Which foot do you use??

[Packer]

Ummmm, I think I understood what I was being taught - I did pass the test 1st time and the IAM guys were happy with my riding from an early stage.

I have not ridden with IAM group socially ( as opposed to being tutored) before test or since, partly because of time and work constraints, partly because I prefer to ride on my own and partly because I found them dull.

My riding definitely does NOT require any danger - despite my desire for experience and adventure, I have a wife, 2 lovely daughters and satisfying career. And in my line of business I do see the effects of unskilled fast riding.
I do enjoy skilled, controlled advanced riding and agree it is often faster:- but dear God, if we both meet for a day, please treat me as an adult (with 27 years riding, no accidents, clean licence and 12,000 miles p.a.) rather than a naughty kindergarden kid!!!!

I also have a wife and two daughters plus a son, all of whom are wonderful. If you promise not to behave like a naughty kindergarten kid I promise not to treat you as one!

My wife, as an ex operating theatre nurse, has some ghastly horror stories of putting broken bikers back together and this stays in my mind when I'm riding even if I am riding to the edge of my envelope.

As a matter of interest what is your line of business?

One of these days we may just meet at a GSER event and I'm looking forward to it. If my post suggested that I was being patronising to anyone it wasn't intentional.

Ohh by the way, I have only managed around 10,000 miles a year since coming back to the fold in 2003. Too much work and commitent to family

 

[Flipfly]

Perhaps your friend was at the stage where confidence and balance dictate putting both feet down as a matter of prudence. I believe that they also teach beginners to ride around one third of the way from the gutter towards the white line of any given lane but as we all progress through experience and training we learn to command our lane and ride further out into the road as well as stopping confidently with just our one chosen foot on the ground for support.

I'd agree with you except for the fact that trying to put both feet on the ground meant that there was no foot firmly planted on the ground!!!

With one foot on the deck there would be far more stability than two on tippy toes!!!

I may be big, but I also have no desire to slide down the road. My riding is something I try perfect, with the intention of staying on and enjoying it until I'm old.

I have the training, but I suppose I'm a lesser rider because I choose not to get tested to someones perception of what's right or wrong. I'll stick to roadcraft and assessing my own riding

 

[HORIZONTALLY OPPOSED]

Shuffle off the thread please

I'd agree with you except for the fact that trying to put both feet on the ground meant that there was no foot firmly planted on the ground!!!

With one foot on the deck there would be far more stability than two on tippy toes!!!

I may be big, but I also have no desire to slide down the road. My riding is something I try perfect, with the intention of staying on and enjoying it until I'm old.

I have the training, but I suppose I'm a lesser rider because I choose not to get tested to someones perception of what's right or wrong. I'll stick to roadcraft and assessing my own riding

In all seriousness does it really matter which foot at what time, in gear at a stop ,out of gear at a stop, left foot, right foot. Most accidents will be on the move at 20mph plus would have thought technique at these speeds more important, quite bored with the thread now. Better topic how to deal with bends at high speeds positioning etc, accident statistics will probably point to the fact a great many riders don't have clue, not relevent to me of course .

 

[bladerunner]

If you promise not to behave like a naughty kindergarten kid I promise not to treat you as one!

Deal!!!

 

[bladerunner]

As a matter of interest what is your line of business?

D

Surgeon!

So yes I do know what happens with a high speed flesh tarmac interface situation! And I am very determined to avoid it.


I don't mean to "dis" groups like the IAM, and it is a voluntary additional qualification after all, for which I was happy to pay. However, there was something missing from their approach in my view - the unfettered joy of wind rush, clear sky, rolling roads, beautiful scenery and yes, adrenalin rush of scraping metal!


Cheers

Simon

If we do meet, (and we are not riding back!) first beer's on me!!

 

[Packer]

Cheers

Simon

If we do meet, (and we are not riding back!) first beer's on me!!

Now there is a statement that I can't find any reason to debate. Gladly accepted.

Kevan

 

[Loiq]

"Which foot do you use!"

which ever foot is not in my mouth at the time.

 

[Yoda]

As I have six screws holding my lower spine together, experience has shown that I need to be very careful about loading one side or the other.

So I do both feet down - which probably makes me a social pariah, but for me is the safest option.

Snick it into first as I slow down and, once stopped, I'll only use neutral if I can see I'm going to be there for some time and there are at least two vehicles already stopped behind so I won't have to make an emergency dive to one side to avoid a rear-end shunt.

