Pedalling "Technique"

AndyF16

Bear with me for this, could be a bit confusing or rambling ("as usual" - silence in the cheap seats!) - novices like myself will probably think it nuts, more experienced members may hopefully relate to it or back it up even?

when i started commuting on my MTB last summer, after a while i deduced that pedalling was much 'easier' if you kind of let your legs go loose :? what I mean is relax the muscles (except when climbing out of the saddle) rather than tensing them

since getting a roadbike in the autumn i've been too busy thinking about a new riding position, learning lots of new stuff, roadcraft, slippy roads etc, but I was struggling to get anywhere an hour or so into today's ride, and sat having a ciggie suddenly thought about it again

eureka! away we go like we've got a tailwind, and put on 1.5mph over my last 4 rides over the same roads despite actual headwind/crosswind, and felt much more relaxed and not struggling whatsoever

presumably it is something to do with muscle groups or something, clipless shoes probably help too (although the MTB had flats and it still worked) - any diagnoses please, physical not mental

balthazar

It's something to think about when you're not going flat out- like techniques for breathing. When you riding as fast as you can, this stuff goes out the window. You just pedal, and breathe, however you can.

Look at any random collection of top racers, to see the different pedalling styles which have the same effect. I think it's as individual as walking gait, and as inconsequential.

cougie

You're over thinking it. Just pedal. And quit the fags too - that'll help.

Monkeypump

cougie wrote:

You're over thinking it. Just pedal. And quit the fags too - that'll help.

This.

Haven't you got anything else/better to think/worry/daydream about?

andrewjoseph

the part i think is nuts is having a fag.

read up on pedalling technique, it's on lots of places. Though I stopping the fags will go a long way to improving everything.

danowat

Monkeypump wrote:

cougie wrote:

You're over thinking it. Just pedal. And quit the fags too - that'll help.

This.

Haven't you got anything else/better to think/worry/daydream about?

The "Scarlett Johansson dressed in PVC" daydream tends to fill up my daydream quota for the day....

paulbox

danowat wrote:

The "Scarlett Johansson dressed in PVC" daydream tends to fill up my daydream quota for the day....

But doesn't it make your sadle uncomfortable???

AndyF16

Monkeypump wrote:

cougie wrote:

You're over thinking it. Just pedal. And quit the fags too - that'll help.

This.

Haven't you got anything else/better to think/worry/daydream about?

no. have you got any constructive comments to add?

keef66

I sometimes let my heels drop a bit further when I'm trying to stretch out my calves to ward off cramp, or if I feel I'm running out of oomph in my legs. It seems to change the sensations in my upper legs too. Perhaps it means I'm using some muscles more than I normally do, or some that I don't normally use at all. Either way, it makes a change. Bit like swapping hand positions on the bars.

In the good old days I used to read about 'ankling' technique, which seemed to involve pointing the toes up at the top of the stroke and down at the bottom of the downstroke. I always found that pulled too much on my achilles / calf to do it for very long, and I was never convinced of the benefits.

MaxwellBygraves

I was just going to post something like 'give up fags' as a reply, but then I figured you're an adult, you must know their bad for you and all that.
So in reply to what you said, yes I understand what you mean! Just got back from a ride and I noticed that when I consciously 'untensed' my legs the cranks started to turn easier.
Difficult to explain, but I think I know what you mean. If you just 'loosen up' it makes it easier.

keef66

Here's the venerable Sheldon on the subject:

"Some older cycling books and articles recommend the practice of "ankling." This refers to changing the angle of the foot fairly drastically during the course of the pedal stroke, so that the toe is pointed upward at the top of the stroke, and downward at the bottom. The idea is to make more use of the muscles of the lower leg, and to permit "pedaling in circles", i.e., applying more force to the cranks at top and bottom dead center.
This practice is pretty much discredited these days. If carried to an extreme, it can cause injury. This happened to me when I was a teenager; I had read about ankling, and had just acquired my first pair of toe clips, just before setting out on my first overnight tour. I ankled for about the first 30-40 miles, when there was a sudden sharp pain in one of my Achilles tendons. I had to lower the saddle, remove the toe clips, and finish out the 4 day tour pedaling on my arches, because I couldn't bear the slightest load on the front of my foot, pulling on the Achilles tendons. For about a month thereafter, I would need to massage my Achilles tendons for about 5 minutes each morning before I would be able to walk. 40 years later, I've still not completely recovered from this injury"

keef66

Not that I'm suggesting that's what you're describing

cougie

A few years back the comic did an analysis of how several pros pedalled. They were all different - so theres no one 'right way'.

mattshrops

I tried to concentrate on my pedalling action by relaxing my feet and trying to "feel" the whole of the movement rather than just pushing downwards. Hard to explain BUT it did work. i took off down the road as if id pressed the spartacus button. Couldnt keep it going for long (2 mins-ish) but it gives you a bit of a taster of what could be. Im certainly going to add a couple of these in on the easy sections. 8)

AndyF16

Some good replies thanks (some others as much use as tits on a bull :roll: ) a few o which kind of back up what I'd experienced. I wasn't asking for a "right way to pedal"

Alumin-Liam

I've had my technique criticised by my experienced cyclists in the past, who have pointed out that I'm only pushing down, rather than making a complete circular motion.

I tried to apply force throughout the stroke on both sides and nearly fell off I was concentrating so much. I've since found that by not pushing so hard on the down of the stroke I can keep a more smooth motion. In effect relaxing, as you describe, makes me go faster!!

However, when I'm racing this all goes out the window as soon as I get tired, so it doesn't help much.

nferrar

When they've tested pros they've only shown to generate minimum power on the up stroke, it's all bs, just pedal and don't worry about circles, ankling or scraping dog crap off

kell

Someone once told me to imagine scraping chewing gum off your shoe whilst peddling. Always forget that whilst on the bike, I just peddle ;-)

amnesia

Get a set of rollers if you want to smooth out your stroke action (ooer).