Originally Posted by
Kontact
Why would disabling the way your leg is designed to produce power at the foot be better, especially lacking any real data of a performance advantage?
Because that's not how a leg is designed to produce power? People evolved to walk, run, jump, climb trees etc (bit an eddie izzard reference there). Spinning pedals around doesn't equate to any of those activities. The calf has a minimal effect in power production even in running compared to the upper leg muscles. Some would argue that its job is mainly to function as a shock absorber/return spring. Its only job in cycling is to stabilize the foot.
The whole idea of demanding natural movement in cycling is idiotic. Cycling isn't a natural movement. It goes in the same category of claiming tall riders need longer cranks. They don't btw if it wasn't clear.
Cyclists compete in very short and extremely long forms of racing. If there was a clear advantage to an alternative cleat location, wouldnt it be a proven necessity for RAAM or the like?
I think it has been proven in RAAM. Certainly many RAAM winners and otherwise succesful RAAM riders have used a midfoot cleat position. And we weren't even discussing midfoot position yet. Just pushing cleats back on their original mounting range.
Why do so many people think everyone else is foolishly holding on to outdated techniques rather than noting that these kind of modifications have been tried and discarded many times before?
Because the old stuff hasn't been studied in the past. This is the era of cycling science. I have come to realize a lot of the old ways of doing cycling stuff aren't based on anything valid. Many things are just "we've always done it this way". Others are being done, because one legendary cyclist did that thing. There's usually never any logical reasoning. Just rambling about how "that's how a leg should work naturally" or "it hasn't caught on so it can't be valid"...
Originally Posted by
Trakhak
Novice cyclists almost always position the foot so that the pedal is midway between the heel and the ball of the foot. Why do experienced cyclists, including those who use flat pedals, position the foot so that the ball of the foot is centered above the pedal axle? Or are cyclists with cleated shoes the only ones who profit from a more forward foot position?
[Edit] Come to think of it, I'm not sure that all riders who use flat pedals do position the ball of the foot over the pedal axle. Maybe some who ride flat pedals can weigh in here.
Your typical road racing, which isn't really relevant for your average rider, may have situations where a more forward cleat position can have some advantage. Namely sprinting comes to mind. I was going to mention climbing out of saddle but that isn't really affected. But lots of tradition in pro cycling.
A few reasons why midfoot cleats aren't more common
1) midfoot cleat shoes are incredibly rare. You won't find them even in most well stocked cycling stores. Once you ride a few years with traditional cycling shoes, reaching out and paying immense amounts for midfoot ones is a bit of a leap of faith. Or you could drill your shoes. That's always fun. There are modification kits but really the above still applies
2) fitters don't recommend it. Why? I don't know. Perhaps it has something to do with natural movement...
3) midfoot is still pretty extreme. I haven't tried it and I like to try all the new things especially in fitting. The thought of it is weird even though it would likely be very beneficial especially in the type of riding I do.
4) walking in road shoes with midfoot cleats would likely be far more difficult than it is with the traditional cleat position. Not as bad in SPD's but who uses those? (I do. I ride only SPD's. The narrow Q-factor road pedals force you into is stupid)
5) toe overlap. Midfoot cleat is going to cause big issues there so if you're crit racing or group racing in general, you'd need a bike with a different front geometry. Honestly I think this might be the big one why it isn't commong in pro racing.
In long distance riding toe overlap isn't an issue though.