Pedal Stroke

aloewens

As I watch the pros ride the Tour De France, I notice that their pedal stroke varies from rider to rider and some are quite unusual. Some have their toes pointed down (like Pantani) while others rotate their ankels quite a bit. I find that I often keep them more or less level. What is the most efficent pedal stroke for a intermediate rider?

n crowley

I don't know what is meant by efficient pedaling, there are too
many factors involved. But the most beneficial pedaling is the
technique that can naturally eliminate the dead spot area because it enables you to use a higher gear for the same
effort required for a lower gear by a rider who could not
eliminate that area. To put it another way, you are gaining
mins. of extra pedaling time per hour in a TT. That has to
be a toes down style but none of the pros are using it.
They are using variations of the same basic round pedaling style
which can depend on saddle set back etc. or some may even
switch styles while relaxing muscles. It's in the TT's that a riders
true style can be seen. Also when the lower gears are used
there is no time for ankling assistance so then it would appear
more of a toes down style.

Naughty_hitter

Could someone expand on pedaling styles i.e. different types, whats good, whats wrong, etc? Thks

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Geonz

Seems it makes sense to rotate some so that you're hanging onto a good angle. But heck, I pretty much stick to "round and round, not up and down." I'd love to hear more ideas. I expect it's like any other sport -- if somebody does it one way and wins, everybody tries to copy - till they get beat by somebody with a different twist.

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pj_s

I reckon rotating is good, you have the dead point in your stroke, use more muscles, etc - in addition to that the following:

A cycling buddy of mine is also a fysiotherapist - he explained that the angle of the foot also determines which muscles are used: toes down means more calf muscles, heels down and the back of your thighs are used more

I translate this as follows: as your thighs are bigger than calves it makes sense to keep your heel down as your leg goes down. When you approach the downwards vertical, rotate your ankle a bit (=heel upwards) to pull the pedal through (and up) the vertical position. do the opposite at the upwards vertical.

I've been thinking about this a while - would appreciate additional ideas....

n crowley

When you can use exactly the same foot position on the
pedals when you are applying maximum power from the saddle
as you do when spinning at 150 to 200 revs, you are on a
winner. You can never do that by pedaling in the way you
describe. It is possible, Anquetil did it.

coolworx

I imagine if you studied most riders they alternate riding styles as the miles (or K's) unwind. Sometimes 'ankling', sometimes 'tracing circles', sometimes 'pulling' (assuming your clip[less]ed in), and sometimes goldbricking on the 'dead spot' in guilty pleasure (relief?)

n crowley

That is true but what is usually meant by pedaling technique is
the method used by a rider when riding a 10 m. TT or 4 K track
pursuit.

2LAP

By definition you use a pedalling technique WHENEVER you pedal!!! Pedaling Technique, does not 'usualy' describe the technique used by riders in a 10 m TT or 4 K track pursuit. Any cycling event has a pedalling technique, even RR, BMXers, speedway riders, etc.



I thought you knew about biomechanics! An efficent pedaling technique is simply a pedalling technique that uses less energy to do the same amount of work (e.g. average or peak power output)than another pedaling technique. Simply, this results in a rider being able to maintain a higher average power output for the same length of time, the same power output for longer or a slightly higher power output for longer.

crowley

So if it is as simple as that, you must have the answer.
What is the most efficient technique?
I'm satisfied with the most beneficial technique, the one
that gets you from A to B in the fastest time and that is
the linear pedaling style that was used by Anquetil.

VeloFlash

An article of maybe some interest on pedalling/pedaling from the land where water goes down the plug hole in the opposite direction -

http://www.randwickbotanycc.com/pedalling_action.htm

ric_stern/RST

Noel,

irrespective of how people pedal, the quickest route between two points will always be when the person produces the most power output (when of course environmental, topographical conditions and CdA are the same), unless you know how to defy the laws of physics :-).

The most efficient, which might have nothing to do with going fast is the one that requires expending the least amount of energy for a given power output. Most research shows that a slower than optimal cadence is the most efficient (i.e., VO2 is decreased).

I wish you'd take wayne up on his offer...

Ric

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2LAP

You are right Crowley, the 'optimum' technique may be different from the 'most efficent' technique.

Sprinters use a technique that is particularly inefficent (as energy consumption isn't really a concern here), but allows them to produce the greatest power output for the duration of the sprint.

Endurance riders will seek the most efficent technique as a limiting factor in endurance is usualy the ability to produce energy (aerobicaly or anaerobicly) and the more 'efficently' this energy is used the higher the output that is sustained.

I'm sorry you took my post wrongly, the two answers that I provided (i.e. (1) pedal technique and (2) efficency) can be found in a dictionary or biomechanics text book. Simply, 'technique' and 'efficency' have accepted deffinitions/concepts, that you either said you didn't know about (in the case of efficency) or were using wrongly (in the case of technique).

In terms of what's the best technique to use, there is actualy quite an easy answer here. Generally, riders with even a little experiance will select the best technique to use within the constraints placed upon them (e.g. physical characteristics, position, gear, etc.) in any situation. This self selection improves further with increases in experiance. There are many psychological theories and hypothesis that explain why this is the case, perhaps the most interesting is 'Bernstein's Theory'. You should check this out.

I can see that you are a big fan of the 'Anquetil' technique, but without evidence that it works or even a clear discription about why it is significantly different from normal cycling; I am unable to offer your case support. I would suggest that you accept the offer of lab testing that was made to you; as this will help you prove your case and shut up all your critics. Hasn't the lab time even been offered for free?

crowley

What is the purpose of finding or using the most
efficient technique in serious bike racing. In road
races you are sitting in behind other riders for
most of the time, almost being towed along, in
time trials you give all that you can give, so where
does that leave efficient pedaling.
By using the most beneficial technique, you can include
the dead spot area as part of your main power
application stroke and generate the additional power
that is required in order to take full advantage of this
additional area by having the ability to combine arm
resistance with hip/thigh power when riding at speed
in the saddle.
But most benefit comes from the elimination of the
root cause of "on the bike" lower back pain, which is
the natural round pedaling style.
This is where I will start my proof because for the
worst victims there will be a definite yes or no answer.