Crazy Cyclist

I am having trouble trying to find the correct foot position on my pedals, what is the best position?

joeprim

The ball or just behind it centered on the pedal works for me. It's where clips would keep it oand where "clipless" clips keep it.

Joe

recursive

For me, the "ball" of my foot is just behind the pedal rotation axis.

eubi

Ball of the foot. I see lots of kids (inculding my own) pedalling on the arch of their foot.

I tell them if they keep it up they will get "Parrot Feet"

pnj

my friend is 38, has been riding nearly daily for close to 29 years and rides with his arch over the spindle.
not sure if he has Parrot Feet or not though..

here is a picture of him.

recursive

I think if someone rides enough, they will just naturally assume the proper foot position. When I started, the ball of the foot seemed awkward, so I just pedalled on the arches. 1000 miles later, I noticed I was doing it the proper way. I don't really know when it happened, but if you ride enough, I think you will naturally adjust to the most efficient position.

pnj

there is no 'proper' position. it's whatever works for the given rider......

I ride with my toes just over the front of the pedal. it works for me. but I also slip my pedals more then most do.....

powers2b

My "proper foot position" is gonna be half way up someones a$$ if they build a ghetto ramp like that next to my house.

Enjoy

noisebeam

I would guess that is more likely to happen if ones seat height is correct (i.e. not too low) as well.

Al

thechrisproject

Ramp snob.

eubi

In the old days, we used to do what was called "ankling"

If you didn't have toe clips, you could push backward and pull up on the pedal just after Bottom Dead Center (6:00 position, whatever). You could only do this if the balls of your foot were on the pedals.

powers2b

I think it's called "shrimping" now.

Enjoy

pnj

that's funny.

but what do you find ghetto about that ramp?

it's made with all store purchased wood, using correct tools. the sub box/wall can be arranged in a few different ways depending on how you want to ride it.

Ghetto? I don't think so. but please explain why you think it is....

titanium

actuly there is a proper foot position and its where your feet are if you use clipless of toe clips. It is the proper position because in this position your pedaling is the most efficent. When i started out i was pedaling with the arch of my foot like every begginer. When i switched to using toe clips i say to my dad wow these are great they make pedaling better except its weird having your foot touching the pedal at the ball of your foot, at which point he tells me that the correct position is actuly the ball of your foot. Well i move on to spd's they are even better, im wondering weather i would stick to this position if i took of my spd's

lilHinault

There's a "notch" just ahead of the ball, I guess it's the large bone of the big toe, and that's where the pedal bar ends up under for me, using that position I can ride in just about any shoe no need for special shoes etc. and ankling ends up textbook perfect. I'm surprised they teach anyone to position their feet any other way.

One thing I've noticed though, my right foot wants to toe-in a bit, only ever bothered me when I thought about it.

CommuterRun

I like my cleats set so the ball of my foot is a wee little bit ahead of the pedal spindle. Feet pointed straight ahead, neutral ankling, 0 float.

PWRDbyTRD

I ride with the ball of my foot right infront of the axle, this way my foot can rest more easily, I was onticing I had to hold my foot up more when not spinning due to how forward the axle was.

recursive

I guess it depends on your foot, because I can just relax my foot when it's clipped in, and it doesn't go anywhere, so I don't need to exert any effort to hold it up.

PWRDbyTRD

That's because you probably do. Some plats are HUGE

azesty

I used to do a 30 km round trip for four years with no shoes. It started when it rained near the beginning and I had to spend the rest of the day in bare feet. No lockers availab le. So I started riding with my shoes in my backpack. It was cold sometimes

So I would ride with sort of spikey aluminium pedals, ball on the axle. This would allow me to grip the front of the pedal between my toes and the ball and have some lift of the pedal, not much, but a little.

Many told me that I was a more than a little mad riding with bare feet, but never had an accident. I do ride in shoes now though.

a