Conference noted::bicycle

    I have the opposite problem. I'm a southpaw and the condition pervades
    itself even into the legs. This is condition has become even more
    noticable as the result of an accident I had 2 years ago. So what
    if one leg is dominant? They're still part of a unified individual.
    They will both arrive at their destination at the same time.
    
    BTW, you might be a closet southpaw and not realize it. Most
    right-handed people I know take their RIGHT foot out of the pedal
    to support themselves.
    
    Stand up for the rights of lefts
    
    GS

>    BTW, you might be a closet southpaw and not realize it. Most
>    right-handed people I know take their RIGHT foot out of the pedal
>    to support themselves.

I thought that most people put their left foot down.  I do.

Some reasons:
    The middle of the road is higher than the outside.  It's easier to 
    reach the ground.

    Keeping your right foot in the pedal keeps your leg from getting greasy.

    Everyone is used to getting onto a horse from the left.
    (Not as important these days.)


-Jeff

< Note 1004.0 by CESARE::JOHNSON "Wanted to be an astronaut, but settled for space cadet." >
                             -< Right-Leggedness >-

I've noticed the same thing, and in the interest of having a balanced 
musculature, which I think is very important, I do legs extensions and curls 
one-legged, and one-legged drills while riding a trainer.  These drills have 
made me aware of the bad parts of my pedal stroke and have allowed me to fix 
them.  Hopefully these things will lead to improved performance...

Kevin

	I'm right handed (though sometimes it just depends who I'm 
with :-^)) but have developed a stronger left leg due to right knee 
injuries (favored it).  Over the last year I have found that running 
has evened things up quite a bit, running seems to REQUIRE a more 
balanced output from each leg, its the right leg that gets any 
soreness, cramps, tendonitis, etc.

	During the year of increased amounts of running and decreased
amounts of cycling I have found that in the little cycling I have done
I have been able to climb and sprint better, though I have lost some 
capacity for distance.  I attribute this mostly to the cross training 
benefit of running, particularly the  "evening up"  effect.  The bike  
"lets me"  favor one leg.

	re  Putting a foot down when stopping..... <Oh, never mind>

	Reg

    RE: .4
    
    Interesting.  This is the first year that I HAVEN'T run a lot.
    Maybe this is a latent imbalance that never had a chance to 
    appear before.   It's as good a reason as any to resume running.
 
>   
>    	re  Putting a foot down when stopping..... <Oh, never mind>
>

    I know, I know, but my track stand is terrible!  Someday....

    MATT
    
    PS - I got my Italian racing license tonight.  (I'm riding for a
    pizzeria called "La Lanterna".)  First criterium is Saturday.  I'll 
    have a full report next week.

    Other than the normal difference in size that is dictated by right
    or left dominance the only other thing is to practice, practice,
    practice on your technique. Then pay attention, and more attention
    and more attention as you go. During the winter I find it very easy
    to work on my technique on the trainer. There is also the issue
    around one side developing easier and better than the other. It's
    a tough one. I wouldn't worry too much unless you've got a trwee
    trunk on one side and a pencil on the other. The strong side will
    eventually weaken during workouts and automatically rely/kick in
    the "rested side."
    
    Chip

    Read about a training aid called Spin Coach which essentially which
    essentially lets you rest one leg on a stirrup or platform while 
    pedaling the bike (mounted on a trainer) one-legged.  There might be
    something in the Triathlon conference.

re  < Note 1004.7 by 16611::TAKAHASHI "I was a teenage whirling dervish" >
                                -< Spin Coach? >-


>    Read about a training aid called Spin Coach which essentially which
>    essentially lets you rest one leg on a stirrup or platform while 
>    pedaling the bike (mounted on a trainer) one-legged.  There might be
>    something in the Triathlon conference.

	Oh, there's no problem when "concentrating" on it.  Just ride
10 or 20 miles on the weak leg every so often, leave the strong one 
out of the clip - just hanging down.  No, the trouble is at the 
subconscious level - for me anyway.  Same with weight work, I can 
build up the weak leg OK, but I favor the one I injured.

