Don’t rely on this. It’s flawed. I get knee pain from clipping in but on premium flats with legit cycling shoes instead of runners I out perform many serious cyclists.
@brittwoodruff9369 I normally don't respond to these assertions, Brett, but you have began trolling. Please make your own video showing or stating your theory if you are so inclined... and you having knee pain does not mean that everyone who clips will have knee pain. If someone is stating that this works for them, why would you contend that it does not work. I have never asserted that other pedal systems may not work. I am saying that for many people who want to do performance riding, clipless pedals and rigid shoes offer a more efficient system. That your method works for you is great... congratulations. But you should not arbitrarily refute someone's experience because yours is different.
@@thegoodwheel I’m not at all trolling. You stated while comparing a Bugatti set up to a Chevy cavalier that clipless is the only way. If you are going to make a claim then it should be a valid comparison. Your $5 flats and $40 adidas will never compare to your clipless set up and it’s not meant to. Many legit cycling companies make gear to ride that style if it works for you. To blanket state that clipless is the only way is out right dishonest. On my flats with my flats shoes I ride above the majority of average riders. If you’d like to prove yours is better I’ll be riding the C4 gran fondo in Alberta Canada on July 27. You are welcome to join me. I can promise the set up I use is just as efficient as what you’ve got with $130 flats and legit riding shoes.
Thank you for explaining and sharing that valuable tips Luis. I've transitioned from sneakers to clipless shoes. Now I can reap the benefits of having faster and smoother pedalling as well as more power efficient. Great work!
Thanks for that. Very few people explain the differences between the two styles. Now I understand that "clipping in" forces your foot into the right position and keeps it there for maximum output.
No clipping in “forces” your foot into a position not the right position. I get massive amounts of knee pain from clipping in and being locked into a position but with a good set of flats and actual cycle shoes I enjoy riding with no pain.
Thanks. This is a very useful explanation. I'm 73 going on 100 it seems sometimes. I cycled seriously (racing and touring 45 and 35 years ago) and used standard cycling shoes with the slotted cleat nailed on the sole by the shoemaker (try to find one of those nowadays) and so-called rat trap pedals which fit into the cleat. The shoe was held onto the pedal by toe clips. Worked great IMO. I converted to lipless in the '80s and didn't think much about it, except that like a lot of cycling 'innovations' over the years, I preferred the old style. After laying off cycling for 20 years I started up again about 12 years ago, bought a Surly LHT, built a hybrid out of my old racing bike, restored one of my kids' mountain bikes.and acquired two '70s Raleigh Sports 3-speeds, which are good in the rain. When I bought the touring bike I got a pair of mountain bike (or touring)shoes with the Shimano (?) type clip. I used that on the touring bike and the hybrid for five years until I got tired of constantly clipping and unclipping on my mostly in and around town riding. Eventually, I put MZYRH mountain bike pedals with the spikes on the touring, hybrid and mountain bikes. I ride sometimes using the old mountain bike shoes and more often with a pair of Asolo approach shoes which are pretty stiff. For an older person like myself, not as agile as before, and not as committed to going out on the trail or the highway to ride fast, this solution works great. I feel safer than with my feet locked into the lipless pedals. Other concessions to age I made were to install upright or city bars on the bikes that had dropped bars, and to trade the Brooks B17 type saddles out for B67 or C67 saddles (sprung and wide).
Philobiblion... thank you! Cyclist like you are a treasure. Your experiences, knowledge and passion for the sport are an inspiration. Glad to see you inovating and still putting the miles in. I hear so many good things about the Surly long haul trucker that I hope to try one soon. Salute!
I live in Hollywood, FL and the Hollywood Broadwalk is part of my regular ride. Because of the foot traffic in the busier sections and ease of quick dismount, I use the Shimano PD-T8000 Dual-Platforms which makes life easier. Then on the tarmac part of the rides where you're up to speed, I'm clipped in. I also ride with the Specialized Recon 3.0 mountain bike shoes. Great shoe and easy to walk around in which has come in handy when I've had mechanicals and had to hoof it home 2-3 miles.
