Do clipless pedals make that much of a difference?

[staceysue]

Alright, you need your feet to be attached to your pedals. You don't wanna be going down a hill at 30 mph, and lose your pedals. It's really not safe... It gives you more control of the bike.

The other benefit of clips or attaching your feet to the pedals is that you pull back up on the pedal on the other half of your stroke - it's more efficient.



Now if you wanna use grips to hold your feet to the pedals or clips or bmx pedals or something like that... They work too. Just depends on what you're comfortable with... you also can't bunny hop without attaching your feet.

How would I lose my pedals?

I've gone down some hills at 28.5 mph since I got my bike. That's the fastest I've got up to. It was scary because I kept thinking about the crash stories that have been on here.

I will be bunny hopping?

Does using the clipless pedals make you much faster right away? What muscles end up getting worked out?

[Owlie]

How would I lose my pedals?

I've gone down some hills at 28.5 mph since I got my bike. That's the fastest I've got up to. It was scary because I kept thinking about the crash stories that have been on here.

I will be bunny hopping?

Does using the clipless pedals make you much faster right away? What muscles end up getting worked out?

Well, it's more likely your foot falls off the pedals. I'm thinking of going clipless for that reason. Scary. I imagine it would be nice trying to get started at stop signs and lights and stuff too (makes up for the unclipping, I guess).

[aeiea]

bah reposting my question in the text box.

Does clipless help or worsen patellofemoral syndrome (runner's knee)?

[papaver]

bah reposting my question in the text box.

Does clipless help or worsen patellofemoral syndrome (runner's knee)?

That depends on the type of clipless pedals. I think that Time clipless pedals are better if you have kneeproblems.

@OP what type of bike do you ride?

[staceysue]

@OP what type of bike do you ride?

Papaver, I have a Lemond Reno WSB. I love her so . . . .

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I 'attach' my feet by using diagonal PowerGrip straps, not clipless systems. I LOVE them, and never get stuck in them and never have to worry about my feet slipping off pedal. I keep them adjusted fairly snug.
My husband has regular shoes with stiffish soles and he uses toeclips (cages) on all his bikes and really likes them. He keeps his adjusted so he can get his feet in and out without unbuckling the strap.
Everyone is different, there is no 'right' or 'wrong' that fits everyone's situation.

[shootingstar]

I use toeclips that don't have a toeclip strap.

http://www.zefal.com/zefal/gamme.php...857b24055cd406 I honestly don't understand claims that these are dangerous...they are better to ride in when dealing with city traffic where there is alot of sudden stopping and starting.

I've been riding regularily for nearly past 17 yrs. and yes, have done long-distance touring.

For certain, I want my feet held in place on the pedal, for more power cadence especially when wanting to go faster or going up hills.

[Jeffrey Barlow]

Can't resist adding this....I have been biking for more than 50 years, gulp. I have always shied away from clipping in, preferring a cage and tight leather strap, perhaps because much of my riding was captain on a tandem and I had to be able to get that foot down as one of my children was usually stoking. Now I suddenly have nerve damage to my left foot...the big toe and the area surrounding both above and below began to buzz, burn, and ache, driving me to seek medical help. I spent weeks in hot and cold pans of water at my computer, chiropractic visits, all of which gave me only temporary relief.

The diagnosis, from a cycling podiatrist--my good luck!---was that I had very high arches and had damaged the nerve running over the top of the foot from the ankle. The nerve had very little cushioning, running right over the bone and is easily compressed. I found in the next several weeks that despite my assumptions that biking would increase circulation and thus healing, it in fact made the condition worse.

I am a strong rider and have learned over the years to make a full pedal movement, including strong upward pull on the clips. I favor a right knee injury and probably over accentuate the pull up on the left pedal to compensate.

I have gone to clip-ins; I did the required face plant at a stop sign my first time out----sorry you missed it!---and my initial readings, based on only several trips, is that while I still pull against the top of the shoe, it is considerably more forgiving than a tight strap and a metal clip running exactly across the damaged nerves. I find that now a ride does help the condition rather than worsening it.

Ride safely...

Jeffrey

[Cataboo]

bah reposting my question in the text box.

Does clipless help or worsen patellofemoral syndrome (runner's knee)?

There's a patellofemoral thread going on on here elsewhere - both wahine & trek420 (or maybe it's knottedyet) have commented and are physical therapists...
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...590#post464590

I have patellofemoral syndrome in my right knee... I use speedplay frog pedals because they have a lot of float (lets you knee move around), and I don't have any knee pain cycling (as long as my seat is at the right height and my cranks are the right length). Being short, I use 165 cranks. 170 mm cranks on my mountain bike.

[OakLeaf]

Does clipless help or worsen patellofemoral syndrome (runner's knee)?

Helps, as long as your cleats are aligned properly. With toe clips and no cleats (I don't think you can even buy the cleats for toe clips any more???), your feet will position themselves according to the shape of your shoes, which may be very wrong for your knees. Alignment is critical, and if you have no cleats, you can't align your feet.

Does using the clipless pedals make you much faster right away? What muscles end up getting worked out?

Cycling shoes make you faster right away, because of the stiff sole. When I got my first pair of cycling shoes 25 years ago, it was good for 1.5 mph. As I said, AFAIK you can't even buy toe clip cleats for cycling shoes any more, so nowadays going to cycling shoes automatically means going to clipless pedals. You'll find you use the backs of your legs more, hammies and calves, and also your hip flexors to pull up when you stand to climb, rather than just mashing down with your quads.

[kermit]

30% more power seems to ring in my head from an article I read. I can't ride a bike without them.