Are clipless pedals faster?

Trev The Rev

Are clipless pedals faster? If so why?

lostboysaint

No, they're the same speed as ordinary pedals.

I assume you're talking about dropping them from a building or something.

They may help YOU pedal more efficiently and encourage you to become a better and faster rider though.

Trev The Rev

lostboysaint wrote:

No, they're the same speed as ordinary pedals.

I assume you're talking about dropping them from a building or something.

They may help YOU pedal more efficiently and encourage you to become a better and faster rider though.

How do they help one become a better of faster rider? Do you have any evidence?

peat

Look, we know what you are digging at Trev.

The answer simply is, they're not.



But they do look cooooooool.

sub55

Trev The Rev wrote:

Are clipless pedals faster? If so why?

faster than what

charlie_potatoes

Trev The Rev wrote:

Are clipless pedals faster?

Yes but only on a TT involving a dual carriageway.

Trev The Rev wrote:

If so why?

Because the scientists who work for the Energy Drink Companies say they are.

cougie

What are the other options ?

Normal pedals - where you have to readjust your foot position to ideal every time you put a foot down, and dont forget the fun when your foot slips off.

Clips and straps - where it can be a bugger to flip the pedal and get your feet in. Plus unclipping needs a hand free. And tighten too much and your feet go numb. Also not all shoes work with straps.

For me - Clipless are the best option by far. I've had them for a good 25 years now and they're so much better than other pedals. As to faster ? Probably the same.

TakeTurns

You are engaged with the pedal as supposed to flat pedals, therefore you can pull up as well as push down. For me it makes a massive difference especially when climbing. I'd say yes.

Sprool

Isn't it considered bad technique to pull up?

Silly Old Hector

Trev The Rev wrote:

Are clipless pedals faster? If so why?

Yes. They are smoother.

TakeTurns

Sprool wrote:

Isn't it considered bad technique to pull up?

Depends how much force is applied. When done correctly it's beneficial.

If I'm doing a hill sprint, it helps to slightly pull up.

smidsy

They are definitely not faster at getting your feet on them after stopping at junctions/traffic lights etc.

Sprool

What about when used with a good recovery drink?

sungod

yes

the reason is only disclosed to those initiated into the 7th circle of omnomnom

simon_masterson

This should be fun...

I really don't see why this merits debate. There are plenty of idiots in cycling who are easily persuaded that an awful lot of things will make them faster. It only has to have carbon fibre in the construction somewhere.

However, as any person with a brain can tell, fundamentally they can be no faster than any passive aid. A bicycle transmission can't increase the amount of force that the rider can deliver into it any more than one hammer can knock in a nail better than another. The differences in either case are secondary, whether they're a more positive feel for the rider or a better heft.

Clipless pedals and toe clips and straps work by securing the rider's feet; allowing him or her to transfer power with confidence at an optimal (not too fast, not too slow, but probably higher than they could comfortably do on a plain platform) cadence. Rather than repositioning their foot throughout the stroke to keep it on the platform, the rider is able to produce a steady rhythm, and there is no chance that a foot will slip off and end up in the front wheel (at worst).

They are an effective tool to the cyclist. I dont see what more needs to be said. What's next: 'Are light bikes faster?'

DavidJB

I gained 132 watts moving from flat to clipless...

MrSweary

All I know is that the point I always encountered leg death on my commute home on flats is fine since I moved to clipless this week. Do they make me faster? Dunno. Do they improve my pedalling efficiency? Yup, no doubt whatsoever.

Sprool

improved pedalling efficiency = faster speed possible for same effort or same speed possible for less effort.

MrSweary

Well, yes, obviously. I didn't want to say that explicitly for fear of fanning the flames!

Trev The Rev

Dr Andrew Coggan found that clipless pedals are not faster and do not improve power or efficiency when compared to clips & straps or sports shoe on flat pedal.

http://www.academia.edu/238318/Coyle_EF ... _2622-2630

Considering the amount of money manufacturers ask you to pay for these pedal systems I am surprised they can not prove these systems are any better than ordinary shoes on flat pedals.

ShutUpLegs

Trev The Rev wrote:

Considering the amount of money manufacturers ask you to pay for these pedal systems I am surprised they can not prove these systems are any better than ordinary shoes on flat pedals.