@@thegoodwheel The trick is to ride the Broadwalk early morning or no earlier than say 4:30 in the afternoon when foot traffic really starts to drop off.
Great video, thanks for the explanation. It totally makes sense except for ppl with wide feet. I've been using barefoot shoes for several years now and traditional shoes simply don't fit anymore. Not to mention cycling shoes which are pretty narrow (even the "wide" ones)and stiff and my feet go totally numb in them after about an hour. It is so bad that now I am considering switching to flat pedals. Pedalling will be a bit less efficient but I don't see an other way to avoid numbness and pain on longer rides until one of the manufacturers decides to create a shoe with wide and foot-shaped toebox where function is more important than style.
Did you find any shoe's?,,I've been wearing Lakes in the past, but I've been wearing Keen work" wide toe box" shoe's and my feet are slaying out alot more healthy, 😊
Well done. Luis may I add a suggestion to your great shoot, with great natural lighting? Try tightening up your shot once you have established where you are. And have your mic cable running up your back which make it look wireless. There are 3 the simple rules a cameraman lives by. Wide shot (to establish your shot), than a medium, to tight shot to focus on you. I've been a cameraman for 35 years. So If you ever need any advice. you can always reach out to me on this matter. This is just a suggestion Have a good one Remember Wide, Medium, Tight
Well done Luis--you look like a natural--as if you've been doing this for a while. I am actually looking at another option for exercising and biking is on the top of the list. Looking forward to any advice on online or local sources for hybrids. Great job.
Thank you! Been riding since '89 so I know the sport fairly well. Glad to hear you will be taking it up... it is great on the knees. Hybrids or multipurpose bikes are great, just get one that is fairly mid to high end... not from Walmart or Target. Visit 2 or 3 bike shops and try a few out without purchasing immediately... just get the feel. Stay away from mountain bikes or anything with a suspension or any gimmicky dampening, unless you plan on going aggressive off road. Fuji, Specialized, Trek, Giant and Bianchi all have good options.
@@thegoodwheel My daily rider is an REI hybrid (likely made by Giant) and it is well made and comfortable, I put high end tires on it - Clement 33 x 700.
What a coincidence, I also have a similar style blue Adidas you have. Anyway I used clipless on a long ride but use flat pedals on short warm up hood rides. Been hook up to your channel and a good output with regards to foot pedals.👍
This info will be helpful in future rides. I ride with sneakers and I never know where to place my feet on the pedal. The pedal is usually in the middle of my foot instead of where ball of the foot.
Good presentation, & thanks. What I'd like to hear a bit about is what is gained & lost from the ability to let the muscles rest on the upstroke when using flat pedals.
Thank you Carl! In my normal pedal and I think for most cyclist... even with clipless pedals, we aren't pulling up on the upstroke. Sure, you are locked in but most cyclist press down on the pedals only. I only pull up if I am climbing or dealing with some stiff wind resistance. But, the benefit is there if needed.
I road clipless on and off-road for 30 years. These days I prefer flats, with proper, stiff Shimano flatsole cycling shoes. That combo seems to do the trick on the road and on the trails. Works for me anyway. Cheers
Thank you for the video. You’ve motivated me to clip in my next ride. Is there a pedal that gives you a choice? Like regular pedals on one side and clips on the other? I saw a video on Versa pedals. What do you recommend?
Ahh, thanks for that. There are a number of different options on the market that can be used that way. I would suggest your local bike shop for a specific type that suits you. Let me know how you get on!
Great explanation on the benefits of going clipless. I’m a cycling newbie and currently riding with flat pedals. Will be getting power metered pedals by this spring. How long does it take typically to become skilled at clipping in/out while in motion? Any tips on techniques for this? Thanks!
Me feet get numb after riding for a few hours on clipless road shoes, the shoes are not tight at all, i wear them with lots of space with extra size, why could this be?
It could be a few things. Fit of shoes obviously, because all are different and it could take you a while to find the right shoe for you. Also, the positioning of your cleats too for forward or back can creat pressure. Best thing is to see a bike fitter to get sorted
Greeting from Portugal, just found this great channel with great content. I advise you to research about mid -foot pedaling, Steve Hoggs wrote about it, also his student Niel Neill Stanbury has some videos on the subject, there are some studies too. Check it out, good rides!
