Pedalling - technique

danlightbulb

Hi all,

For my first off road ride last Sunday i took off the pedal strap things (don't know what they are officially called). Seemed to be ok like this.

However I went out on the road with it last night and it was completely different. I found the uphill bits harder and found myself pedalling very jerky. Would the pedal straps have helped alot here, should I have reattached them for the road?

Is it important to maintain speed uphill or do you drop a gear or two and maintain pedal rpm at a lower speed?

I am a bit worried about not being able to get my foot out of them if I have to stop. I do find that im on tip toe when stopped and still sitting on the saddle, and last night this stretch on the tip toe started to give me cramp in my calf. Do you dismount the saddle when stopped?

Thanks
Dan

cooldad

Toe clips. Useless off road - lose them.
Maintain rpm (it's called cadence BTW) That's what all those gears are for, unless you have mighty legs and can mash up hills.
Pedalling will get easier. Make sure your saddle is the right height (your leg should be straight with your heel on the pedal), pedal with the ball of your foot.
Maybe get some decent flat pedals as well.
Something like this
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=5199

Mojo_666

danlightbulb wrote:

Do you dismount the saddle when stopped?

Yes, although I sometimes stay on the bike and prop myself against or touch a tree for balance.

Or now as i have a funky dropper post i could just press my button for chillax mode.

Rushmore

Mojo_666 wrote:

danlightbulb wrote:

Do you dismount the saddle when stopped?

Yes, although I sometimes stay on the bike and prop myself against or touch a tree for balance.

Learn to track stand.... The ladies love it

cooldad

They were actually laughing at your lycra.

dhobiwallah

Flat pedals aren't the only way to go - plenty people use clipless pedals on MTBs

(Just to confuse beginners - 'clipless' pedals are the ones that use special shoes with 'cleats' on the bottom and DO actually clip into the pedals! The term comes from the fact they get rid of the toe-clips (or straps) that you aleady have)
Do a quick google image search of 'clipless pedals'

With a little practice you can take your foot out of a clipless pedal any time you need to dab the ground (or whenever you and the bike part company!)

if you spend a lot of time going uphill / on easy tracks clipless pedals will be more efficient. If you start to get technical they can teach you bad habits as you just lift the bike with your feet and not bodyweight distribution which will limit you later on....