Originally Posted by
topflightpro
Everyone is slightly different. While the top position you posted might be perfect for you, for someone else, 5mm higher or lower might be better. Also, one may think that starting with their left foot forward is better, but they actually end up putting out more power with their right foot forward? But again, you could probably also figure this out with a stopwatch.
Yes, everyone is slightly different. But, physics is the same for all of us
Changing the angle is not better.
There are 2 very good reasons why most pros (and everyone under them) use left foot forward:
1: The bike will track in the direction opposite of the foot that is forward. This isn't noticeable when rolling at normal or high speeds. It's very noticeable during the standing start.
2: The track is already pushing the rider towards the infield. So, at 0MPH, if you start with the right foot forward you will track to the left PLUS the track is already pushing you to the left what happens is that the bike wants to dive to the apron and you have to fight that.
So, if your left foot is forward, then at 0MPH you are pushing the bike up track countering the angle of the track pushing the bike down track and it makes keeping the bike upright easier, especially if you are riding a really big gear and/or riding a track with steep straight sections.
Fuuurrther.... Max power doesn't even come until maybe 75M away when the torque band and the cadence band meet a sweet spot around 120RPM coming out of turn 2.
And if you are really talking about torque, and not power, then the best torque happens when the lever is at 90 degrees to that which is applying the force (see physics)
Your thoughts?