I use mountain bike shoes to pedal they have a hard sole and grip fine. I ride an average of 25 miles. Not the mountain bike shoes with clipless but look like regular Clio in shoes.
But what about the problems that come up with keeping your foot in the same position for long durations. Foot micro movements forwardand backward and sideward is crucial. Cleats dont allow forward / rear movement, which is causing me knee pain over longer durations. And this stiff sole argument is not a good one. By continuous contact with such a stiff and hard object, my foot is getting damaged ☹️ So i stopped using clipped pedals for roadbike. I am using normal running shoes for roadbike and clipped pedals for home trainer / spinbike
Oooh, I am sorry to hear about the problems you have experienced with cleats. Hope your foot heals up. Everything is not for everyone... however, with a properly adjusted cleat and proper bike fit I think most people will find the benefits described in the video. If you have not had a proper bike fit and proper cleat adjustment, it may be a good idea to get one. There may be a simple fix to whatyou are experiencing.
@@thegoodwheel My foot is now better 😃. I switched back to normal shoes and things are getting better. I am using the cleat + cycling shoes on spinbike and there, it feels a lot better. On the roadbike, the environment outside is not controlled and i wont be able to maintain 1 position for long, due to safety reasons. On spinbike, its a much more controlled environment and cleat + shoes are helping a lot 😃
Ever see a power lifter squat or deadlift on his or her toes? The posterior chain can develop far more force than the quads. The more centered the foot on any pedal Is more efficient. There's tons of studies that prove that. Got Google???
This is cycling, not power lifting! The suggested theory is something that few... very few people have found beneficial with very specific applications. The least of wich would be sustained pedaling at higher RPMs for sustained periods of time. It diminshes the use of some muscle groups very much needed for cycling in a manner of spinning and accelerating. It creates an enormous amount of toe overlap so we would literally be redesigning the bike (moving the bottom bracket backwards, changing the seat angle and changing the fork rake or head tube angle. Not to mention the myriad of issues with fit, sitting, aerodynamics and hand/handlebar placement to name a few things. Funny thing about reinventing the wheel is that it always turns out round. Yes... my google works just fine. Got manners!!!
Rightly so. While using flats, I felt I am using quad muscles. But with these clipless, I feel I am using calf muscles resulting in less output, slowed down, and exhaust quickly.
Sorry but that claim about one's shoes repositioning that far on flats without the rider noticing is just ridiculous. If someone manages to pedal with their heels and not feel that they have other problems lol. Studies have compared different setups and the result was always the same - clipless shoes are not more efficient. The only difference is that clipless shoes can also pull, making it possible to push out more power on short notice - at lower efficiency. So it makes sense in races or other situations where quick acceleration is valuable, but otherwise decent shoes on flats do the job as well.
Hi SaHaRaSquad and thank you for your comment. First, it's not a claim, it's an observation I have made from working with many new cyclist at a new cyclist orientation class I taught. Secondly, you may want to go back and listen to what I said at the very beginning of the video about flat mount pedals and sneakers being perfectly fine in certain situations... as well as the situations in which clipless pedals may make sense. 👍🏾
Good sir I strongly believe that your topic and your information is 100% flawed based on your chosen comparison. While it is true that you get a budget riding experience with budget products that does not mean that you can’t get a premium experience out of premium products that are similar. Over the last 4.5 years I’ve ridden over 90,000 km including 2 gran fondos and 1 forte fondo all on premium flats (PNW Loam pedals supported by bearings on both ends of the axel) and cycle shoes for flats (Giro Tracker). I can and have on many occasions put more than 1000 W of power through my drive system and have had absolutely no more fatigue in my feet than I would expect you to have. To compare your $200 pedals and $300 shoes to “prove” that that is the only way when compared to $5 pedals and $40 shoes is more than a little dishonest. If you are going to compare then do so genuinely and honestly. No one compares a 2025 Koenigsegg Jusko Absolute to a 1998 Chevy Cavalier and is taken seriously… I argue this is the same comparison. Upgrade your comparison and try again.
