
Horizontal,right foot forward.
2cam16 is offline  
Old 03-10-20, 08:05 AM
  #13  
DrIsotope
Non omnino gravis
 
DrIsotope's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: SoCal, USA!
Posts: 8,553

Bikes: Nekobasu, Pandicorn, Lakitu

Mentioned: 119 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4905 Post(s)
Liked 1,731 Times in 958 Posts
Try to go downhill fast? Cranks level, left foot forward.
Just going down a hill? Twelve and six, with the left foot (usually) at six.

Not that it much matters. On most of the steeper downhill segments locally, my faster times are all on my CX bike... because it has a dropper on it. Lowering or raising one shoe a few inches isn't as productive as moving the entire rider half a foot lower.
__________________
DrIsotope is offline  
Old 03-10-20, 08:09 AM
  #14  
Cypress
Globo Gym lifetime member
 
Cypress's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Salem, Oregon
Posts: 5,204

Bikes: Fast ones

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 410 Post(s)
Liked 614 Times in 306 Posts
Cranks level, right foot forward while in a tuck. Outside foot in 6 o'clock position through corners.
__________________
Cypress is offline  
Old 03-10-20, 08:14 AM
  #15  
noodle soup
Senior Member
 
noodle soup's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 8,922
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4717 Post(s)
Liked 1,882 Times in 998 Posts
Originally Posted by DrIsotope
Not that it much matters. On most of the steeper downhill segments locally, my faster times are all on my CX bike...
People still pay attention to downhill road KOMs
noodle soup is offline  
Old 03-10-20, 08:21 AM
  #16  
DrIsotope
Non omnino gravis
 
DrIsotope's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: SoCal, USA!
Posts: 8,553

Bikes: Nekobasu, Pandicorn, Lakitu

Mentioned: 119 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4905 Post(s)
Liked 1,731 Times in 958 Posts
Hey, if I weighed 140lbs I'd be out there tackling all of the proper KOMs too. But I don't, and I never will. So I can put my guts out on a climb and finish 550/1,900. On my best day.

Downhill? I'm competitive.
__________________
DrIsotope is offline  
Likes For DrIsotope:
Old 03-10-20, 08:26 AM
  #17  
TMonk
Not actually Tmonk
 
TMonk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 13,938

Bikes: road, track, mtb

Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2505 Post(s)
Liked 2,960 Times in 1,571 Posts
I've had some accidents so I tend to get a bit scared over 35 MPH.... I'll be on the brakes.
__________________
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
TMonk is offline  
Old 03-10-20, 08:35 AM
  #18  
Cypress
Globo Gym lifetime member
 
Cypress's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Salem, Oregon
Posts: 5,204

Bikes: Fast ones

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 410 Post(s)
Liked 614 Times in 306 Posts
Originally Posted by noodle soup
People still pay attention to downhill road KOMs
Hater's gonna hate
__________________
Cypress is offline  
Old 03-10-20, 08:46 AM
  #19  
noodle soup
Senior Member
 
noodle soup's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 8,922
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4717 Post(s)
Liked 1,882 Times in 998 Posts
Originally Posted by Cypress
Hater's gonna hate


The thing I hate is Strava.
noodle soup is offline  
Likes For noodle soup:
Old 03-10-20, 08:52 AM
  #20  
Zaskar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 781
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 479 Post(s)
Liked 277 Times in 156 Posts
Everyone has a favored forward foot. I always thought "chocolate foot" was the same as "goofy foot" - just the less common foot forward. But who the %*#* am I to argue with Hans?!
So try this: make a habit of forcing the reverse - when the descent is easy, ride with your dominant foot back. The more you do this, the less awkward it feels... so when you're caught in that position, e.g. mid-stroke, and have to maneuver (bunny hop, hard brake, swerve, whatever), you're more comfortable.
Zaskar is offline  
Old 03-10-20, 08:59 AM
  #21  
AdkMtnMonster
Airplanes, bikes, beer.
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Off the front
Posts: 763

Bikes: Road bikes, mountain bikes, a cx bike, a gravel bike…

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 398 Post(s)
Liked 788 Times in 339 Posts
Road descents- like most everyone else, cranks level, either foot forward. Mtb- if descending in switchbacks or across a face (uphill on one side, drop on the other) I put the downhill side crank arm forward, to avoid rocks/roots/anything away from my uphill foot so that my line isn’t forced toward the “drop” side of the trail. Also, if I have to stop fast I find it easier to quickly stand on the downhill pedal this way and unclip the uphill foot to lean uphill as I stop, rather than trying to put a foot down over the edge of the trail. Either bike- outside foot at 6 o’clock in corners, a few quick pedal strokes, back to level, or the next corner... repeat til the finish line.
AdkMtnMonster is offline  
Old 03-11-20, 05:50 PM
  #22  
Drew Eckhardt 
Senior Member
 
Drew Eckhardt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mountain View, CA USA and Golden, CO USA
Posts: 6,341

Bikes: 97 Litespeed, 50-39-30x13-26 10 cogs, Campagnolo Ultrashift, retroreflective rims on SON28/PowerTap hubs

Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 550 Post(s)
Liked 325 Times in 226 Posts
Right foot forward.

I wonder if it's opposite of board sports, with goofy footers being left foot forward on bikes.
Drew Eckhardt is offline  
Old 03-11-20, 07:30 PM
  #23  
Captain_Canada
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 45
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts
I'm goofy footed and right pedal forward (I guess also goofy biked). I've been trying to go switch this week more on the bike (thus the post). Glad I'm not alone! It feels like adding some symmetry could be a good thing.
Captain_Canada is offline  
Old 03-11-20, 08:20 PM
  #24  
noodle soup
Senior Member
 
noodle soup's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 8,922
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4717 Post(s)
Liked 1,882 Times in 998 Posts
Originally Posted by Drew Eckhardt
Right foot forward.

I wonder if it's opposite of board sports, with goofy footers being left foot forward on bikes.
I haven't seen many say they were goofy-footed, but descend left foot forward.

FTR I can longboard switchfoot, but no chance on a 6'4" thruster.

Last edited by noodle soup; 03-11-20 at 08:33 PM.
noodle soup is offline  
Old 03-11-20, 08:43 PM
  #25  
noodle soup
Senior Member
 
noodle soup's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 8,922
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4717 Post(s)
Liked 1,882 Times in 998 Posts
Originally Posted by Captain_Canada
I'm goofy footed and right pedal forward (I guess also goofy biked). I've been trying to go switch this week more on the bike (thus the post). Glad I'm not alone! It feels like adding some symmetry could be a good thing.
I don't think it's really much of an issue with road cycling, but I have seen some cyclists that were better in high speed lefts, than rights.
noodle soup is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.