Fifty Plus (50+) - Could someone explain float?

Just to satisfy my intellectual curiosity, can someone explain the float factor in clipless pedals? I read a little of what Sheldon Brown says, but while he defines it, he doesn't explain the pros and cons of float. I'm guessing float is good for newbies to clipless, while seasoned vets may not use any float at all? Is that right, is it just the opposite, or what? And if you get a set-up with float, how do you know how to set it up with just enough float? Trial and error?

Also, when there is float, does that mean you can move your heels both left AND right to clip out?

Float is the allowable "wiggle range" that you can move your feet without clipping out.

Pro: Its better for your knees since it allows more relaxed leg position.

Con: It can be harder to unclip since you must twist your feet further to release.

To stay on top of the water. Not to sink. OK.

Thanks!

Anytime.

Anytime.

:crash:

Float is the amount of money that American Express has collected on traveler's checks that it has sold but not yet cashed. At any one time, it amounts to about $400 million.

According to this article in Time Magazine, it may be the largest amount of "float" in the world outside of Central Banks.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,872975,00.html

Used in sentence: "It would float my boat to have some float like that."

Float is the amount of money that American Express has collected on traveler's checks that it has sold but not yet cashed. At any one time, it amounts to about $400 million.

According to this article in Time Magazine, it may be the largest amount of "float" in the world outside of Central Banks.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,872975,00.html

Used in sentence: "It would float my boat to have some float like that."

Something even more O.T. than this post (^^^)...

...unless there's something wrong with my computer or I just stepped out of the 'Way-Back Machine' with Mr. Peabody and Sherman (something probably only us 50+er's will get...), I think BengeBoy needs to check the date of that Time article.

Report back when you've looked at it again....

Club Tombay is waiting.....................:)

Club Tombay is waiting.....................:)

Did you check it out?

The wonders of search engine optimization....I thought $400m seemed small but never checked the date of the article.

OK, so in 2002 it was $6.5 billion...
http://www.forbes.com/2003/10/03/cx_al_1003amex.html

(BTW, I would be embarrassed to post such a stupid link, as I did above, if it were the dumbest thing I've done today. Unfortunately, it isn't.)

Float is what you live on between the time you cash that personal check and the time it hits the bank, and with luck have put enough into the account to cover it.

http://www.mylifetime.com/files/imagecache/photo_gallery_featured/files/images/h-395x298-float.jpg

Amazing how a simple, honest question brings out all the weizenheimers around here! :D

(Okay, Solveg, where did that term come from???)

http://www.nationalnotary.org/userimages/roseParade/roseParadeFloatLG.jpg

Amazing how a simple, honest question brings out all the weizenheimers around here! :D

(Okay, Solveg, where did that term come from???)

Makes a change- But as it has a "Z" in it- it can be construed that it is not an English term.

On the float bit- Depends on the Disco- but I thought float had gone out of fashion with the younger set nowadays. Now if we start talking about "Foating across the Dance Floor" then you need it but I didn't know you were into Ballroom.

Amazing how a simple, honest question brings out all the weizenheimers around here! :D


I'm pleased you asked the simple question, because it's something I've been wondering too. After hearing the answer, I suspect that I'll remain toeclip/clipless free.

:crash:

This is not float!

Bike Float

^

Fred Claus!

DG,
Seeing as how you mocked the clipless crowd with your April Fool's antics, I say we let you satisfy your intellectual curiosity on the Roadie forum! :p

Omg Nooooooo!!!!

Amazing how a simple, honest question brings out all the weizenheimers around here! :D

(Okay, Solveg, where did that term come from???)

If it makes you feel any better, I named my pet peeve Digital Gee.

I wish that d*mn Big Paulie was around here to help out on posting relevant and descriptive pictures.

I'm pleased you asked the simple question, because it's something I've been wondering too. After hearing the answer, I suspect that I'll remain toeclip/clipless free.

Why is that?

So it's Mock DG Day, huh?

I don't know where all this comes from! I am a simple, humble man who posts occasional questions to improve my riding skills, I never engage in humor nor do I go off topic, I am respectful and shy. And this is the thanks I get.

I'm going to tell my dad on you!

http://howtojoin.com/images/gijoe_slaughter.gif

Can we assume that DG is giving thought to going clipless, as he is investigating clipless terminology?

My money is on DG going clipless in 2008.

If you think this is a tough crowd, wait til you get to the road forum.

So it's Mock DG Day, huh?


Not quite. According to ancient calendar of Atlantis, this is year 5687.

5687 factors to 11 times 11 times 47. Otherwise known as lebenty leben 47.

And seeing as the 4th letter in the alphabet is "D" and the 7th letter is "G" ...

That makes this Mock DG Year!

BTW, the Atlantians year started on April 1.

Float:

If anyone saw "Epic Movie" - and I feel for you if you did - and you saw the Nacho Libre spoof, then you saw my nephew playing the Jack Black role.

Hey JT deleted his Nacho Libre pic, leaving my post without a lead-in!!!

If I ever go clipless, with my luck, the day will come when they'll pry my cold, dead toes from the pedals as my lifeless body lies in a broken heap alongside the road because I couldn't clip out in time. Or is it rode?

Then they'll put my bust in the Club Tombay lodge in honorarium. Or is it honoraria?

Then you will be a bust,
be a bust,
be a bust,
in the Hall of Fame!

Its a fallarium.

Then they'll put my bust in the Club Tombay lodge in honorarium.

I wouldn't take that honorarium if they paid me.

If anyone saw "Epic Movie" - and I feel for you if you did - and you saw the Nacho Libre spoof, then you saw my nephew playing the Jack Black role.

Hey JT deleted his Nacho Libre pic, leaving my post without a lead-in!!!