Спорт
The best and most straightforward explanation I’ve seen. Really helped me as a new cyclist!
Don’t rely on this. It’s flawed. I get knee pain from clipping in but on premium flats with legit cycling shoes instead of runners I out perform many serious cyclists.
@brittwoodruff9369 I normally don't respond to these assertions, Brett, but you have began trolling. Please make your own video showing or stating your theory if you are so inclined... and you having knee pain does not mean that everyone who clips will have knee pain.
If someone is stating that this works for them, why would you contend that it does not work.
I have never asserted that other pedal systems may not work. I am saying that for many people who want to do performance riding, clipless pedals and rigid shoes offer a more efficient system.
That your method works for you is great... congratulations. But you should not arbitrarily refute someone's experience because yours is different.
@@thegoodwheel I’m not at all trolling. You stated while comparing a Bugatti set up to a Chevy cavalier that clipless is the only way. If you are going to make a claim then it should be a valid comparison. Your $5 flats and $40 adidas will never compare to your clipless set up and it’s not meant to. Many legit cycling companies make gear to ride that style if it works for you. To blanket state that clipless is the only way is out right dishonest. On my flats with my flats shoes I ride above the majority of average riders. If you’d like to prove yours is better I’ll be riding the C4 gran fondo in Alberta Canada on July 27. You are welcome to join me. I can promise the set up I use is just as efficient as what you’ve got with $130 flats and legit riding shoes.
@@thegoodwheelalso if you are going to say I’m wrong then at least spell my name right.
Thank you for explaining and sharing that valuable tips Luis. I've transitioned from sneakers to clipless shoes. Now I can reap the benefits of having faster and smoother pedalling as well as more power efficient. Great work!
Thank you Janny. I am glad the information was beneficial to you and your cycling journey!
Thanks for that. Very few people explain the differences between the two styles. Now I understand that "clipping in" forces your foot into the right position and keeps it there for maximum output.
Yes! That consistency is critical
No clipping in “forces” your foot into a position not the right position. I get massive amounts of knee pain from clipping in and being locked into a position but with a good set of flats and actual cycle shoes I enjoy riding with no pain.
Good stuff brotha! Keep'em comin'!
Absolutely! Thank you
Thanks. This is a very useful explanation. I'm 73 going on 100 it seems sometimes. I cycled seriously (racing and touring 45 and 35 years ago) and used standard cycling shoes with the slotted cleat nailed on the sole by the shoemaker (try to find one of those nowadays) and so-called rat trap pedals which fit into the cleat. The shoe was held onto the pedal by toe clips. Worked great IMO. I converted to lipless in the '80s and didn't think much about it, except that like a lot of cycling 'innovations' over the years, I preferred the old style. After laying off cycling for 20 years I started up again about 12 years ago, bought a Surly LHT, built a hybrid out of my old racing bike, restored one of my kids' mountain bikes.and acquired two '70s Raleigh Sports 3-speeds, which are good in the rain.
When I bought the touring bike I got a pair of mountain bike (or touring)shoes with the Shimano (?) type clip. I used that on the touring bike and the hybrid for five years until I got tired of constantly clipping and unclipping on my mostly in and around town riding. Eventually, I put MZYRH mountain bike pedals with the spikes on the touring, hybrid and mountain bikes. I ride sometimes using the old mountain bike shoes and more often with a pair of Asolo approach shoes which are pretty stiff. For an older person like myself, not as agile as before, and not as committed to going out on the trail or the highway to ride fast, this solution works great. I feel safer than with my feet locked into the lipless pedals. Other concessions to age I made were to install upright or city bars on the bikes that had dropped bars, and to trade the Brooks B17 type saddles out for B67 or C67 saddles (sprung and wide).
Philobiblion... thank you! Cyclist like you are a treasure. Your experiences, knowledge and passion for the sport are an inspiration.
Glad to see you inovating and still putting the miles in.
I hear so many good things about the Surly long haul trucker that I hope to try one soon.
