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64
PEDAL SYSTEMS
THE PEDAL SYSTEMS
Not all shoes are suited for cycling. Shoes used for
cycling should have a stiff sole and provide a firm
support for your feet. If the soles are too soft, the ped-
als can press through and cause foot pain. The sole
should be not too broad near the heels, as the rear
stays will otherwise get in the way of your pedalling.
This will prevent your feet from assuming a natural
position and may cause knee pain in the long run.
DIFFERENT SYSTEMS AT A GLANCE – HOW THEY
WORK
It is recommended using pedals which provide a lock
and release mechanism for your shoe, known as clip-
less or step-in pedals. The firm connection between
shoe and pedal prevents your feet from slipping off
when pedalling fast or when riding over rough ground.
Besides this, it enables you not only to push but also
to pull the pedals, which makes your pedalling more
fluent. A further advantage is that the ball of your big
toe comes to rest just at the right place on the pedal
spindle and that you do not block inadvertently the
front wheel with the tips of your feet during steering.
Step-in pedal
Shoes for step-in pedals
For clipless or step-in pedals you always
i
need special cycling shoes.
Read the operating instructions of the
i
pedal manufacturers or call our service
hotline at +44 (0) 20 8501 2582.
Clipless of step-in pedals come with a special type of
cycling shoe which locks onto the pedal similarly to
a ski binding. To engage with the pedal is to turn it
to the horizontal using the tip of the cleat (the plate
on the sole of the shoe) and then rest your foot on it.
Most pedals are equipped with a double-sided lock-in
mechanism, so that you can step on the pedal with
either face up. The shoe engages with the pedal with
a click which you will hear and feel clearly.
With all commercially available systems the shoe is
disengaged from the pedal by twisting the heel out-
ward. Lean against a wall or ask someone to hold you
when you try to engage and disengage the shoe from
the pedal.
Functional differences between the pedal systems
concern the shape of the cleat, the release angle and
the rigidity of the connection. Cyclists predisposed to
knee trouble should choose a pedal system that has
some „float", so that the heel can move sideways a
little while the shoe is engaged with the pedal.
Some clipless pedals have cleats embedded into the
sole which is a great advantage, as it ensures stable
walking.
PEDAL SYSTEMS
65
The clipless pedal disengages by an outward twisting of the heel
Cleats are recessed in cycling shoe soles
Taking up the pedals, engaging the shoes
and disengaging them by turning the heel
outward should first be practised in standing. Lat-
er you can refine your technique in a place clear
of traffic. Read the operating instructions of the
pedal and shoe manufacturers carefully. If you
have any questions, call our service hotline at
+44 (0) 20 8501 2582.
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