Here is the "proto" pedal. I was bombing around on them tonite. They were beast too.
Low weight
Low stack, cleatless
Solid platform
Great grip, easy release
Lots of freedom for position
Surprisingly natural float

These are my pedals.


pic.twitter.com/LkiY1GjDUE
pic.twitter.com/ztkEpEm6kH

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See, I thought that this was a platform pedal, well this is a BMX type platform pedal.

is the silver aluminium looking part the platform or the whole aluminium & carbon thing ( that looks like the sole of a bike shoe )?.

Cool...

Great grip?

Velcro?

Great grip?

More info please.

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So your position changes every time you "clip" in? Meaning there almost no repeat-ability and prepositioning means "uncliping" in and out and using trial and error.

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Interesting design. But how exactly does the velcro platform design help your achilles?

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I'm curious about that too. I suppose it allows you to ride with your foot further forward. But as some have posted, you can also drill additional holes to get the same effect.

I found that better insoles with more arch support helped a little, but mostly a very strict regimen of ice and eccentric heel drops has solved it. Cycling aggravated it because your foot does pivot through the pedal circle, but it wasn't the cause. Cycling is only a static load on the Achilles, not dynamic like running tends to be.


Does anyone know the disadvantage of positioning your foot further forward? Does you lose some power due to less engagement of your calves just past the bottom of the stroke?

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Some claim an increase in power with the cleat more in the arch. Never tried it and haven't seen studies on it, but it sorta makes sense for steady efforts where you won't be getting out of the saddle... and definitely if you have achilles problems.

Most people don't use their calf muscles very effectively anyway, and this basically lets your calves relax more. Some claim it helps with the run also.

I should say the original reason for this idea of such a pedal was for the following modes of operation:
1. Single shoe theory - start running as soon as you dock the bike and ditch the aero bucket. No shoe change, more for sprint racing
2. Or being able to execute in/out in a jog without having cleats, then no clip in and go.

But it also has the potential of being the lightest solution and it feels very natural and organic. That is the part that is getting me pumped up as I felt very fast on the bike due to the increased space afforded by such a low profile. And if you think about it, the lower you can go at the crank, the more aero you can potentially be (lower feet, lower the saddle, lower the bars).

Construction: The pedal is what see as silver - the aluminum chassis and plate. I use what they call Hi-Technology Velcro as a low profile fastener. In straight upward pull & locked in I was pulling like I was in clips, pretty amazing. Yet I was able to twist or peel my shoe from the pedal with about the same force as clips
Having said that I am going to add a small front clip/hook think, and change the velcro pattern slightly.

Just the one ride for now. The weekend I'll have pedal #2 done. Some thoughts on riding - I felt best close to the crank arm. closer the better. I could position my foot on the fly, then lock in. So I think the idea would be to get it just right, remove your shoe while on the pedal, mark it and then mount the pin/clip to put it there +/-.

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What have you been doing to fix your achilles? Achilles pain usually is caused by problems in calves and often can be solved by massage.

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Cool idea, my concern is safety, no ability to get out of shoes in a hurry, but worse still is if you crash, a simple off around a corner could lead to a seriously broken ankle if you cannot move your feet.

Are you talking about running through transition with these shoes on? or are you saying running the run section in these shoes???

The day I run even 3.1mi in bike shoes.... with velcro on the bottom no less, is the day I give up this sport. I can only imagine the achilles, ankle and knee pain that would arise from running in bike shoes. Now that I look a little closer, did you tape a bike shoe top to a running shoe bottom??

I'm not trying to hate on your creation, as I think trying things out and making stuff can be fun and sometimes innovative. However, this I just don't get. But I don't get E=MC^2 either...

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Got the other pedal done so just did a quick vid tonite, started to rain...




I am pretty happy with how they work straight up, which is a surprise to have something immediately useable first try. Some tweaks for usability perhaps, and race testing.


There can be enough support in the pedal (ie a carbon sole) to bike in say minimal running shoes, then take off and run (ie for sprint every few seconds count) . I wouldn't bike in Hokas :) But this is only a thought.


Running out of T1 in bike shoes would be comfortable as could be, because there are no cleats.


The shoes thing is kind of a safety issue. Simon's crash at the olympics and I also saw a crash on youtube coming into T2 when the rider in bare feet was standing on the folded shoe that clipped out unexpectedly.

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Hello SharkFM and All,

I applaud your design enterprise.

You might think about making the bottom of the pedal more aero - there are some grams of drag to be saved there.

If the design is successful it might be useful for commute bikes where you hop on and off the bike and ride in running shoes.

Running shoes would raise the stack height and introduce some sponginess into the power transfer but still might be acceptable.

If you went with Vibram 5 fingers shoes that might be a solution too.

Maybe the Velcro could be in a recessed part of the shoe so it would not get filled with dirt and worn off so quickly.

Cheers,

Neal

+1 mph Faster

thanks - I agree with all of your input.

the bottom of the pedal will be Carbon fiber, before I race my TT/tri - I'll post a pix. the base parts I used are not quite ideal for what I wanted, which is something slimmer. The whole thing in carbon would be really cool. I mean they are already lighter than say a LOOK KEO setup by 60 or so grams, and that is cycling weight so more than frame weight.

