canklecat

In my area -- not many long or steep downhills, but all mostly straight sprints, not winding mountain passes -- KOMs still require pretty hard pedaling. Nobody is coasting to top tens anymore. My bikes currently have 52/13 top gear (old school 7-speed). Even at 120 rpm I'd need a 53/11 top gear to pedal with enough force to crack the top ten.

And pretty much every KOM in my area is wind assisted -- including climbs. That includes my one remaining top ten finish. I've been nudged out of every other top ten the past several months. Check the weather archives against the day/time the riders rode that segment and you'll find many are tailwind assisted, and/or pacelines of 2 or more riders working together and finishing at pretty much the same time. Probably not quite kosher for folks who are serious about Strava but I'm definitely not serious. I get tickled by seeing my name in the top ten where I have absolutely no business. It's only because relatively few riders have tackled that segment. Over time and enough riders I'll drop down to the middle of the pack where I belong.

noodle soup

"Serious about Strava"

#LOSERS

NoWhammies

Left foot forward for me. Which is odd (I think) because for sports such as football (aka soccer) I kick with my right leg.

2cam16

See, I'm left handed but kick with my right, descend with my right.

canklecat

Hey, Phil Gaimon made a second career out of chasing KOMs. It led to sponsors, international travel and actual money. That's serious.

Me and most locals, not serious. Although one guy I know got seriously upset when his KOM was threatened by a guy who just forget to turn off Strava before driving away. That's way too serious about something that won't stand anyway. At our ages (60+) any KOM only means that segment hasn't been tried by a reasonably fit younger rider. We're at the participation trophy phase of life.

noodle soup

It just a continuation of his first career, not a second career.


the Cat 2 state champ lives about 5 miles from my house, and Brandon McNulty lives about 12 miles away. All but 1 of my KOMs are gone now. I stopped paying any attention to my rides on Strava in 2018.

Psimet2001 

Right foot forward. I have noticed in the last few years I do this enough that I find I am tiring that foot and calf out for hold that position so much (I find I press down on the forward foot a lot when coasting like that. Almost like trying to grab your shoe by curling your toes). Enough that I make it a point to switch it up as often as I think about it over the course of a ride. Also so I feel more natural and stable with either foot forward. It's been helping.

Trakhak

Don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but keeping your pedals horizontal on descents, regardless of which foot you favor, give you better control than 6/12 over unexpected road divots.

noodle soup

You tire your foot out, on the long descents in your area?

#sad

Seattle Forrest

Left foot forward when I descend, already posted, I realized I kick-double-poll of my left foot too. Right handed though.

Seattle Forrest

Some of those highway overpasses are no joke. You could climb 20 feet!

Psimet2001 

I knew someone was going to do that. I didn't say I was descending....just coasting.... and I'm very out of shape.

Started to notice it a few years back on longer rides. I would just fatigue.

CliffordK

I haven't thought much about the foot forward. Pedal up for cornering,

I will pinch the knees on occasion which probably means level pedals, so I may well have a foot forward based on the last corner I went around. I'll do some testing shortly.

I don't push crazy downhill Strava segments, but those that are safe enough, I'll pedal like crazy. I did get the gearing and push it up so I was able to spin out at about 54 MPH. Need to work on that one a bit.

thriftyswift3

Interesting that you ask this. I took note of this in myself a few years ago – I always defaulted to left foot forward.

I then began to mix in right foot forward coasts.

I also have tended to default to putting the left foot down when stopping. I now mix it up,.

I'm right handed, but for me, it certainly does not mean I naturally tend to put right foot forward or down first.

wphamilton

I've always coasted left-foot forward, downhill or otherwise. Sheldon Brown claimed that it's slightly less strain on the drive train left forward, which was gratifying to learn if essentially meaningless. It doesn't really matter which IMO but it's best if the pedals are level with the ground.

Darth Lefty 

Left foot forward. With launching, too.

wipekitty

For a long, straight drop my default is right foot forward*, with knees gripping the top tube (I had a bouncy scare a few years back).

I mix it up, though. Especially coming out of switchbacks - whatever is more convenient goes forward.

* I take that back! It turns out I default to left foot forward. That makes sense, since I unclip left, and suspected I was goofy footed.

DiabloScott

I’m left forward. I’ve tried to train myself to do right forward as well but it feels incredibly awkward.

RedBullFiXX

Jumping, curbs, roundabouts, etc Left foot forward, otherwise, mix it up depending on comfort or camber at stops