Road Cycling - pedalling

I was wondering if when you pedal on a road bike should your leg be fully extended at the bottom of the stroke, (to the point where you can lock your knee) or should it be less then this (to a certain point of bend?) I think on a MTB you want a less then a full extend to help when climbing?

If there is not a exact way of pedalling, what do you guys like or dislike.

and for the last question, will you gain more power in your stroke if you do get fully extended.

Thanks for any replies ;)

From what I recall from everything I've read
you should have some bend at the knee at the
bottom of the pedal stroke. I have mine set so I can
lock my knee if I drop my heels below the pedal.
I think if you lose power/cadence if you straighten
leg when normally pedaling.
thats my $.02

Marty

In setting saddle height, you can obtain a decent first approximation by sitting on the saddle, balancing yourself by holding on to a stationary object, and rotating the pedals backward with your HEELS centered over the pedal spindles. If your pelvis rocks back and forth, the saddle is probably too high,and if your legs do not extend almost fully, it is probably too low. At this height, with the balls of your feet properly centered over the pedal spindles, there will be a slight, and appropriate, bend in each knee at the bottom of the stroke. Because of variations in ankling technique, foot length, etc., you may wish to experiment with slight, gradual variations in seat height, from this starting point.

Originally posted by John E
In setting saddle height, you can obtain a decent first approximation by sitting on the saddle, balancing yourself by holding on to a stationary object, and rotating the pedals backward with your HEELS centered over the pedal spindles. If your pelvis rocks back and forth, the saddle is probably too high,and if your legs do not extend almost fully, it is probably too low.

That's exactly the way I've been taught, long, long time ago!

I go for a small amount of bend in my knee at the bottom of the pedal stroke. There should be a little left in reserve because not everyday on the bike is the best day of your life. In other words, we are more flexible on some days than others (if you don't believe me, go for a 250km ride and see how flexible you are the next day).

When I first started getting serious about biking, I was told that you should have a 12 degree angle between your hamstrings and your calf. In other words, a little bend --as has been stated here several times.

You definitely want to keep the saddle low enough that your knee doesn't start to lock out at the bottom of the pedal stroke. (You'll experience wobbling butt before you get to that point.)

It's something of a personal thing depending on your pedaling style and bike setup. I generally like to get as much leg extension as I can, short of the above limitations, by pushing my saddle back, then up.

This thread reminds me of something I witnessed a couple of months ago. The missus and I were in the car on a Saturday afternoon and had stopped at a light at a very wide, very busy intersection in southeast Portland. I looked over at the near sidewalk and saw this kid of perhaps 10 or 11 years desperately attempting to mount an adult-sized road bike. The bike was rolling all over the place as he repeatedly tried to launch himself into the saddle. Amusing to watch, actually, but as the light turned green and we pulled away we couldn't help musing that, should he finally get fully vertical on the thing, someone was going to find themselves having a bad day. Poor kid. Whoever let him take that bike out was setting him up for grief.

On the other side of the coin I've seen too many adults pedaling on the road, knees practically to clavicles as they struggle along on bicycles way too small for them. That's gotta hurt! :(

-Rob