Performance difference between using toe clip pedals and clipless pedals
I have just got the cycling bug and was wondering what the performance difference is between the old skool toe clip pedals Vs clipless pedals.....any thoughts?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Brisco on -
toe clips, you can deliver force to pedals, for a greater fraction, of the crank's revolution. Ie they stop your feet slipping off - so you can push down longer.
Modern pedals with cleats, pehaps longer still, and also on the upstroke.
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Permalink Reply by Simon Lownsborough on -
Clipless offer smoother delivery of more power through pedal stroke - and the great opportunity for amusing clipstacks before you get used to them.
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Permalink Reply by CLP on -
clip stacks using clipless pedals have absolutely nothing over the clip stack fun you can have strapped in with old skool cleats! :D
imagine laying on the ground, feet firmly attached to the bike, with you trying to lean over and undo the straps to release your feet.. fun for everyone.. who happens to be watching you :P
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Permalink Reply by Simon Lownsborough on
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ROFL
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Battye on -
Yep. I've done it. I used to lean on traffic light poles at intersections until one day I missed the pole and fell over... during peak hour traffic. Needless to say, I soon upgraded to spd's real quick :)
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Permalink Reply by David Southern on -
I remember seeing someone lying on his back kicking his bike in the air trying to get his cleats disconnected, while his companions stood around laughing.
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Permalink Reply by CLP on
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It depends a lot on whether you use the old skool clips with cleats or not!
If you do use cleats, then the performance difference between clips and clipless is probably negligible. If you are using running shoes with old skool clips, then the performance difference will be much more pronounced.
2 of the biggest advantages of clipless over clips in my opinion are:
1) easier foot release, especially in the case of a crash
2) ability to have float in the pedal/shoe interface, so easier on the knees.
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Permalink Reply by sighmon on -
I ride with toe clips on my fixie for commuting and weekend ~50km rides - more than enough grip for up and down stroke pedalling. Wearing normal shoes is a bonus too.
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Permalink Reply by Gemma K on -
The world's fastest still use toe-straps on the track. Some in conjunction with clipless, others with traditional cleats.
So as far as absolute performance goes, toe-straps win IMHO.
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Permalink Reply by Frank on
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Riding position for track is different. Way further forward and more of a down stroke. For road riding and or racing, main technique is to pull up on pedal stroke, u will push down automatically. Pull, pull, pull.
This without cleats is near impossible.
On a track, cleats ant straps are often used. Power output of olympic sprinters hover around 7-800 watts. That's right. Joe average does say 150 kms/week may do half of that output and only for a very short time.
A good mate of mine, a sprinter who sadly died recently, had such big legs, he wore custom jeans. We rode together a few times and his power was not human. He only had toe straps on his training bike though as Gemma did say.
So for road, cleats are the way to go! Practice in car park 1st though.
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Permalink Reply by Gemma K on
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State level track sprinters crack 2200W+ @ peak...I don't think the AIS will share their watts/time graphs with us though, it'd give too much away! But it would be more, for longer...
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That is very high indeed but I guess it's peak.
My good mate Luke Kuss former world junior champ now our earth moving contractor has many a good story to tell but from what he was saying, he could average those figures which I find un-real.
Another good mate has a power tap one one of his wheel sets and is similar size to me, I can honestly say I admire the strength of those guys.
No wonder their jeans are custom made!!!!
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