How to peddle?

[curtisl]

So I have been riding around happily for years never thinking about it, I just assumed that if you make the peddles go round then thats the right way to peddle. Since I have had a road bike and then SPD-SL's I have been thinking about peddling.

Pre SPD's my peddling consisted of pushing down on the peddles and predominently using my right foot, that changed with SPD's as I could now pull and push which I found more noticable when climbing. Last night, after reading a few cycling mags and listening to podcasts, I changed my peddling slightly, so rather than pushing down once my foot was at the top of the arch, I was pushing and pulling the peddles as if I was shuffling my feet along. Rather than me exerting max pressure at 0 degrees, I was now doing this at 90 degrees.

I felt like I was getting more power by doing this, the bike seemed to pull away harder but I also felt my legs feeling it alot more. I guess taht this is because it's a different technique so I am using different parts of my leg/hip but can anyone say if either are correct for maximum efficency?

I am keen to hone the right technique now before I start this years challenges so I am used to any changes that I may need to make.

[okgo]

There have been some good threads on sales jobs in the Employment section, some good tips from successful peddlers in those if you have a quick search.

[curtisl]

okgo said:

There have been some good threads on sales jobs in the Employment section, some good tips from successful peddlers in those if you have a quick search.

haha. Great start!!

[amancalledrob]

okgo said:

There have been some good threads on sales jobs in the Employment section, some good tips from successful peddlers in those if you have a quick search.

Beaten to it...

[Hobzy]

Lots of theories on this and endless arguments going round in circles pardon the pun.

A quick YT search:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pedali...

gives you the main ones - Getting the right position on the bike and cleat position is probably more important to consistent and efficient use of power.

[Dr Imran T]

Hobzy said:

Lots of theories on this and endless arguments going round in circles pardon the pun.

A quick YT search:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pedali...

gives you the main ones - Getting the right position on the bike and cleat position is probably more important to consistent and efficient use of power.

some good links there. THis one is pretty short and informative.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjdSJ-YrCcM

[yellowjack]

I've heard many references to the phenomenon of "pedalling squares".

I struggle to understand how one can "pedal squares" when one is attached to a mechanical contraption that fixes one's feet to an apparatus that, through it's construction, is prevented from any other movement than describing a perfect circle, every time it rotates around it's axle.

[agentnomad]

Pedalling circles is a term that I use to describe the way you should pedal.

Yes the pedal axle will only move in perfect circles but the peddling circles refers to applying the same or as close as possible to the same amount of power at all positions of the circle, so push down, pull up, drag around the bottom and push over the top of the circle.

[agentnomad]

Pedalling circles is a term that I use to describe the way you should pedal.

Yes the pedal axle will only move in perfect circles but the peddling circles refers to applying the same or as close as possible to the same amount of power at all positions of the circle, so push down, pull up, drag around the bottom and push over the top of the circle.

[Dixie]

agentnomad said:

Pedalling circles is a term that I use to describe the way you should pedal.

Yes the pedal axle will only move in perfect circles but the peddling circles refers to applying the same or as close as possible to the same amount of power at all positions of the circle, so push down, pull up, drag around the bottom and push over the top of the circle.

The motion is right but your never going to get close to equal power through the whole circle. Your hip flexors will always be way behind your quads.

I'm sure getting the technique right is the key to maximising your power output but for stupid people like me it's too hard to get the motion right when not thinking about it. Your CV system will also need a pretty big boost up to cope with the extra load too.

Whats peoples takes on the best place to work on peddling technique? I assume stationary trainers are better than actual riding for this?

[upsidedownmark]

Couple of interesting / possibly worthwhile links:

http://www.over40cyclist.com/correct-pedalling-tec...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17545890

[WinstonWolf]

While you're thinking about pedalling what's your cadence?

[agentnomad]

Dixie said:

Whats peoples takes on the best place to work on peddling technique? I assume stationary trainers are better than actual riding for this?

Ride a fixed on a turbo or rollers and you will start to see what I am trying to get across.

[agentnomad]

The four quadrents of the peadle stroke are as I see it are downwards section this is autonomous for most people then next section will be the bottom and this possibly best discribed as the motion you may use to scrape mud off the bottom of your shoe. The next being the up stroke this is a pull up (more advanced pedalling will involve moving the position of your ankle) the last will be the push forward over the top to restart the cycle

Riding a fixed makes you learn this quicker as it takes no prisoners stop pedeling and you will know about it.

[agentnomad]

Dixie said:

Whats peoples takes on the best place to work on peddling technique? I assume stationary trainers are better than actual riding for this?

Ride a fixed on a turbo or rollers and you will start to see what I am trying to get across.

[curtisl]

Thanks for all the replies people. I checked out the GCN guide on you tube and then went on to watch all their other videos then went on to watch some of the TDF Alpe D'huez 2013 stage and went to sleep about 2:30 so thanks for that!!

So the way I see it is that in an ideal world, you should be pulling/pushing in every direction at all times but most people will do what is natural and spend most time just pushing downwards.

I will just continue to try to make sure I am making an effort in all directions but as soon as I get distracted, I am back to my default 'push only' technique. I guess it's just a matter of continuing to concentrate on my peddles until it becomes a little more natural.

I dont have a turbo or rollers or a cadence monitor so I will continue on the road as I am for a month and hopefully notice some results.

[Hobzy]

Accepted wisdom was that pulling and pushing was better, but if you check out some of the other vids and do some searching, there is lots of evidence to show that actually it makes little difference - hence why saddle and bike position are much more important to the average peddler... at constant cruising cadence, you are probably just as efficient just pushing. Clearly, climbing and sprinting is a whole other ball game.

[upsidedownmark]

Another - suggesting that nobody *really* generates power on the upstroke: http://triathlete-europe.competitor.com/2014/02/13...

[Dr Imran T]

Hobzy said:

Accepted wisdom was that pulling and pushing was better, but if you check out some of the other vids and do some searching, there is lots of evidence to show that actually it makes little difference - hence why saddle and bike position are much more important to the average peddler... at constant cruising cadence, you are probably just as efficient just pushing. Clearly, climbing and sprinting is a whole other ball game.

Indeed, when climbing I've seen every technique. Go out of the windows.

So chaps, is the optimum pedalling technique more or less tiresome?

Does it require less energy to be exerted?

Edited by Dr Imran T on Friday 7th March 18:57

Edited by Dr Imran T on Friday 7th March 18:57

[okgo]

Don't be hung up on pedal stroke. I have been told by a few that know that it's largely an irrelevance. As mentioned before in regards to cycling the forces are so small that your only limiter is going to be your CV fitness in the long run, you will not find a magic 50 watts pulling your leg at a certain point rather than pushing it etc.