Foot Position while Pedaling
02-27-09, 08:25 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Okanagan Valley, BC CANADA
Posts: 1,049
Bikes: Trek 7300FX, Lemond Sarthe
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Foot Position while Pedaling
Is there a preferred/best position for your foot to be in while pedaling? Or is it simply a matter of personal physiology/preference?
My foot usually points down a little bit through most of the power arc and I think it is flat as it rotates up. I've tried leading with the heel and pushing down with the foot through the power arc but this is very tiring and doesn't feel natural, at least to me.
Your foot position also influences your optimum saddle height, and because the seat tube isn't vertical, can affect the fore-aft position of the saddle.
My foot usually points down a little bit through most of the power arc and I think it is flat as it rotates up. I've tried leading with the heel and pushing down with the foot through the power arc but this is very tiring and doesn't feel natural, at least to me.
Your foot position also influences your optimum saddle height, and because the seat tube isn't vertical, can affect the fore-aft position of the saddle.
02-27-09, 08:42 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 103
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
no preferred position, do what comes naturally under high load. under high load you tend to drop heel more than at other times so your seat height should take that into account. some people drop heels (Eddy Merckx did) and some toe-dip like ballerinas and some are relatively flat. All good, if it feels good and does not cause injury.
02-28-09, 10:07 AM
#3
Senior Member
Making any special effort to change the natural foot angle while pedaling usually lowers pedaling efficiency. Having the heel anywhere from horizontal to raised 2-3cm is common.
A rough guideline for saddle height sets the foot horizontal with the leg fully extended at the bottom of the stroke. During normal pedaling, the bend at the knee should be around 30 degrees. A 2-3cm rise of the heel will create that bend in the knee, from that saddle height.
As for saddle height changing the fore/aft position, yes it does. If you raise the saddle 10mm, move it forward 3mm to restore the fore/aft position.
A rough guideline for saddle height sets the foot horizontal with the leg fully extended at the bottom of the stroke. During normal pedaling, the bend at the knee should be around 30 degrees. A 2-3cm rise of the heel will create that bend in the knee, from that saddle height.
As for saddle height changing the fore/aft position, yes it does. If you raise the saddle 10mm, move it forward 3mm to restore the fore/aft position.
02-28-09, 10:28 AM
#4
Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Delaware shore
Posts: 13,558
Bikes: Cervelo C5, Guru Photon, Waterford, Specialized CX
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1106 Post(s)
Liked 2,180 Times
in
1,470 Posts
