And if you’re comfortable leading with either foot, did you start out like that or did you consciously practise being ambidextrous?

Like to lead with right but forcing myself to lead with my left about half the time ‘co of a slight left knee injury that seems to have been slightly inflamed by holding the same position/angle on the downs… but prefer/revert to right lead on the more technical stuff… so I guess consciously trying to be ambifootrous!

Strongly left forward. Right lead helps with left switchbacks. Otherwise left forward works for me.

Left foot forward for me, spin clockwise.

Mainly both tbh but have started to try out a bit of going with my right foot first 😀 and so far so good!

when i ride pedals level(straight on sections) i ride right foot first. i can ride with either foot forward but right is most natural

Left foot forward, right feels very weird. Then again, so do right hand corners 😕

Goofy here

If I think about it, left foot forward, but I’ll catch myself riding the other way round and then immediately crash.

Goofy

Depends where I’ve come from and where I’m going.

Left.

Your preferred forward foot is known as your “chocolate foot” in trials terms at least. it’s the one you rely on to crank with most power to get you over stuff.
But you should be just as happy with either foot forward for trail riding as you need to put one or other forward to negotiate tight switchbacks proficiently. (outside pedal forward coming in and dropping to bottom as you make the turn) This should be a natural reflex action, so it makes sense to practise it.

Interesting! I ride right foot forward but as I’ve broken that ankle I thought I’d work on getting comfortable with left foot forwards so I can switch (once I’m allowed back on the bike!)

I also ride horses and when they’re green they always canter on one lead and you have to teach them to do the other – as with MTBing it doesn’t matter in a straight line but the horse is much more balanced on the correct lead in a corner (although you also practise counter canter so it’s not completely hopeless when you get it the wrong way round). If you watch show jumping you’ll see that they constantly change lead, sometimes with a flying change (where the horse rearranges its legs during the moment of suspension midstride) or they’ll take off for a jump on one lead and land on the other.

I’m right handed and footed but ride left foot forward. When I practice RFF it feels awkward but I still get down stuff……..just!

Right foot forward for me. Which has led over the years to trashing numerous Octalink and square taper bottom brackets.

I can do either but left by default… Used to be right but a lot of my reflexes got messed up when I mashed my right leg and now the left seems to be dominant, weird.

Both, depends which way the trail is turning…

Tend to descend right foot forward, which is a little bizarre as I’m an out an out lefty for everything else in the world!

Whichever is needed for corner but left is usually the default. Odd, as my right let is much stronger.

Cheifgrooveguru – that’s genuinely interesting!

I’m LFF by default, but every now and then I try RFF and it feels weird…

Left foot on the straights, weight the outside pedal for corners, inside foot back on switchbacks. Spent a while conciously dialing it in, but do it all the time without thinking now.

I lead with my chin 8)

Right with pedals level.

Left, I have tried RFF for left turns but it doesn’t help so stick to left, possibly more practice needed to really get the benefit but same goes for wheelies, manuals and jumping, just not enough time.

Right foot forward for me. Which has led over the years to trashing numerous Octalink and square taper bottom brackets.

How so?

Left here as well, on non-technical downhills recently I’ve been trying right but it feels odd, but think it will be useful to be able to switch.

In a corner your outside foot should be down, as I learned at the weekend….. 🙂
And it does work.

But you should be just as happy with either foot forward for trail riding as you need to put one or other forward to negotiate tight switchbacks proficiently. (outside pedal forward coming in and dropping to bottom as you make the turn) This should be a natural reflex action, so it makes sense to practise it.

100% what he said ^ ^

In a corner your outside foot should be down

Correct, but (if we’re talking tight corners/switchbacks) ideally your outside foot should be FORWARD before it goes down, so as to set your hips facing into the corner and encouraging you to look for the exit. It all helps.

took the words out of my mouth peterproddy 🙂