The 'Albert Steptoe' pedaling style

Escher303

I see quite a few people out on the road pedaling with their knees sticking out at 45 degree angles as though they have massive cojones. Sometimes it's someone coming home from work on a 50 quid MTB in a hi vis jacket but quite often it's roadies, on a road bike, helmet, Lycra the lot.

So what gives? Will any of you admit to riding like that? Do you have balls the size of melons? It can't be good for you and I can't understand how you could cycle very far like that. For all the talk of pedaling technique improvements and whether they work or not, surely having your legs straight over the pedals is going to be much, much more efficient.

keef66

I've often observed the same thing and wondered if it was playing havoc with their knees. As you say, it is especially curious when it's a chap in pricy lycra on a carbon bike.

jgsi

I'd not interfere, it's their style... apart from "knees in mate cant get past"

tiredofwhiners

Try cycling with your heels on the pedals and you'll find that you look like that even if you don't want to

MrChuck

A lot of people have their saddle far too low, and it's even more surprising when it's not nodders but apparently more serious cyclists.

Ginjafro

I resemble that remark!

Strith

I've seen guys in crits like that. Whatever floats your boat I guess.

john1967

I overtook a guy riding like this last year while I was on the warm up section on my ride.After about a minute I could hear someone grunting and when I looked behind the guy was going purple trying to keep up.I put the hammer down and left him for dust but I didn't feel good about it.

trek_dan

I think it comes from people not realsing they need to run their pedal 'stance width' wider. The standard width is too narrow for a lot of people I think, I certainly had this problem, but most pedals are only sold in one axle length.

Buckie2k5

i guess you guys have never heard of knees out training. It increases the workout your quads get in a shorter time. Go google it and im sure most of you will be doing it on the next ride.

Strith

I'm going to use it as a tactic to lull the competition into a false sense of security.

styxd

Buckie2k5 wrote:

i guess you guys have never heard of knees out training. It increases the workout your quads get in a shorter time. Go google it and im sure most of you will be doing it on the next ride.

I've heard nodding your head at the same time helps to alleviate any neck issues you may have.

bompington

I would certainly be one of those as I am generally quite bow-legged; and while I try and keep things as straight as I can it isn't helped by an old skiing injury to one hip that actually makes it painful to bring the knee up while pulling it in.

If anyone could demonstrate to me that I could go faster for the same amount of effort by tuning my style, I would give it a go, but I suspect (intuitively and with no real evidence) that going with the flow probably serves me better.

slowbike

bompington wrote:

If anyone could demonstrate to me that I could go faster for the same amount of effort by tuning my style, I would give it a go, but I suspect (intuitively and with no real evidence) that going with the flow probably serves me better.

Surely it would be more "aero" to have your legs in line with the airflow ...

With legs out you're exposing the inside of your thighs to the wind as well ...

I'm sure if you go for the legs inline position you'll notice an increase of speed .... of around 0.01mph on average ... that's got to be about the same as replacing the groupset with the next model up!