Originally Posted by
PaulRivers
"unweighting the pedal" is the phrase I've seen used to describe that, and what the last study I browsed through said was the only thing that actually happened on the upstroke.
I think this is a perfect explanation. I makes the downstroke slightly lighter - similar to how those weight-assisted pull-up machines only offset your body weight, but don't actively help pull you up.
Originally Posted by
PaulRivers
One of the arguments for clipless is that there are a few niche situations where you actually pull up - sprinting, climbing uphill, though normally there is no actual pulling up.
Agree. You are still pulling up, and you can tell by the extra pressure you feel at the top of your foot, but to your first point, you are just unweighting the pedal a bit more.
Originally Posted by
PaulRivers
There's also something like which are faster - black bike shorts of red bike shorts?
Red. Definitely red. Helmets with racing stripes also help.
Originally Posted by
PaulRivers
At a certain point it gets kind of pendantic to argue about it because the only real conclusion (regarding speed) is whether your numbers get faster with clipless or not. One can speculate for a long time, those tend to turn into arguments that go on forever though. :-/
Well, the numbers are better, but could be entirely psychological because I feel more "elite". Could also be the red tights and stripey helmet