	R

    I have a very similar problem, again, due to a knee injury. I went to
    an orthopedic surgeon a couple of years ago who assessed my previous
    injury: no bone or cartiledge damage but reduced strength (30% less for
    the quad) and slightly reduced bulk (5%). He had me go to physical
    therapy for a couple of months. They had me exercise THE WEAK LEG ONLY.
    After some outpatient therapy which included work on one of those "knee
    machines", I was on my own.  
    
    Now I do leg extensions while on my back (straight leg and bent) and
    extensions over some support (I use the arm of a sofa) -- all with
    weigths, 2 lbs. to start, working up to 5 or more. Also I do "steps" --
    raising onto, and lowering myself from, a 12" step. Also, I've just
    improvised -- anything which works the muscles around the knee seems to
    help. Join a Nautilus club or get a weight machine if you're really
    serious. The important thing is to isolate and exercise only the
    affected leg -- I was told that I would always have to do exercises --
    daily -- if I wanted to keep the bad leg as strong as the good. I admit
    that I haven't kept up to the daily routine but still have had good
    results doing the exercises several days a week.
    
    Another thing which I've found helpful is to use some kind a training
    machine, in my case, a MagTurbo. It offers significant resistance that
    is better than road riding for this purpose because, unlike road
    riding, you can't coast, not even the slightest little bit, without
    HEARING the wheels slow down. That audible cue is very helpful. You
    have to be pushing, though: if you're just spinning it won't help. I've
    also had luck mixing in a little running but found that when I was
    running exclusively (not cycling) I was still favoring the leg -- only
    in a different way. 
    
    On a long ride (over 35 miles for me), the strong leg eventually wears
    out and the weak leg takes over but it is not always practical to go
    for a such a long ride.
    
    When all is said and done, though, only one thing really works -- ride,
    ride, ride ... lots.

    I guess I will use this note for my first input to BICYCLE.  I have
    been a bike rider ever since way, way, way back.  First one was a
    Hartford, 26" wheels with balloon tires, horn tank, two top tubes 
    (between which the horn tank was mounted), fenders, chain guard, rear
    luggage carier, rear wheel stand etc etc etc.  Weighed a ton also.
    Was off the bike for quite a few years and at about 25 yrs of age,
    was a late bloomer, found myself in Japan with the U. S. Army and in
    need of personal transportation.  Bought a second or third or fourth
    hand lightweight single speed with caliper brakes and nothing else
    save wheels, tyres, handlebars, only bare essentials.  I figured
    since I had been an avid bike rider long after my peers had all gone
    to cars that I would have no problems going anywhere the bike would
    take me.  This was true up to a point. I am now leading into the
    reason for putting this story in "right leggedness".  Took the dull
    black monster, which actually rode very nicely, out for a first long
    ride of several hours around this strange new countryside.  After a
    while I came to a reasonably steep hill.  No problem, stand up on
    the pedals and ascend the hill, which is exactly what I proceeded to
    do.  About half way up I heard a soft but strange sound overtaking me.
    Then came the shock of a lifetime.  An ancient Japanese man, small,
    wirey, passed me like I was standing still.  HE HAD BUT ONE LEG! He
    was ratcheting his way along pushing the left pedal down with his one
    left foot, and then pulling it back up again with the same foot and
    pushing down again.  Was too shocked to look at how he pulled the pedal
    up.  In retrospect I would doubt that he had a toe strap, but it would
    have helped a lot.  I FELT LIKE TAKING MY BIKE AND CHUCKING IT IN THE
    NEAREST DITCH!  Needless to say I didn't as I'm still riding and
    reading this notesfile. 
    
    I think that the prescription should be quite obvious for building up
    a weak leg. Remove the pedal from the strong side, install a toe clip,
    on the remaining side and ride, ride, ride.  
    
    By the way, I am looking at a winter project of building a frame. Will
    cover this process in another topic if and when I do it.
    
    Bill