Every rider is, in fact, only connected by three parts to the bike: the hands, the bottom, and the feet - that's it! They play an important role in the safety, comfort, and efficiency of the bike; they determine the endurance and speed. Previously I've covered the handlebar and the saddle, now I want to continue with the pedals.
'Laufmaschine' or 'Dandy Horse' - no pedals
The granddaddy of all bicycles was the 'dandy horse' or the 'running machine', in German 'Laufmaschine'. It is a two-wheeled human-powered vehicle invented by the German Karl Freiherr von Drais (1785-1851). It was basically made of a beam with an attached fixed rear wheel and a steerable front wheel. There were no pedals, the 'rider' was sitting in between and above the wheels and had to push the running machine with his legs from the ground forward - much like a push-bike for today's kids.
Boneshaker and Penny-Farthing Bicycle with Pedals on the Hub
It is unclear who attached the first pedals directly onto the front-wheel hub but in 1886 these bicycles were widely popular.
- From around 1869 the Boneshaker (or bone-shaker) had a similar frame design as the wooden Dandy Horse but added pedals mounted on the front hub.
- In the early 1860s French blacksmith Pierre Michaux (1813–1883) used two pieces of cast iron instead of the wooden frame and started mass production of the 'velocipede', still with pedals on the front wheel.
- The improvement in speed did not come with gearing but a more giant front wheel. These bikes are known as Penny-farthing bicycles in the 1870s and 1880s. They used the same pedals mounted on the front hub and were not only dangerous to get on but also because of the rider's high position above the ground and their difficult braking. Women could not ride on them; a three-wheeled bicycle for ladies became popular but did not catch up with the masses.
Rover safety bicycle
The introduction of the Rover safety bicycle ended the era of the 'dangerous' high-wheelers in 1885. English inventor and industrialist John Kemp Starley (1854–1901) developed a bicycle with identically two-sized wheels based on a diamond (or double-triangle) fame; the rear wheel was driven by pedals mounted on a crank in the center of the frame (not in the hub of the wheel) through a chain. This genius invention can still be admired in today's bicycles.
Chainwheel & Pedals
Would the pedals not have been moved into the center of the bike there would be no crankset with pedals. In the beginning, these pedals were simply flat; to be more efficient races mounted cages (or clips) with straps on them. Unfortunately, they were not easy to fiddle in and out. These pedals are still available today - especially the fixed gear scene finds them cool.
In 1895 the 'clip-less pedal' (a clip-in pedal without a cage and strap) was invented by Charles Hanson - but not widely received.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Italian companies Cinelli and Campagnolo, and French Look launched the first clip-less modern pedals. Cleats mounted under the soles of the shoes have to be pushed into the pedal; an outward kick with the heel releases the tension and therefore the shoe. With the first win of the French Bernard Hinault with clipless Look pedals at the Tour de France (1985) came the breakthrough and acceptance by professionals and ambitious amateurs alike.
Today, several companies are offering clipless pedal systems; licensees offer their own pedals using the same cleat as the big brands. There are also alternatives like Shimano, Speedplay, Crankbrothers, etc. supporting their own system (cleats, pedals, hardware). The cleats are not (!) interchangeable between systems and might add a lot of costs over the period of a long time.
The 'right' clipless pedals
It is worth checking out the different systems to make sure that you pick the right one for you and your needs.
- Road bike plastic cleats are on the outside of the shoe sole, feel awkward to walk with, and have to be replaced when they can't be clicked into the road pedals.
- Mountain bike shoes have recessed nuts and the cleats are integrated into the sole, therefore easier to walk off the bike. Mountain bikers have to dismount on steeper hills and push their bikes uphill through rocks, loose ground, and even mud - they need the traction of the sole. The same system lets you, of course, walk more naturally through a supermarket or a cafe. The shoes are heavier than road shoes but you can use the metal cleat longer...
Costs
For clipless pedals, you need specific shoes with threads for the cleats in the sole; they vary in material, quality, and price. Be aware that these shoes will add significantly to the total price of the shoes/pedals system. Licensed to other, mostly Far Eastern manufacturers, these clipless pedals and cleats could reduce the overall price.
(to be continued @ Clipless Pedals - Why do I use them on my Racing Bicycle (2)?
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