Pedals with float?

[pooks]

In another thread, this term came up.

What is?

Thanks!

[KnottedYet]

With cleated pedals (aka "clipless") it's how much wiggle room you have when you are clipped in. Some pedal systems will let you lock your foot into one spot (no float) and some won't lock you in at all (lots of float, like in Speedplay Frogs). There are a bazillion variations of float and you can adjust the tension and float on a lot of the pedals to exactly what you want.

I have Speedplay Frogs, and the lack of any tension and having tons of float makes my grumpy knee and hip very content. (no moving parts in the Frog system, and I love that kind of elegant engineering)

[SadieKate]

Wiggle room as in side to side movement of the heel without clipping out - no wiggle room vertically. The greater the float the farther you must swing your heel to the side to unclip.

Tension refers to how tightly the cleat is held in the pedal.

[BikeMomma]

With cleated pedals (aka "clipless") it's how much wiggle room you have when you are clipped in. Some pedal systems will let you lock your foot into one spot (no float) and some won't lock you in at all (lots of float, like in Speedplay Frogs). There are a bazillion variations of float and you can adjust the tension and float on a lot of the pedals to exactly what you want.

I have Speedplay Frogs, and the lack of any tension and having tons of float makes my grumpy knee and hip very content. (no moving parts in the Frog system, and I love that kind of elegant engineering)

Like she (and she) said. I'd just add that Speedplay also has the Speedplay Zero (road), which offers either option....float, no float, or you set it for just your own degree somewhere in the middle. What's also handy is that there is no "right side" -- you can clip in from either side, unlike others you have to flip up to clip in. I ride with the Zero's (titanium) on full float on my Fuji and really like them. I have the stainless steel ones on my Cannondale, which I mainly use on the trainer. I used to use Aerolites, which are fixed. Like the Speedplays, Aerolites have awesome clearance when cornering low.

Hope all that helps! Probably a bit too much info, but you can really never get enough in this sport.
~BikeMomma

[Kathi]

More information, with Speedplays there is no tension to adjust . You just make sure the cleats for the road pedals aren't screwed on too tight or you can't clip in. Also, it is very easy to clip out with Speedplays, slight twist of your foot, so easy I clipped out with an injured knee.

[pooks]

Kathi, the idea of clips is freaking me out, so your Speedplays sound good since they sound easy to escape from!

Does that work with mtb shoes?

ETA: Do the cleats come with the pedals?

[Kathi]

Kathi, the idea of clips is freaking me out, so your Speedplays sound good since they sound easy to escape from!

Does that work with mtb shoes?

ETA: Do the cleats come with the pedals?

Yes, but they're called Frogs, a little different system. The frog cleats are recessed so you can walk, you slide your foot into them. With the Speedplay road cleats basically you step down and clip onto them. It does take some getting used to but after a while it becomes second nature. If I'm unsure of a situation I unclip my left foot.

I learned by putting my bike on a bike trainer, in the LBS, and practiced clipping in and out. Then I went out on a bike trail that I was very familiar with and unclipped before I got to a road crossing. There were lots of crossing so I got a lot of practice.

You'll learn which foot you prefer to unclip first. I unclip with my left foot, put it on the ground and then unclip my right. To start pedaling, I clip in my right, start pedaling and then clip my left foot in.

I've only fallen 2x. Both were my own fault and very embarassing. One time I was on a bike ride and stopped at the sag stop. I just forgot to unclip and fell over in front of a group of people. The other time I fell I was trying to learn how to reverse my procedure. I clipped in with the left but when I tried to clip in my right foot it slipped and I fell. It was at a road crossing, the only traffic was a motorcyclist, he stopped to make sure I was ok.

At this point just get comfortable with riding and don't worry about clipless pedals. You'll know when your ready to try them.