Salute!
Great video and explanation of the benefits of clipless pedals vs flats. Also, dope video set with bikes in the back.
Thank you Ernie! I believe that was the 1st or 2nd video I did
Well done. I really enjoyed this
Thank you! You answered all of my questions on this subject!
You are welcome. Thanks for watching!
I live in Hollywood, FL and the Hollywood Broadwalk is part of my regular ride. Because of the foot traffic in the busier sections and ease of quick dismount, I use the Shimano PD-T8000 Dual-Platforms which makes life easier. Then on the tarmac part of the rides where you're up to speed, I'm clipped in. I also ride with the Specialized Recon 3.0 mountain bike shoes. Great shoe and easy to walk around in which has come in handy when I've had mechanicals and had to hoof it home 2-3 miles.
Thank you for sharing that Michael! Yes, I lived in downtown Hollywood and would often ride the broadwalk... the foot traffic can be very hairy.
@@thegoodwheel The trick is to ride the Broadwalk early morning or no earlier than say 4:30 in the afternoon when foot traffic really starts to drop off.
Great breakdown bro!
Thank you Sir
Good information my brother, thanks for that tidbit. it will def come in handy for me.
Thanks for watching. Glad it helped
And when did you start riding Cuz?
Great video, thanks for the explanation. It totally makes sense except for ppl with wide feet. I've been using barefoot shoes for several years now and traditional shoes simply don't fit anymore. Not to mention cycling shoes which are pretty narrow (even the "wide" ones)and stiff and my feet go totally numb in them after about an hour. It is so bad that now I am considering switching to flat pedals. Pedalling will be a bit less efficient but I don't see an other way to avoid numbness and pain on longer rides until one of the manufacturers decides to create a shoe with wide and foot-shaped toebox where function is more important than style.
Take a look at Bont cycling shoes. Pricey but they have a wide toe box👍🏾
Did you find any shoe's?,,I've been wearing Lakes in the past, but I've been wearing Keen work" wide toe box" shoe's and my feet are slaying out alot more healthy, 😊
@@brittweir8844 I have not. I ditched my SPD-SL and put on flat pedals. I miss the feeling of being locked in but otherwise I am happy with it.
Well done. Luis may I add a suggestion to your great shoot, with great natural lighting? Try tightening up your shot once you have established where you are. And have your mic cable running up your back which make it look wireless. There are 3 the simple rules a cameraman lives by. Wide shot (to establish your shot), than a medium, to tight shot to focus on you.
I've been a cameraman for 35 years. So If you ever need any advice. you can always reach out to me on this matter.
This is just a suggestion
Have a good one
Remember Wide, Medium, Tight
Thanks Harold! I appreciate that. I am still learning so I am open to suggestions. Really appreciate the input.
Very nicely explained. I have made up my mind to get SPDs 🤗
That's awesome Sanjay👍🏾
Hi luis congratulations on your channel, great information about cycling . I ride with out clips, for different reasons but im agree with you about .
Thank you! I really appreciate that
Great info. Now I understand why I get tired more when I don’t clip in.
although it's an adjustment, it is definitely more efficient
Very clear explanation! I might consider using clip pedals on long distance rides..anyway i got the double side pedals
Glad it was helpful!
100% agree. Great video.
Thank you!
Found ya...subbed and I’m here now!!! 🤜🏾🤛🏾
Thank you brother! Preciate you
Well done Luis--you look like a natural--as if you've been doing this for a while. I am actually looking at another option for exercising and biking is on the top of the list. Looking forward to any advice on online or local sources for hybrids. Great job.
Thank you! Been riding since '89 so I know the sport fairly well. Glad to hear you will be taking it up... it is great on the knees.
Hybrids or multipurpose bikes are great, just get one that is fairly mid to high end... not from Walmart or Target. Visit 2 or 3 bike shops and try a few out without purchasing immediately... just get the feel. Stay away from mountain bikes or anything with a suspension or any gimmicky dampening, unless you plan on going aggressive off road.
Fuji, Specialized, Trek, Giant and Bianchi all have good options.