Just my 2c.

 

[Chunk]

Left or right?

I think do as you feel, I've been riding for 27 years and stop on my left or right, depends on the junction.
My favourite is to keep both feet up.
Move up to the junction slowly, check traffic, keeping both feet on pegs using what most of us have, balance, and move off.

Only a suggestion though!

 

[Dragon Master]

Both feet up

My favourite is to keep both feet up.
Move up to the junction slowly, check traffic, keeping both feet on pegs using what most of us have, balance, and move off.

Only a suggestion though!

Ahh..cheers, Chunk; glad I'm not the only one...

 

[yorkshire whippet]

depends on the situation and whichever foot you feel comfortable with. At the end of the day you should be concentrating on the road and whether you're going to stop or go not getting flummaxed or paranoid about which foot to use and how many shuffles this will cause. Personally I now go with right foot down - current Police school of thought.

regards

Rob

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

Good thread. When filtering, I come to a stop both feet up, both brakes on and then pause for 1-3 secs with neutral engaged before putting left foot down. If the lights turn, I can bang in first and off I go, If i need to stop, I'm there in neutral ready for back brake engaged left foot down. However, if the lights change quickly, the shuffle can be a liability. Sometimes I come to a stop as above in 1st, holding clutch in ready for the off. Lot's of advice and lots of situations to consider. Good thread.

 

[bowser]

Hendon quickstep

I see this thread is a little old now but what the hell, Having been through Hendon the original idea behind the shuffle was so that when stationary you always have at least one brake applied at times, and the back brake when possible, they used to do a demo where they would push the bike from behind so you could feel the difference between front - back - no brake or both and see the difference in control of the bike. However in these days of linked brakes I dont think that even Hendon are so hot on the shuffle any more.
I Have also heard recently that they are getting rid of servo brakes on the police BMs as the because the system requires the brake on all the time they are having real problems with servo's packing in.

So the real anwser is do what feels right for you !!!

 

[Tilly]

Right or left?

The Driving Standards Agency require you to place your left foot on the road and keep the right foot covering the rear brake whilst on their test.
I examine for RoSPA and really don't care which foot you put down as long as your happy and safe.
In a previous life (the old bill) I was taught to keep the right foot up and rest the clutch by selecting neutral when stopped. If on a hill, left foot down and covering the back brake.

 

[Tilly]

Sorry about the last - in a previous life I was taught to keep the left foot up whilst stationery (not right). Only kept the right foot up on the rear brake when holding the bike on a hill. (Must be old age, Mixing up left and right)

 

[FidoNick]

I think do as you feel, I've been riding for 27 years and stop on my left or right, depends on the junction.
My favourite is to keep both feet up.
Move up to the junction slowly, check traffic, keeping both feet on pegs using what most of us have, balance, and move off.

Only a suggestion though!

Balance? Hmmmm. That's the one I like, but even my car needs stabilizers

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

funnily enough, the thought of a bit of training had crossed my mind recently. the thought of some pedant telling me which foot to put down at junctions, does not encourage me.


...especially when his own organisation don't seem able to agree amongst themselves.

SPLITTERS!

'sactly

also remember that m/c brakes have come a very long way and if the surface is good you only realy need the front brake to stop - meaning you can drop down the gears for additional braking with the left foot and put the right foot down as you stop. - then flick it into neutral with the left foot still up.

no shuffling required

thats what i do - and i've managed for 30 odd years

 

[Summer]

Balance? Hmmmm. That's the one I like, but even my car needs stabilizers

As a rule on stoppin I use my left foot down, right foot in conjunction with right hand to break but the balance thing is something that I can do and do often and hold for several seconds if coming to a stop if knowin it is likely that I am likely to move off again pretty much straight away, would never just stop and see how long I can hold it and risk dropping the bike mind.

 

[karnevil]

IIRC It used to be taught that you did that ridiculous "Hendon Shffle"(Named after the guy who came up with the format) then held the bike on the back brake with the left foot down then you did the whole dumb set up again to set off.Now talking to an advanced trainer im told that.Slow down on both brakes(yeah right who does?),Come to a dead stop on fronts,hold bike -out of gear- on front brake ,hover left foot over gear selector until your path is clear.Less shuffling about and I fail to see what someones height has to do with he problem?('cos the camber is with you)

 

[luckylucian]

I always though it was called the Hendon Shuffle 'cos Police training college is in Hendon, but I could be wrong.