Resting your foot on the clutch?

NathanE · 24 Mar 2009 at 21:50

IMO the term "riding" came from the idiots bobbing back and forth at traffic lights... it mimics someone riding a horse.

Conscript · 24 Mar 2009 at 21:51

I have a habit of hovering my foot just on the clutch pedal when town driving. Not pressing it, but perhaps brushing it slightly....just enough that I can feel the pedal under my foot, but not enough to actually engage any mechanism. It's a habit I should break because its probably putting a lot of strain on my calves as well. I only really take my foot completely away from the clutch when cruising.

Lopéz · 24 Mar 2009 at 21:52

NathanE is correct

loltim · 24 Mar 2009 at 21:52

I only use the foot rest on motorways, everywhere else my foot is always resting on the clutch.

Not sure if it's just a bad habit or the fact i'm always changing gears to find the torkz!!1

asim18 · 24 Mar 2009 at 21:58

Right, thanks for all the replies, you've all been most helpful.

Oh, I was in 5th gear btw.

NathanE · 24 Mar 2009 at 21:59

Lopéz said:
NathanE is correct

The planets must be aligned or something...

Hxc · 24 Mar 2009 at 22:00

45~ is when I'd change into 5th in the corolla I learnt in, so it's likely you were just in an inappropriate gear.

In the mini it's slightly different, above 30mph and no rapid accelleration needed it's into 4th and stays that way up to 70

I could really do with a 5th for my daily dual carriageway runs!

asim18 · 24 Mar 2009 at 22:03

Hxc said:
so it's likely you were just in an inappropriate gear.

Yeah, maybe.

I was just worried I might have broken my instructors car.

Muncher · 24 Mar 2009 at 22:06

It's fine to do in the VX/Elise as due to the driving position your heel is on the carpet in any case. If there's not enough weight to engage the plate then there's no real problem.

NathanE · 24 Mar 2009 at 22:13

I use the foot rest Muncher, far more comfy to let that leg go all floppy

I sometimes do tap the clutch though to make my release bearing stop chirping like a budgie bird.

Muncher · 24 Mar 2009 at 22:19

NathanE said:
I use the foot rest Muncher, far more comfy to let that leg go all floppy

I sometimes do tap the clutch though to make my release bearing stop chirping like a budgie bird.

Yeah, for long periods I do, actually will have to check what I do at the weekend. The car has been away for 3weeks getting a sexy new exhaust made so looking forward to driving it again!

SlyReaper · 24 Mar 2009 at 22:20

Oh man, I hold the car on the clutch on hills all the time. Never occurred to me it was an idiotic thing to do.

NathanE · 24 Mar 2009 at 22:21

Custom exhaust? Is it 2bular?

loltim · 24 Mar 2009 at 22:22

Do not many people rest their foot on the clutch then? Not even when going through the gears pretty quickly?

Scania · 24 Mar 2009 at 22:24

Tim said:
Do not many people rest their foot on the clutch then? Not even when going through the gears pretty quickly?

No.

Janesy B · 24 Mar 2009 at 22:24

SlyReaper said:
Oh man, I hold the car on the clutch on hills all the time. Never occurred to me it was an idiotic thing to do.

I hope you are joking

NathanE · 24 Mar 2009 at 22:24

Tim said:
Do not many people rest their foot on the clutch then? Not even when going through the gears pretty quickly?

There is a difference between "resting the foot" and "preparing the foot" IMO

loltim · 24 Mar 2009 at 22:25

R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
No.

Fair enough. I wouldn't want to miss the clutch pedal changing gear at 9k rpm though, I like my foot in place ready.

Hxc · 24 Mar 2009 at 22:26

Tim said:
Do not many people rest their foot on the clutch then? Not even when going through the gears pretty quickly?

When accelerating from a standstill I do, but that's cause I'll be in 3rd in next to no time, although I suppose it's not exactly resting, but preparing as said.

I was told by my instructor it wasn't a major problem holding a car on hills with the clutch so long as it wasn't for long periods of time!

CliffyBiro · 24 Mar 2009 at 22:27

I've been taught by my instructor when on a hill at a junction or whatever, to but the handbrake on but put it in first and hold the clutch just under the biting point.

Is this ok to do?