@@thegoodwheel My daily rider is an REI hybrid (likely made by Giant) and it is well made and comfortable, I put high end tires on it - Clement 33 x 700.
great channel
Thank you!
Great explanation... Thank you
Thank you!
Great insight!
Thank you!
What a coincidence, I also have a similar style blue Adidas you have. Anyway I used clipless on a long ride but use flat pedals on short warm up hood rides. Been hook up to your channel and a good output with regards to foot pedals.👍
Thank you Harold! I appreciate it 👍🏾
This info will be helpful in future rides. I ride with sneakers and I never know where to place my feet on the pedal. The pedal is usually in the middle of my foot instead of where ball of the foot.
I am glad the info helped. Yeah, foot placement is very important.
Look at those beautiful bikes......
Thanks Mark!
Really good, perhaps you can further explain your experience with the different clipless/cleat systems. Bravo!
Hi Scott, thank you for watching. When I started, we had yoe clips but then I switched to Look style pedals... and that is all I have ridden.
Good presentation, & thanks. What I'd like to hear a bit about is what is gained & lost from the ability to let the muscles rest on the upstroke when using flat pedals.
Thank you Carl! In my normal pedal and I think for most cyclist... even with clipless pedals, we aren't pulling up on the upstroke. Sure, you are locked in but most cyclist press down on the pedals only. I only pull up if I am climbing or dealing with some stiff wind resistance.
But, the benefit is there if needed.
I road clipless on and off-road for 30 years. These days I prefer flats, with proper, stiff Shimano flatsole cycling shoes. That combo seems to do the trick on the road and on the trails. Works for me anyway.
Cheers
Thanks for sharing that Brian!
Thank you for the video. You’ve motivated me to clip in my next ride. Is there a pedal that gives you a choice? Like regular pedals on one side and clips on the other? I saw a video on Versa pedals. What do you recommend?
Ahh, thanks for that. There are a number of different options on the market that can be used that way. I would suggest your local bike shop for a specific type that suits you. Let me know how you get on!
Good stuff!
Thank you!
Great explanation on the benefits of going clipless. I’m a cycling newbie and currently riding with flat pedals. Will be getting power metered pedals by this spring. How long does it take typically to become skilled at clipping in/out while in motion? Any tips on techniques for this? Thanks!
Hi John, thanks for watching! Everyone is different. Here is an older video I did on the subject.
ruclips.net/video/dPGCoTTsKxo/видео.html
Serious question , but have you ever use a high quality flat pedal? like the Crank Brothers STAMP or Pedaling Innovations Catalyst EVO?
Very fine video sir
Hey, thank you!
I fell yesterday, thinking of taking a pause from clipless.
@@ankitaggarwal028 sorry to hear that you fell. I hope you weren't injured. It is always best to pause and re-asses when that happens.
Me feet get numb after riding for a few hours on clipless road shoes, the shoes are not tight at all, i wear them with lots of space with extra size, why could this be?
It could be a few things. Fit of shoes obviously, because all are different and it could take you a while to find the right shoe for you.
Also, the positioning of your cleats too for forward or back can creat pressure. Best thing is to see a bike fitter to get sorted
@@thegoodwheel thanks for the feedback!
I surprised you didn't mention clip pedals with old school bike shoes.
Greeting from Portugal, just found this great channel with great content. I advise you to research about mid -foot pedaling, Steve Hoggs wrote about it, also his student Niel Neill Stanbury has some videos on the subject, there are some studies too. Check it out, good rides!
Thank you Loop Less! I appreciate the info👍🏾
I use mountain bike shoes to pedal they have a hard sole and grip fine. I ride an average of 25 miles. Not the mountain bike shoes with clipless but look like regular Clio in shoes.
Thanks for sharing Mark👍🏾
But what about the problems that come up with keeping your foot in the same position for long durations.
Foot micro movements forwardand backward and sideward is crucial. Cleats dont allow forward / rear movement, which is causing me knee pain over longer durations.
And this stiff sole argument is not a good one. By continuous contact with such a stiff and hard object, my foot is getting damaged ☹️
So i stopped using clipped pedals for roadbike.
