I just my second tri bike. When being fit for the first one, the fitter set my Look pedals at 0 degrees. The fitter for my second tri bike set the Look pedals at 9 degrees. Both provided some logic to the choice, but now I am confused. What are the pros/cons???
Thanks,
David
In my previous bike I had pedals with no float. I had a pain/discomfort in my left knee whenever I covered more than 30-40 miles. In the last two years I have been riding pedals with some float (Ultegra) and the pain is gone. I think that the disadvantage of floating is that it is slightly less responsive when disengaging.
It is completely individual. Perhaps the best thing is to buy a pedal that allows you to adjust the float and test it over a few weeks to see what works for you.
If you have any form of pronation when you run, then having pedals that float on the bike is the best way to avoid a knee injury. Float is pretty well the cycling equivalent to pronation. Very few of us are perfectly bone aligned along the y axis and as such, some of the motion when applying power rolls in running…or yaws when cycling.
So far I like the idea of some float…it feels comfortable. But is there any chance that any of the power generation is lost to the “float”?
Sure, you will lose some power to float. The other option is have marginally more power (if that) and be potentially cripple. Which option do you prefer ? The likely scenario is that over time you will produce more power and not be injured as your body allows itself to apply power through a range that your bone structure is comfortable in. Usually (but not always), being more comfortable equates to more power.
I was in Looks with 9 degrees of float for 12 years. Over the winter I switched to Bebops with 20 degrees of free float. You can actually rotate internally or externally to unclip. Took an adjustment period – felt like my foot was anchored into an ice patch but now love em. Even though the float is free the foot stays in the same position through the stroke. No loss of power, no more ice-like feeling, TT pr’s have come down. Solid up those 6 mph grades. Glad to be out of those plastic cleats, love the sound of metal on metal clip-in.
I’m currently riding speedplay X-2’s. The float on them is fricken awesome. So much maneouverablity. I find that i would be alot more comfortable with lots of float, wrather than… none…
You generally are at lower risk of injury by using floating pedals.
Some people argue that you loose power with float I wouldn’t worry about it, since time introduced floating pedals in 1988 if you look at the tour de france results …and someone can correct me where I get it wrong:
Year Cyclist Pedal
1989 Greg Lemond Time floating
1990 Greg Lemond Time floating
1991 Miguel Indurain Time floating
1992 Miguel Indurain Time floating
1993 Miguel Indurain Time floating
1994 Miguel Indurain Time floating
1995 Miguel Indurain Time floating
1996 Bjarne Riis Not sure
1997 Jan Ullrich Time floating
1998 Marco Pantani Time floating
1999 Lance Armstrong Look floating
2000 Lance Armstrong Look floating
2001 Lance Armstrong Look floating
2002 Lance Armstrong SPD-SL floating
2003 Lance Armstrong SPD-SL floating
2004 Lance Armstrong SPD-SL floating
2005 Bjorn Anderson to be determined
So of the 16 years floating pedals have been avaliable nearly every tour has been won I floating pedals…I don’t think the power lose is worth worring about!
And yes I am backing a long shot for this years tour …but he da man!!!