On the latest episode of the "Ride and Laugh MTB Podcast" Dan and I got into a debate about what foot should be in front aka “your dominant foot”. I’m right-handed and I ride with my left foot forward, but Dan is the opposite.
Let us know what your preference is in the comments below and help us settle this debate forever! (If you are left-handed let us know as well)
If you are interested, you can see the full episode here: https://youtu.be/xz6Al-eVf0k
by TrailSage
41 Comments
Whichever one is less sore from the last time I slammed my foot into a root or rock
I’m right-handed and it’s the right foot for me
I am right handed and regular stance on a snowboard, I prefer to have my left foot forward.
Right foot forward, right-handed.
I’m right handed, but always go left foot forward. Other way feels so awkward.
Right foot, but I try to go left foot as much as I can to get used to it as there are times I’ve gotten stuck or it just makes sense to lead with that foot.
Right handed, left foot forward, except on the tandem, where my wife prefers right foot forward, so I accommodate.
My ready stance is left foot forward 90% of the time, I’m left-handed
This is very interesting. I’m right handed and ride goofy stance on skate/snow but I prefer my right foot back on the MTB.
I am left-handed for fine-motor and right-handed for large motor. So I always rode right foot forward, until a nasty knee injury and subsequent surgery forced me to switch. Now I’m left foot forward.
I’m left-eye dominant, if that has any correlation.
I don’t think right or left handed has anything to do with it. What foot is forward on a surf/skate/snow board. I’m goofy foot, so right foot forward on board and bike. My brother skateboards goofy foot and surfs regular foot. Not sure what he would do on a bike.
Right handed, left foot forward
Right-foot forward. Left handed.
Right handed.
Ride regular, left foot forward
I favor spins/”whips” in the CW direction.
I favor hips that go right, not left.
Even as a kid and a BMX bike, riding right foot forward was always weird, and I could never get the hang of spinning CCW or hipping to the left.
I’m left handed with left foot forward. I also ride a skateboard regular with my left foot being the leading foot
Right handed, right footed.
Left foot forward on the bike, that’s how I ride for all of board sports
Right handed, left foot forwards.
Right handed, left foot!
I’m right handed. I ride skate left foot forward, push with my right. I aim with my left eye.
I ride mtb right foot forward.
Right handed, right foot forward.
I’m goofy on snowboard/skateboard, swing a baseball bat lefty, play hockey lefty, and golf lefty. These things were not intentionally learned/taught. It’s just how I picked them up when I was a kid. I very briefly tried fencing in college, and I could use either hand interchangeably, but I am far from ambidextrous with anything else.
I’m right handed, prefer to kick a ball with my right but am also strong with my left.
When I was a kid I would ride right foot forward, then I started thinking if I need a quick hard couple pedals I am wasting a hard push from my right leg (thinking riding pedals level). I then forced myself to go left foot forward.
25 years later, now I’m always left foot forward. I really should switch back and forth to get comfortable either way.
Left, but I’m slowly learning if I need a half crank for a feature or something to deal with being right foot forward and not freak out.
I’m cross-dominant (mixed-handedness) and ride always with right foot forward. Feels weird to hit jumps if I’m not like this.
I ride whatever foot needs to be forward for the turn.
has nothing to do with left or right handedness. It’s your natural stance like on a skateboard. Some people are regular and some are goofy. I’m regular and bike left foot forward also right handed.
It’s fun to try and bike with the opposite foot forward.
Other than for the sake of collecting data, I don’t see the point of the question. Everyone learns to ride with a dominant foot. I might add that I find it helpful to practice riding with my opposite foot forward as it’s good to get comfortable for those moments when you get stuck that way.
I’ll add to the stats; right handed, left foot forward, ride goofy on a snowboard.
left-forward, right-handed.
My right handed but have always been goofy foot. I ride with my left foot forward.
Right handed, left foot forward. I am highly ambidextrous in a weird way. I bat and play hockey lefty. My hypothesis is that my right foot is the counter weight on my bike thusly the actual control/balance foot.
When seated, the outside pedal down. When standing, outside foot forward.
right handed,left foot forward, but sometimes ill switch on less techy stuff
Im right handed and ride right foot back as i feel like the back foot has more control so i use my dominant side for it
I’m right handed but default to left foot in front. I think it comes from skateboarding where I was also left foot in front
Right handed and prefer left foot forward.
Right foot forward. I also right foot forward skating and snowboarding, kick a soccer ball with my right foot. But I’m left handed.
Right-handed… Left foot forward for straight downhills
Right handed, left foot forward, have always ridden skateboards and snowboards goofy.
Generally left foot forward with right handedness. Strangely I now ride right foot forward after exploding my humeral head and tearing my rotator cuff. Seems to help compensate for a lack of strength on that side a bit.
Right foot forward 80% of the time. I force myself into the uncomfortable position of left foot forward every once in a while on easier terrain, for the just incase moment I have to have it forward on less than ideal terrain.
Depends on the corner. If I am turning right; right foot back, if I am turning left; left foot back.