Cleats


sydney cycler's picture

By sydney cycler - Posted on 12 August 2011

NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.

Today I went for a ride on an old bike of mine. Just for fun I decided to test tighting my pedals (this was a road ride by the way). It seemed that with tighter pedals that i was able to go much faster, or was it just me?
I'm just wondering if i was imagining it. Anyway whats the point of having really tight shoes if you cant get out of them and crash (my shoes are really lose).
Thanks

Little-Ditty's picture

I guess it depends on the bike. Tight pedals may not matter on a road bike. But if you are off-road, how many times have you fallen over because you couldn't unclip? Wouldn't you just be making that phenomenon worse? That said, and to address your original question, I have no idea if you generate more power and traction with tighter pedals.

Zoom's picture

Time yourself around a circuit. Actual outcomes are more accurate than how you feel.

hawkeye's picture

I used to run my pedals really loose when I was starting out.

I then did an AMBC skills clinic earlier thsi year where we did lots of stuff with pulling the back wheel up over obstacles and bunny hopping, and I found my feet kept coming out, which wasn't nice. So I have tightened them quite a bit, and now only have issues with gettign stuck occasionally if it is really muddy/sandy/horrible riding conditions. A bit of chain lube on the pedal jaws is usually enough to fix that.

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