I am using normal running shoes for roadbike and clipped pedals for home trainer / spinbike
Oooh, I am sorry to hear about the problems you have experienced with cleats. Hope your foot heals up.
Everything is not for everyone... however, with a properly adjusted cleat and proper bike fit I think most people will find the benefits described in the video.
If you have not had a proper bike fit and proper cleat adjustment, it may be a good idea to get one. There may be a simple fix to whatyou are experiencing.
@@thegoodwheel
My foot is now better 😃. I switched back to normal shoes and things are getting better.
I am using the cleat + cycling shoes on spinbike and there, it feels a lot better.
On the roadbike, the environment outside is not controlled and i wont be able to maintain 1 position for long, due to safety reasons.
On spinbike, its a much more controlled environment and cleat + shoes are helping a lot 😃
@@ajaykaushik2272 glad to hear the foot is doing better and glad to hear you have a solution that works for you.
@@thegoodwheel
😃😃👍
Use Futsal shoes (Indoor Soccer), they are thinner. Stiffness doesn't matter.
👍🏾
Quality video a different take on clipless pedals. Everyone always talks about power
They can help with power delivery, but it is also good for comfort.
Ever see a power lifter squat or deadlift on his or her toes?
The posterior chain can develop far more force than the quads. The more centered the foot on any pedal Is more efficient. There's tons of studies that prove that.
Got Google???
Thanks for sharing!
This is cycling, not power lifting! The suggested theory is something that few... very few people have found beneficial with very specific applications. The least of wich would be sustained pedaling at higher RPMs for sustained periods of time.
It diminshes the use of some muscle groups very much needed for cycling in a manner of spinning and accelerating.
It creates an enormous amount of toe overlap so we would literally be redesigning the bike (moving the bottom bracket backwards, changing the seat angle and changing the fork rake or head tube angle. Not to mention the myriad of issues with fit, sitting, aerodynamics and hand/handlebar placement to name a few things.
Funny thing about reinventing the wheel is that it always turns out round. Yes... my google works just fine. Got manners!!!
Rightly so. While using flats, I felt I am using quad muscles. But with these clipless, I feel I am using calf muscles resulting in less output, slowed down, and exhaust quickly.
Sorry but that claim about one's shoes repositioning that far on flats without the rider noticing is just ridiculous. If someone manages to pedal with their heels and not feel that they have other problems lol.
Studies have compared different setups and the result was always the same - clipless shoes are not more efficient. The only difference is that clipless shoes can also pull, making it possible to push out more power on short notice - at lower efficiency. So it makes sense in races or other situations where quick acceleration is valuable, but otherwise decent shoes on flats do the job as well.
Hi SaHaRaSquad and thank you for your comment. First, it's not a claim, it's an observation I have made from working with many new cyclist at a new cyclist orientation class I taught.
Secondly, you may want to go back and listen to what I said at the very beginning of the video about flat mount pedals and sneakers being perfectly fine in certain situations... as well as the situations in which clipless pedals may make sense. 👍🏾
If you are a beginner like me just go to your comfort zone our safety is more important, just saying😊
Agreed!
Good sir I strongly believe that your topic and your information is 100% flawed based on your chosen comparison. While it is true that you get a budget riding experience with budget products that does not mean that you can’t get a premium experience out of premium products that are similar.
Over the last 4.5 years I’ve ridden over 90,000 km including 2 gran fondos and 1 forte fondo all on premium flats (PNW Loam pedals supported by bearings on both ends of the axel) and cycle shoes for flats (Giro Tracker). I can and have on many occasions put more than 1000 W of power through my drive system and have had absolutely no more fatigue in my feet than I would expect you to have. To compare your $200 pedals and $300 shoes to “prove” that that is the only way when compared to $5 pedals and $40 shoes is more than a little dishonest. If you are going to compare then do so genuinely and honestly. No one compares a 2025 Koenigsegg Jusko Absolute to a 1998 Chevy Cavalier and is taken seriously… I argue this is the same comparison. Upgrade your comparison and try again.