It's back. I've been having trouble getting anything from photobucket to show up other than in a thumbnail. Anyone know why?

I had trouble the other day getting photobucket to download anything but a thumbnail. Could we maybe just for a post or two go back to the original question? How much float do most people need or like?

Shimano and many other pedals standardize at about 4deg of float. This is the norm. Some folks like more float than that. At this point please reference red/white bikes, clipless/platform pedals, helmets/no helmets etc.
That's not flip, it becomes a matter of personal preference at that point.

This shows why English is a hard language to learn.

Pedal float is the degree of rotation from the centerline of the pedal while clipped in you can move the shoe and cleats before you are unclipped.

Its the time between when you deposit a check in the bank and when it clears, actually requiring you to have the money in the bank. But you knew that. ;)

Just to satisfy my intellectual curiosity, can someone explain the float factor in clipless pedals? I read a little of what Sheldon Brown says, but while he defines it, he doesn't explain the pros and cons of float. I'm guessing float is good for newbies to clipless, while seasoned vets may not use any float at all? Is that right, is it just the opposite, or what? And if you get a set-up with float, how do you know how to set it up with just enough float? Trial and error?

Also, when there is float, does that mean you can move your heels both left AND right to clip out?

Come on DG! We all know that float is the time between when I pay for the stuff and I actually get the money in the bank.

Your Dad is Gastro-Intestinal Joe?

Just to satisfy my intellectual curiosity, can someone explain the float factor in clipless pedals? I read a little of what Sheldon Brown says, but while he defines it, he doesn't explain the pros and cons of float. I'm guessing float is good for newbies to clipless, while seasoned vets may not use any float at all? Is that right, is it just the opposite, or what? And if you get a set-up with float, how do you know how to set it up with just enough float? Trial and error?

Also, when there is float, does that mean you can move your heels both left AND right to clip out?

You will quickly discover that trying to unclip by moving your heal (or is it heel) towards the bike will quickly earn you the experience of road rash, coupled with potential embarrassment. Remember, experience is what we get when we don't get what we want.

For a more formal explanation, please read below:

Results: Psychological distress, when examined on a continuous scale, was found to predict pain and function at all time-points. WOMAC pain scores for psychologically distressed bicyclist were 3 to 5 points lower, depending on the time-frame, than the scores for the non-distressed bicyclist, after adjustment for float. WOMAC function scores did not differ significantly between the two groups following riding. The changes in the WOMAC pain and function scores for the psychologically distressed bicyclist were not significantly different from those for the non-distressed bicyclists.

Conclusions: Many bicyclists with psychological distress demonstrate a substantial decrease in that distress following riding. Bicyclists who are distressed have slightly worse pain pre-ride and for up to two years following knee injury due to negative float as compared with bicyclists with no psychological distress. With the exception of pre-ride scores, these differences are not likely to be measurable at the individual bicyclists level. WOMAC pain and function change scores do not differ between bicyclists with and without distress after adjustment for float.

Now that should clear things up.

Now I understand. :)

You will quickly discover that trying to unclip by moving your heal (or is it heel) towards the bike will quickly earn you the experience of road rash, coupled with potential embarrassment. Remember, experience is what we get when we don't get what we want.

For a more formal explanation, please read below:

Results: Psychological distress, when examined on a continuous scale, was found to predict pain and function at all time-points. WOMAC pain scores for psychologically distressed bicyclist were 3 to 5 points lower, depending on the time-frame, than the scores for the non-distressed bicyclist, after adjustment for float. WOMAC function scores did not differ significantly between the two groups following riding. The changes in the WOMAC pain and function scores for the psychologically distressed bicyclist were not significantly different from those for the non-distressed bicyclists.

Conclusions: Many bicyclists with psychological distress demonstrate a substantial decrease in that distress following riding. Bicyclists who are distressed have slightly worse pain pre-ride and for up to two years following knee injury due to negative float as compared with bicyclists with no psychological distress. With the exception of pre-ride scores, these differences are not likely to be measurable at the individual bicyclists level. WOMAC pain and function change scores do not differ between bicyclists with and without distress after adjustment for float.

Now that should clear things up.


Clear as MUD.

Here's a recipe for a drink that runs against all that is right in the world ... Beer Floats

http://www.foodtv.ca/recipes/recipedetails.aspx?dishid=4649

After a careful review of the previous 46 postings, I'm convinced that the 50+ Forum is on a tilt an all the loose marbles have rolled into this thread. I just can't stop laughing.

If I ever go clipless, with my luck, the day will come when they'll pry my cold, dead toes from the pedals as my lifeless body lies in a broken heap alongside the road because I couldn't clip out in time. Or is it rode?



Nah, you are being overly pessimistic about this.

It is very unlikely that you would die. The odds are far higher that you would be paralyzed.

Nah, you are being overly pessimistic about this.

It is very unlikely that you would die. The odds are far higher that you would be paralyzed.

:crash:

You've painted up your white frame and pumped your tires full of air
Roubaix are you contemplating going out somewhere?
The shadow on the wall tells me the sun is going down -
Oh Roubaix
Don't go clipless to town

I know I shouldn't have installed those crazy clipless peds
But I was far too proud to go on looking like a Fred.
And yes, it's true that I'm not the man I used to be...
Oh Roubaix I need your help to go and pee.

Its hard to love a man whose legs are bent and paralyzed
And the wants and the needs of a bicycle your age, Roubaix I realize,
But it won't be long I've heard them say until I'm not around
Oh Roubaix
Don't go clipless to town.

She's leavin' now 'cause I heard the shifting of her gears.
The way I know I've heard it shift when she carried my rear.
And if I could move I'd get my gun and put her in the ground
Oh Roubaix
Don't go clipless to town.
Oh Roubaix
For God's sake turn around