You don't have to buy them Trev.

bompington

Trev The Rev wrote:

Dr Andrew Coggan found that clipless pedals are not faster and do not improve power or efficiency when compared to clips & straps or sports shoe on flat pedal.

http://www.academia.edu/238318/Coyle_EF ... _2622-2630

Considering the amount of money manufacturers ask you to pay for these pedal systems I am surprised they can not prove these systems are any better than ordinary shoes on flat pedals.

You want to forward that to Sky & BC, I'm sure they'll all be back on flats within days.

Trev The Rev

bompington wrote:

Trev The Rev wrote:

Dr Andrew Coggan found that clipless pedals are not faster and do not improve power or efficiency when compared to clips & straps or sports shoe on flat pedal.

http://www.academia.edu/238318/Coyle_EF ... _2622-2630

Considering the amount of money manufacturers ask you to pay for these pedal systems I am surprised they can not prove these systems are any better than ordinary shoes on flat pedals.

You want to forward that to Sky & BC, I'm sure they'll all be back on flats within days.

I know, I just find it ironic that the research by Dr Andrew Coggan shows clipless pedals are not 'faster'. We all know they must be because all the pro teams use them. There is however bugger all if any evidence to prove it.

Mr Will

They are better in so many other ways (comfort, ease of use, security pedalling, etc) that whether or not they are faster is somewhat academic.

jezzpalmer

Mr Will wrote:

They are better in so many other ways (comfort, ease of use, security pedalling, etc) that whether or not they are faster is somewhat academic.

Nail head interface!
Can we all move on now, perhaps into a discussion about the atrocities of riding with powermeters.

iPete

Trev The Rev wrote:

Dr Andrew Coggan found that clipless pedals are not faster and do not improve power or efficiency when compared to clips & straps or sports shoe on flat pedal.

http://www.academia.edu/238318/Coyle_EF ... _2622-2630

Considering the amount of money manufacturers ask you to pay for these pedal systems I am surprised they can not prove these systems are any better than ordinary shoes on flat pedals.

clips and straps are the devils work, especially those cheap ones that come with new bikes, riding those with trainers is bloody painful and if you need to get your foot out quick, it ain't happening!

As for price, M520's are £20, extortion

Basically what everyone else has said, comfort and functionality make them great, not extra speed. Although I've been told by several people to buy SPD-sl because they are faster than SPD

DesB3rd

I know, I just find it ironic that the research by Dr Andrew Coggan shows clipless pedals are not 'faster'.

Coggan's work is now 25 years old (the year before my family got an Amstrad PCDD, which gives some idea as to the state of electronic monitoring gear); don't quote me but I have a feeling that more recent work conflicts his conclusions, noting very minor efficiency advantages albeit not the sort of thing that would advantage a weekend rider... Other factors.

cougie

Trev - have you ever had a foot slip off a pedal and you've b*llocked yourself on the top tube ? Just doing it the once will let you see the problems with flat pedals. :-)

sub55

Being long enough in the tooth to have used proper clips and straps with cycling shoes and grooved cleats will concede theres probably no power/ speed difference in them to modern clipless pedal systems. However, you dont see many riders these days with broken ankles . If you're comparing either of the two above systems with using ordinary shoes , simply theres no comparison . Though probably shoes have the bigger influence.

simon_masterson

Trev The Rev wrote:

Dr Andrew Coggan found that clipless pedals are not faster and do not improve power or efficiency when compared to clips & straps or sports shoe on flat pedal.

http://www.academia.edu/238318/Coyle_EF ... _2622-2630

Considering the amount of money manufacturers ask you to pay for these pedal systems I am surprised they can not prove these systems are any better than ordinary shoes on flat pedals.

But did Dr. Coggan conduct these tests in 'real world' conditions? Or 'road race' conditions? I don't think he was even concerned about them; it does not appear to be important to his research at all. I have never met the man, but I somehow doubt that he would advocate the frankly ludicrous suggestion that road cyclists everywhere should switch to flat platforms. Why any intelligent person would do so is completely beyond me.

Bustacapp

I ride on flat pedals which have a clip on the other side should I ever want to try.

However why fix something that aint broke? The flat side are perfect and I love the freedom of being able to take my feet off in any given situation.

I like the option of sticking both feet out to the side as I descend mighty hills like some character off Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.