Do clip pedals make riding harder or easier?
#101
Why is it so hard for all the clipless fans out there to accept the fact that "some" people are just comfortable and have a preference for platform pedals and regular shoes ?. This whole argument against platform pedals being unsuitable for longer distances is just complete BS...I am not disputing or debating that clipless may have some slight performance benefits when racing or doing competitive type of riding, that's fine and I can accept that. I am just not interested in them that's all, like I said before I just prefer to be able to hop on my bike with whatever shoes I decide to wear that day and go for a ride without having to put on special type of shoes. Why can't people just accept that ?.
#102
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Just purely curious, are there studies or researches that demonstrate that clipless pedals are in fact more efficient (e.g. generate more power) than platform pedals in a statistically significant way? I've watched a few YouTube videos where they make the comparison and conclude that the advantage of the clipless system is minimal if it does exist in terms of efficiency.
#103
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You can't bunny-hop obstacles with platform pedals.
#105
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#109
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#111
The bike makes a difference. A BMX bike is easy. My Surly LHT not so much, but it can be done. My old Ross Mt. Rainier was pretty easy with the original bars, with the albatross bars it currently sports, it's not as easy, but can be done.
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#113
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I've found that hopping over road hazards like pot holes is a preferred alternative to riding thought them, if going around isn't practical or safe. It's also a valuable skill for riding in the dirt.
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When I have a pothole in front of me I just unweigh the front wheel and lift the front wheel by shifting my weight backwards and ride over it and do the same with the rear wheel, easily done with grippy MTB style platform pedals, i do exact same thing when riding over a log or a rock when riding singlestrack trails i don't need clipless pedals just to be able to ride over obstacles.
#116
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Yes, clip pedals are more efficient, but I am wondering which is the better workout…..
- Clip pedals which allow more work, but reduce total riding time for a given distance
- Flat pedals, which allow for half work, and therefore a longer ride, for a given distance.
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When I have a pothole in front of me I just unweigh the front wheel and lift the front wheel by shifting my weight backwards and ride over it and do the same with the rear wheel, easily done with grippy MTB style platform pedals, i do exact same thing when riding over a log or a rock when riding singlestrack trails i don't need clipless pedals just to be able to ride over obstacles.
At 20+mph on the road, I've found that hopping the whole bike at the same time works well for clearing most holes that I encounter. Being connected to the pedals makes that maneuver easier and more controlled for me. There are many reason why I prefer being on clipless pedals. This is just one of them.
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Seems like the advantages in clipless come in during a sprint or out of the saddle climbs. (And bunny hopping for the average Joe)
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#120
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When I have a pothole in front of me I just unweigh the front wheel and lift the front wheel by shifting my weight backwards and ride over it and do the same with the rear wheel, easily done with grippy MTB style platform pedals, i do exact same thing when riding over a log or a rock when riding singlestrack trails i don't need clipless pedals just to be able to ride over obstacles.
Clipless pedals help one bunny hop in the same way that bumpers help one learn how to bowl and training wheels help one learn how to ride a bike. You’re better off without them if you want to do it right, until you master it that is.
to answer the thread, clipless pedals allow you to go 100% and really sprint. Like when running going fully all out. Honestly though lots of people don’t bother doing this, I rarely ever do. Riding all out balls to the wall is inefficient and hard lol.
also someone link that video in Brazil of the dude drafting a truck at like 75 mph and bunny hopping over bumps.
Last edited by LarrySellerz; 05-19-23 at 02:58 PM.
#121
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When I have a pothole in front of me I just unweigh the front wheel and lift the front wheel by shifting my weight backwards and ride over it and do the same with the rear wheel, easily done with grippy MTB style platform pedals, i do exact same thing when riding over a log or a rock when riding singlestrack trails
I think you are confused.
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#123
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I miss being attached...
... to pedals. Back in the olden days when dinosaurs roamed the earth and I started cycling the shoes had cleats and straps, you put your foot in, tightened the straps en-route. When it was time to dismount you quickly released the strap by hand, your foot wouldn't come out otherwise. Every now and then you would start to lean in the wrong direction with predictable results.
Now imagine commuting and/or living car free, unclipping every light. Sometimes I wore shoes without cleats and just relied on the straps. It's worth mentioning that walking with cleats was awkward.
Then I went to school and when I graduated I moved to a more crowded city. I was tired of the risk of riding in traffic, and got a "lifecycle" to "ride" at home, and also went to the gym.
