continued from Clipless Pedals (1)
Traditional Flat Pedals
During my whole 'cycling career' I never gave much thought to my pedals. In the 1970's nearly all bicycles like touring, bonanza, and BMX bicycles had roughly the same flat pedals with some minor variations in shapes and material.
When I rediscovered cycling a few years ago, I did not see the need to change my alloy-made platform pedals; they had toothed edges which were suitable for different shoes. I rode on my mountain bike, which I converted later to a road bike, for many thousands of kilometers, all with the same pedals. They were light and fit for every job ranging from city to touring cycling and everything in between.
After 'upgrading' to my road bike, I just swapped these Mountain Bike flat pedals over to my new ride. At first, the new bike felt great and my average speed increased 'naturally' from the switch. But after some months I hit a 'performance wall'! I was overtaken by many professional-looking riders, noticeable by their 'clipless pedals' and the matching cycling shoes.
Some might wonder why they are called 'clipless pedals'. Since the beginning of the cycling race dawn, riders mounted toe clips on the front of the pedals, in which they fixed their shoes with leather straps, one for each pedal.
But only after the success of Bernard Hinault at the Tour de France in 1985, riders did discard the (toe) clips and used a 'clipless' system with a mechanism incorporated into the pedal; controlled (stepped in/stepped out) by a plastic cleat mounted under the sole of the shoe. I do not know if Paul Simon meant cleats when he wrote the song 'Diamonds on the Sole of Her Shoes', released on his Graceland album in 1986. But to differentiate these new pedals from the traditional straps they were named 'clipless pedals' - pedals without toe-clips.
The 'Need' for Clipless Pedals
Considering my own 'speed barrier', I've remembered some old bike shoes I bought on sale some years ago. To cut my costs I've opted for a pair of Taiwan-branded but Look-licensed alloy pedals which came with the cleats. I've mounted the cleats on the sole and the clipless pedals on my cranks and started to research 'how to use them'.
Checking out several videos I've decided to clip in and clip out only on one side for simplicity. My 'stronger' right foot stays in the pedal while the 'weaker' left was clicking out and supporting me and my bike during a halt. My idea is that I would start with the right leg to give the whole bike some momentum and time to clip the weaker left foot into the pedal. After some 'mishaps', I still use the same 'tactics' today. Habits are hard to change...
Power transfer
Clicked in properly, the pedals can not only be pushed downwards but also pulled upwards - on the flats, uphill, and downhill. As long as the cleats are o.k., the power transformation of your legs to the pedal is amazing. Even if you would point your toes downwards, you would not slip from the pedals!
With some practice, the kick with the heel to step out of the cleat goes quite quickly. These movements work also 'in critical conditions' (e. g. chain jumping accidentally from a bigger rear cog to a smaller rear cog during a steep hill) well enough to avoid falling with the bike on the floor.
Comfort
The term comfort might seem a little too much to a novice trying out clipless pedals for the first time. There is too much thinking and worrying going on, watching the traffic, trying to remember how to clip in and when to clip out while paying attention to traffic signs and traffic lights, etc. It might seem too much to enjoy the first few rides with clipless pedals. This might be too much for thinking about clipless pedals - and riders prefer not using them.
By comfort, I mean actually 'pedal comfort'. With flat pedals, you have to balance your feet on them permanently, if you are sitting and standing, on flats, or up and down a mountain. When you don't balance, you might slip off the flat pedal and endanger yourself and the people around you.
But with your feet fixed on the pedal, you can use your whole energy from your body, arms, and legs - regardless if you push or pull your clipless pedals. You don't have to worry about weakening your pedal stroke, actually, you don't have to think about your feet at all. I would call this the 'comfort' of pedaling, the 'comfort' of being fixed on your pedals and connected to your bike.
Cleats
Depending on how much or far you ride, the plastic parts or cleats beneath your shoes would finally feel loose in the pedal. They even wear faster when you walk often with them. There are covers you can slip on the cleats to protect them but I find them too troublesome to carry, slip on and slip off. So I have to be replaced my cleats quite often.
They are made of plastic, are fixed with three screws on the sole, and can be replaced quite easily. Before a longer ride, I would check the cleats because on the road they would be expensive - if I could find a shop carrying them at all!
I am using a popular brand, the cleats are nearly available everywhere and cheap. When I can buy them at a lower price, I stock some of them at home in case I need them.
Using Clipless Pedals
I have to admit that, at first, I was not very fond of using clipless pedals at all. But walking through a sports shop I've discovered a pair of cycling shoes on sale. They were so cheap that I decided to buy them without hesitation. I've stored them somewhere and did not use them for a while.
To improve my speed I've started experimenting with narrow tires, higher air pressure, a lower bike position, etc. But all did not help me to improve substantially. Suddenly, I remembered the already dusty bike shoes and hunted down some cheap Taiwan-made clipless pedals, patented from a French manufacturer. After mounting the pedals and clips, I rode my bike on a familiar route and was astonished that my average speed improved by around 10% right from the start!
I have to admit it took some learning curve and time to confidently use clipless pedals on public roads. But after I've mastered the mechanics of clipping in and clipping out, I've never looked back, especially on my racing bike. My feet are locked on the pedals, I can use all of the power I have and do not have to worry if I would slip from the pedals. The pedals are not only pushed downwards but also pulled upwards which leads to much smoother or rounder pedal strokes.
Before coming to a halt it became a 'natural' to clip out. I do this only on my weaker left foot and seldom click out with my stronger right foot on a shorter stop. I start with my stronger leg to get momentum and after some moments, I click into the left pedal. After a while I do not even look down to clip in or clip out, it became a smooth movement as an extension of my body.
On tours, I don't leave home without clipless pedals. The shoes (with the cleats) are inconvenient to walk with the cleats and people might look at you funny or strange moving in them. But the advantages of clipless pedals far outweigh these disadvantages. I've invested even in more comfortable neon yellow-colored shoes and later moved up from alloy to clipless pedals.
Everyone should give clipless pedals at least a chance. They make your pedal strokes smoother and therefore more efficient, like the pros on TV. There is a learning curve but when a novice pays attention to some details, the problems with clipless pedals are not difficult to conquer.
Speed Improvement
My average speed during my first ride increased by 3 kilometers or roughly 20% per hour on the same bike right from the first ride! I would even say that all my major speed improvements could be traced back to the clipless pedals. From my first alloy-made pedals, I progressed to a pair made of carbon, lighter and even easier to use.
Conclusion
After some time experiencing the advantage of clipless pedals on my racing bike, I will never look back. I've tried to sell my old alloy pedals but I not succeed; so I use them on my city bike...
Shorts
+Plus:
+ Improvement in comfort
+ Increase in pedal efficiency and subsequently speed
- Minus:
- learning curve
- a higher price for shoes, cleats, and clipless pedals - alone or as a system
I encourage everyone to try clipless pedals, they offer much more advantages than disadvantages. Don't be encouraged by the learning curve - it's worth using them, especially on longer rides.
Ride carefully,
Gerhard
I bought all the shoes and pedals by myself, I am not endorsed by anyone and therefore free in mind and spirit. Subscribers and/or followers are more than welcome!
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