Books, Movies, Music & Entertainment - "Just Ride" - Grant Petersen -- Chapter 1: Don't bother with clipless pedals

Howdy,

I pre-ordered, received, read, and loved Grant Petersen's book, "Just Ride: A Radically Practical Guide to Riding Your Bike". I've always been biased against the influence of competitive cycling on everyday riding and apparently Petersen feels the same way.

Right off the bat, Petersen seeks to debunk what he suggests is a myth about the actual value of clipless pedals- particularly that very few people in the world actually pedal a full 360 on the crank. He states that there's been research on the matter, but doesn't cite the research. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Howdy,

I pre-ordered, received, read, and loved Grant Petersen's book, "Just Ride: A Radically Practical Guide to Riding Your Bike". I've always been biased against the influence of competitive cycling on everyday riding and apparently Petersen feels the same way.

Right off the bat, Petersen seeks to debunk what he suggests is a myth about the actual value of clipless pedals- particularly that very few people in the world actually pedal a full 360 on the crank. He states that there's been research on the matter, but doesn't cite the research. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Can't help you with a citation, but I'm curious - does he get into what I perceive is the actual benefit of clipless for the recreational cyclist - your feet don't accidentally slip off the pedals, and you get fast releases when you crash?

Can't help you with a citation, but I'm curious - does he get into what I perceive is the actual benefit of clipless for the recreational cyclist - your feet don't accidentally slip off the pedals, and you get fast releases when you crash?

I'm curious about this idea of feet slipping off pedals issue. In about 6000 miles of cycling I think it's happened to me twice, once after I walked through four inches of mud and then got back on the bike. Is it a serious issue for people?

I'm curious about this idea of feet slipping off pedals issue. In about 6000 miles of cycling I think it's happened to me twice, once after I walked through four inches of mud and then got back on the bike. Is it a serious issue for people?

Enough so that I've heard lots of people ask if they're a good solution for the problem. ;-) I've certainly had it happen when out in the rain and used quill/etc. pedals.

Can't help you with a citation, but I'm curious - does he get into what I perceive is the actual benefit of clipless for the recreational cyclist - your feet don't accidentally slip off the pedals, and you get fast releases when you crash?

If I remember correctly, he mentions that foot slippage it's not really a concern. In fact, he suggests that clipless are bad for the vast majority of bike trips because they don't allow you to move your feet around on the fly (suggesting issues of repetitive stress, etc.).

Personal experience: The only time a experienced foot slippage slipped was when I was learning to shift quickly while accelerating from a stop. The change jumped quickly and I lost my balance while out of the saddle.

The book is aimed at commuter and utility bicyclists who ride upright bikes at speeds less than 10mph, on gentle terrain. For this group, the statement might be true.

Grant tends to wildly inflate and extrapolate his ideas, which is completely bogus. If you read the book from the point of view of slow speed bicyclists, then what he says makes more sense.

Enough so that I've heard lots of people ask if they're a good solution for the problem. ;-) I've certainly had it happen when out in the rain and used quill/etc. pedals.

My pedals look relatively similar to these: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51QhZowRS9L._SL500_AA300_.jpg . I also ride in Vibram Five Fingers (my feet get very warm very quickly). Flat platforms, particularly the ones made of plastic (http://m2.sourcingmap.com/smapimg/en/n/11d/pcs-bike-bicycle-plastic-platform-pedals-replacement-black-170331n.jpg), are quite notorious for slippage.

The book is aimed at commuter and utility bicyclists who ride upright bikes at speeds less than 10mph, on gentle terrain. For this group, the statement might be true.

Grant tends to wildly inflate and extrapolate his ideas, which is completely bogus. If you read the book from the point of view of slow speed bicyclists, then what he says makes more sense.

Yeah, I get that impression. I was conversing with someone who heard his recent interview on NPR, and apparently he made some statements about how bike clothes/etc. are not really required for commuters on < 10mile rides. My reaction was "Spoken like someone who has worked in a bike factory all of his life and has never been a cubicle drone." ;-)

The book is aimed at commuter and utility bicyclists who ride upright bikes at speeds less than 10mph, on gentle terrain. For this group, the statement might be true.

Grant tends to wildly inflate and extrapolate his ideas, which is completely bogus. If you read the book from the point of view of slow speed bicyclists, then what he says makes more sense.

I wouldn't fully agree with your description of his target audience in the book. The thesis of the book is that competitive cycling has had a bad influence on biking in America and that it gives non-athletes a skewed view on what it is and what is required to ride a bike. I would suggest that his book is for anyone who doesn't ride for speed/wattage records (so, up to 18mph within your measuring method). He also gives suggestions about gearing, hill riding, and diet.

Note: Yes, he does seem a bit sensationalist at the beginning of his 2-3 page chapters.

"Helmets are crap! Well, I mean that young boys assume invulnerability when they have a helmet on and thus do stupid stuff"

"Don't be predictable! Well, I mean that research has shown that motorists give wider birth to bicyclists who are wobbly and don't look they know exactly what they're doing, so if you want a bit more room, look noobish."

"Stretching is over-rated! Well, long stretching sessions at least. Here are some simple every day stretches that do everything you need..."

"Blinky lights can get you killed! Well, I mean to say that drunks may be attracted to blinky lights."

Yeah, I get that impression. I was conversing with someone who heard his recent interview on NPR, and apparently he made some statements about how bike clothes/etc. are not really required for commuters on < 10mile rides. My reaction was "Spoken like someone who has worked in a bike factory all of his life and has never been a cubicle drone." ;-)

Ya, I wish he would have differentiated by climate, hills, and preferred travel speed. I'm pretty darn non-lycra and ride a hybrid everywhere. But since I weight 228 lbs, live in Southern California, and like to move fast, I sweat very well. To make bike commuting easier on myself, I wear non-cycling-specific athletic shirts and cargo shorts pretty much any time I ride my bike when it's not from my office to just another part of campus. I carry my work clothes with me in a pannier and change in a bathroom at my office.