When I got back into riding a road bike again clipless pedals were invented. You could adjust the degree of float. I rode recreationally for a few more years. Between doing one-rep max leg presses and (I'm guessing) riding clipped in, my knees were shot. I had some orthopedic operations (shoulder and knee) culminating in a store bought knee.
It's been a tough road back but I'm back in the saddle. I'm 65ish but I think my skeleton is older. I ride more upright and with a different purpose. When I was going through trying to fit and be comfortable on my bikes I noticed my right foot points out at an extreme angle. It always did but I forced it to work in a more "normal" angle, which I think I should not have done. I also increased my "Q" factor with pedal extensions. This not only is more comfortable to me but it helps keep my heel from hitting the chainstay.
I use platform pedals and let my feet do what they want, I think this is better for my knees. I miss not being able to pull up, I used to use my whole body cycling and actually had 6pack abs! I've noticed though that since riding regularly my core is stronger. I don't pull up on the pedals but I do lift my leg to unweight the pedal on the upstroke side.
I've been thinking of getting the stirrups, or a strap, I've seen those at the LBS. I have ridden in the past a MTB that had straps on the pedal at an angle and they would tighten when you straightened your foot. The straps that I see are just wide straps. I think the toeclip strap method would still let my feet float freely while keeping my foot on the pedal and helping with pedaling.
I don't know if anyone else has any experience or suggestions, I thought about starting a thread.
Anyway, to me there's a difference between platform riding, stirrups, and being clipped in. I don't even know if I'm using the proper terminology. There's a difference to me though, but my priority is to ride in some fashion and not get injuries. I'm actually just now, after starting and stopping, feeling natural riding upright not clipped in somehow.
Feels good man . . .
Now imagine commuting and/or living car free, unclipping every light. Sometimes I wore shoes without cleats and just relied on the straps. It's worth mentioning that walking with cleats was awkward.
Then I went to school and when I graduated I moved to a more crowded city. I was tired of the risk of riding in traffic, and got a "lifecycle" to "ride" at home, and also went to the gym.
When I got back into riding a road bike again clipless pedals were invented. You could adjust the degree of float. I rode recreationally for a few more years. Between doing one-rep max leg presses and (I'm guessing) riding clipped in, my knees were shot. I had some orthopedic operations (shoulder and knee) culminating in a store bought knee.
It's been a tough road back but I'm back in the saddle. I'm 65ish but I think my skeleton is older. I ride more upright and with a different purpose. When I was going through trying to fit and be comfortable on my bikes I noticed my right foot points out at an extreme angle. It always did but I forced it to work in a more "normal" angle, which I think I should not have done. I also increased my "Q" factor with pedal extensions. This not only is more comfortable to me but it helps keep my heel from hitting the chainstay.
I use platform pedals and let my feet do what they want, I think this is better for my knees. I miss not being able to pull up, I used to use my whole body cycling and actually had 6pack abs! I've noticed though that since riding regularly my core is stronger. I don't pull up on the pedals but I do lift my leg to unweight the pedal on the upstroke side.
I've been thinking of getting the stirrups, or a strap, I've seen those at the LBS. I have ridden in the past a MTB that had straps on the pedal at an angle and they would tighten when you straightened your foot. The straps that I see are just wide straps. I think the toeclip strap method would still let my feet float freely while keeping my foot on the pedal and helping with pedaling.
I don't know if anyone else has any experience or suggestions, I thought about starting a thread.
Anyway, to me there's a difference between platform riding, stirrups, and being clipped in. I don't even know if I'm using the proper terminology. There's a difference to me though, but my priority is to ride in some fashion and not get injuries. I'm actually just now, after starting and stopping, feeling natural riding upright not clipped in somehow.
Feels good man . . .
#124
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To keep your feet firmly in the optimum position on the pedals, with no risk of slipping off.
The pulling up is a big floppy red herring. The best you can do there is unweight your leg on the upstroke to reduce the negative torque from its own weight on the pedal. Not even pro cyclists generate any significant positive torque on their upstroke.
.
The pulling up is a big floppy red herring. The best you can do there is unweight your leg on the upstroke to reduce the negative torque from its own weight on the pedal. Not even pro cyclists generate any significant positive torque on their upstroke.
.
This was a long time ago. Now I have flabs. Kind of ab shaped but mushy.
Oh well, so goes life.
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#125
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