Cycle right - Pedal Technique Myth Busting.wmv

Cycle Right series on the proper cycling pedal technique. Two common pedal techniques are discussed; heal down pedaling and pull on the up stroke. The disadvantages of both in power delivery are discussed.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• SICI Crooks Cycle Right

[death2pc]

The absurd nonsense - notion of supposedly being able to simultaneously pull up on the 'back stroke' along with the power stroke is just that, absurd nonsense. The two are not compatible. You can do one, but not both, they work against each other. Don't believe it, try it, and witness your power crash and your cadence drop.

Caveat on too small a frame which precipitates way too much saddle and seat height difference. Many today do it because its trending but their efficiency again falls away.

[CrooksCycleRight]

@death2pc I think you are agreeing with my points and that you are responding to previous comments disagreeing.

[williamprior1]

Interesting insight into the pull up technique. Does this make 1 legged pedalling drills redundant in your opinion?

[CrooksCycleRight]

@williamprior1 They are still important, but with a different focus than you might be doing now. I focus on the Top Dead Center push and the bottom stroke finish when I do single leg drills. I will then bring the pedal around, but not focus on building strength.

[aurora1024]

Although this makes me wonder if the metabolic efficiency of pulling on the pedals might have improved over a long period of training that way. IE, their hamstring muscle fiber was not trained to the same level as their quads, and so when asked to put out comparable wattage, they needed to burn more energy and needed more oxygen?

[CrooksCycleRight]

@aurora1024 Interesting point, your choice of evolution or creation.

In evolving, the human would have naturally gravitated to run fast, lift heavy objects, drag things, wearing little or nothing on their feet. So the evolution would have rewarded compression with little need for pull up.

Being created, the creator would have known that running fast, lifting, pulling would have vital to the survival of the species. Pulling up while pedaling would have not been concidered by the creator.

[johnRc1963]

The best way to deliver power must come with good technique I find that the best technique is to concentrate on making perfect circles when cycling. The secret is that the circles must be made with the knees not the ankles or the calves. Concentrating on making circles using the knees is the most efficient pedal stroke technique.

[thingtube]

@aurora1024 I agree. The study referenced in the video may prove that for the elite athletes in question the upstroke was not worth it, but the conclusions could be very different for athletes extensively working on their hamstrings. It does not invalidate the video, though, as most riders are not training their hamstrings to efficiently pull up the pedals anyway.

[miavonni]

I'm a beginner cyclist, thanks for the incite I will subscribe!

[MyrMyron]

Oh thanks John Malkovich!

[systemsevil]

@death2pc Actua;;y I do use that technique when climbing and im trying not to stand up. It is difficult to do but takes practice to get use to. 

[wan2bvader]

If I am not mistaken some elite riders will either maintain a neutral ankle position while climbing or rise the heel slightly thru the pedal stroke. possibly tryg to apply greater force thru the top and down stroke. thoughts?

[wan2bvader]

I Have found that cleat position also plays a large roll in pedaling efficiency relative to endurance . example, adjusting the cleat o it most foward position forces the calfs work harder . causeing increased fatigue . Do you agree?

[yenrodtheoriginal]

@death2pc Whats your problem with this bloke's advice ??? The fact is any kind of advice - 'is good advice'...! I feel your mis-understanding the video...its a case of doing a 'full & complete pedal stroke maximising power when needed, of course you aint gonna pedal the full circle at all times IE out the saddle sprinting etc...but 'pedaling a circle' is something that requires a good postional set-up...

[death2pc]

@yenrodtheoriginal

Sure you can do it, below about 20 rpm. Let's see you do it at 40, 50, 60, 70 plus rpm, 120 plus rpm. As a matter of fact I'll put you in touch with several individuals I know on the Continent who, while not as knowledgeable about road racing and cycling as you, given their past, their still current involvement in cycling, I know they'd be interested in your unique facility.

Hey, check out the water carrier in pink and his confreres. They all push-pull, right? Right?

[yenrodtheoriginal]

@death2pc Your talking rubbish - I can do it, or dam well try, I ride with both LEGS - yrs of practice mate = continual effort of perfection...