The stack height is really important to me because on the M E118 I needed more space between the crank and bars, so this effectively puts the crank down and toward the rear of the bike. So I can be in a power position (semi-climb) without having to move forward. This 10mm saving in stack is very noticeable.

I do have Merrells - vibrams that I use for commuting studded pedals. Now I have slipped off the front of those once. That is what I was testing in the video - there is excellent security forward/down even without a front hook, which I was thinking of adding.

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Hello SharkFM and All,

Here is an old idea that works .............



A toe clip without a strap might work but make it difficult to get out of the Velcro.

The stack height of Speedplay pedals used with 4 hole shoes is quite small ..... perhaps better than your setup since your axle is so large.



How strong is the Velcro? Can you still pull up without it releasing? Is it a twisting motion of the foot that releases?

What brand of Velcro do you use?

Good luck with your experiment.

Cheers,

Neal

+1 mph Faster

Hi - got an hour on the pedals today finally! They are fast. Biggest improvement is the position on the bike, my bars and pads feel higher, and I am driving more power to drivetrain just by being in a better more hunkered down & aero position.

If you have pedal stack you are less aero than if you don't, because there is some fruit to be had for frontal area reduction.

Anyway, I am also able to position my shoes where I want, when I want. I ran my left more toward the toe, and my right toward center to not stress my achilles (which feels great BTW, almost there)

The velcro I used is special order process we developed for our water-ski application, so the adhesive sticks to carbon or alum, and the hook is durable and holds a ton per sq in.

The way velcro works it beds in, the first few minutes of pedal use. My first stop light I had to twist and peel to break the connection, not crazy but right in line with my Look KEO or Crank bros. Reconnecting is a bit more of a PIA than a street pedal I think. One reason I might try just a locating pin, and a hole in the sole of the shoe.

There is no need for straps or hooks. At least I didn't feel the need for that.

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The locating pin is actually a pretty good idea. Have the pin (or two) attached to the sole of the shoe and then just drill appropriate holes in the pedal. That setup wouldn't affect your stack height at all. You could even taper the pins slightly to sort of "auto-index" your foot position.

I think your idea is crazy but I'm pulling for you to make it work :D

Hello SharkFM and All,

I have an application that could use some strong Velcro like you are using.

Where can I buy some?

Cheers,

Neal

+1 mph Faster

Velcro - Home Depot, Walmart carry industrial velcro
I find the dept store stuff to be old or the adhesive not quite as fresh...

Our stuff is a custom hook pad with 3M backing http://www.jagersport.com/...&products_id=201
Our loop is different too, I spec'd a tight loop, 1000 I think is the version.

Velcro might seem a bit off the wall but it works so naturally, as far as a sport "interface". For our water-ski system it allows your boots to roll on the ski. So they can connect or disconnect in seamless way while your ripping turns in the slalom course. This system set & holds a world and a couple of national records (USA/Australian).

Pedals actually work in a similar but more scaled down way. As your foot circles through the pedal stroke, having the ability to move in camber (vertical alignment on the pedal) without a hard connection of a clip in, is a good thing.

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How do you think the durability of the velcro will be if you're running in and out of T1? Let's say the TA is on pavement, that's got to beat up the velcro a bit. Worse, what if it's sandy or dirt? Would that clump in the velcro and reduce your grip on the pedal?

I think for me I'd be worried about getting my foot in the same place and at the same angle to the crank arm. I had a hell of a time changing my SPD-SL cleats out because I stupidly didn't mark them before I removed them. A couple rides of discomfort while I tweaked them back into position... Lesson learned.

You might think about this a a brilliant way for anyone who's afraid of clipless pedals to get started. Good luck!

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-Alex

The loop is like a carpet so it should not pickup anything significant

I've been walking around outdoors on pavement, not a problem. If I need more grip I can increase the surface area of the pedal.

As a Tri-specific solution I like this idea. I don't think it's good for commuters, road racing etc.

In aero I feel so much better on the bike & that alone has me hooked, so the rest is working out the details.

It's a keeper! I am going to convert my training Argon E80 asap. Probably use the Wellgo nylon pedal as a base.

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Update on the V-pedals (velcro). I've been morning TT'ing on weekends and they've been awesome.

I rode them with Nike run shoes and the platform is sufficient to give the single shoe system a try.
So I am going browse/shop for the right sole & shoe that will do the job - basically a run shoe that will double as a V-in bike shoe. Any ideas welcome!

I have a sprint race coming up late June & the math looks like I can save 1 minute in T1 and T2, by being fleet on feet and the one change only.
PZ3 & improved 400M swim sub 7 min
Bike leg+ T1 31 minutes
Run +T2 - depends on the leg injury ~xx mins 5k
somewhere close to 60 mins would be beast.

I am also going to pick- up some more pedals to convert, build a few more sets.

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Update: I have been commuting on Velcro pedals and surprise they are good. Also surprising is other cyclists looking. One guy asked about "how or do those clip in??" He was pretty amazed, because they ride like clip in.

Then mid-week I had to do a Velcro change on my shoes. It's been a month of walking around and use they started to go off.

However, I added a locating pin which works awesome. And after study the platform should be a bit larger for more surface area and security.

I have been switching the original set of pedals between two bikes. They feel so good that I can't see going back to locked in mechanical. Another benefit is I can ride with my Merrell flat shoes if I want to, vs using my Bonts. And "cleats" are just a chunk of velcro!

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