nrowensby

OP, have you ever tried clipless? It's really not nearly as hard as you make it out... not to mention, what kind of price do you think an e-clipless system would run?

mawtangent

I think everybody has made up their minds here - "Clipless is super simple already" verses "Why not make it even simpler"...I've used the straps for a while (so I probably don't qualify as an authority on this subject)...why not keep the mechanisms already in use (that people here are applauding) and add a feature (like a button on the handlebars) that will totally disengage the mechanism (holding the shoe to the pedal) instantly, the best of both worlds...it seems there would have to be motors (one in each peddle) involved (there must be a motor with the newish electronic shifting right?) and it would probably be a relatively expensive feature, even though the individual parts would be very basic (redesigned peddles, two tiny motors, and a wireless transmission system).

Buggington

Or a small cable that can pop the clipless mech would be cheaper?

Machka 

+1

Last thing I want is more batteries to worry about. I've gone to a Schmidt hub for my lights so that I can dispense with the batteries.

Machka 

Now here's a great idea!!

Machka 

I take it you don't ride much.

When was the last time you descended a steep hill?

When was the last time you climbed a steep hill?

The last thing I'd want is to ease the brakes on going round a corner on a steep descent ... and suddenly disengage my cleats!! Yikes!!

Go ride some more. Ride a wide variety of terrain and traffic conditions. Ride with clipless pedals. Then give some thought to your idea again and decide if you still think it is a good one or not.

Machka 

The great ideas I've read here only make the clipless pedal experience less simple.

Motors in the pedals?? Oh yeah, that's simple!!

Here's simple ... if you find clipless pedals too complex, don't use them. Ride with platform pedals.

mawtangent

I don't know if I'm following your reasoning, but I'm thinking about the peddles spinning on the end of the (also spinning) crank-arms (and crank itself) and it seems that cables (having to somehow put up with the constant spinning) wouldn't be a solution...unless there was a junction at the top of the crank-arm (where it attaches to the crank)...but there would also have to be a junction where the peddle attaches to the crank-arm...it seems a mechanism at these junctions would have to spin (allowing the sections of cable involved to "not" spin), when the cable is pulled (or released) then that would work its way through the system...my brain is hurting...I think I left out the crank itself, a lot of mechanisms would have to be put in place and the currently solid materials making up the crank, crank arms, and peddles would have to have channels for cable and these theoretic junctions I'm proposing.

mawtangent

Just having fun at 7 AM on a Sunday morning...People don't need electronic shifting either (and someone is going to disagree of course)...I totally agree that the simplicity would not be in the system (adding motors etc.), but it would be slightly simpler/strait-forward for the user to use clipless peddles (with the feature of a quick release button), the often told story of stopping at the red light on the first ride in clipless and falling over would be rarely heard again.

Machka 

I don't know what you use to propel yourself forward, but I use pedals.

Machka 

If people can't remember to unclip so as not to fall over at a red light (the first time or two they use clipless pedals), do you really think they'll remember to press a quick release button?

Buggington

You don't need to be using cleats for this to happen. I do this with my BMX style pedals on my MTB and will quite happily track stand for a bit or go up hills at 2/3 mph. The only time, IMHO when I feel that having cleats is helpful is when sprinting or overtaking.

Nonetheless, you could still do it without the automatic speed thing.

Buggington

I think you're following my reasoning. I don't think there would need to be too many junctions. The cable would just need to be able to rotate right at the final bit, presumably in the pedal itself.

mawtangent

Sure, if it is a case of remembering to do something I see your point, I assumed it had something to do with mastering a technique to disengage the shoe in a timely manner that was a problem.

Machka 

Nope ... it's just a memory thing.

The foot motion to unclip a clipless pedal is slightly different than what you'd do if you were stepping off a platform pedal ... and slightly different than what you'd do if you were pulling your foot out of a toe clip. When a person switches from platform or toe clip to clipless pedals, there's a brief mental retraining period.

When a cyclist who is new to clipless pedals approaches a light that turns red suddenly, the cyclist tries the method he/she was used to (i.e. stepping off a platform pedal) ... but of course that doesn't work, so then the cyclist has to try to remember what to do, all in a split second. And sometimes the memory just doesn't work that fast.

Usually after a week or two with the clipless pedals, clipping out is as natural as the previous method was.

rm -rf

^ That's exactly it. Muscle memory.

I never worry about unclipping any more. It feels just like stepping off the pedal, the twisting motion to unlock the clip is automatic.

JanMM

Let's put some electronics, motors, solenoids, relays, cables, black powder etc. in the shoes, too, while we're at it!

Retro Grouch 

The question is: "Is there a better way of retaining your feet on the pedals than the clipless pedals that we have today?"

I'm guessing the answer for the majority of Bike Forum posters is going to be "No." That would certainly be my answer but that's because my mind is locked into the box of what we are used to. It's easy to shoot down new ideas because they always have flaws, but we'll never find a better way of doing anything unless somebody takes a chance and breaks out of the box.

Machka 

Well, there are several different types of clipless pedals ... some people like one type, some people like another.

And I use a combination which I think is rather unusual, but it works for me.

wphamilton

At first you'd think so (that there'd have to be a rotating junction), but not necessarily. The pedal doesn't actually rotate; only the axle from the crank arm to the pedal rotates. So the wiring only needs to stay out of the way moving in a circle, but not spinning as long as it's not fixed to the pedal axle. Which seems difficult even without worrying about wire twisting. My first thought was to wire along your leg to the shoe, but I suppose that would be inconvenient.

My second thought was to transmit the electric signal through the metal of the chain ring, crank arm and pedal axle, dispensing with that wire altogether.

Maybe the simplest would be a completely wireless solution with a receiver in the pedal.

I thought that a permanent magnet on the pedal side - just a bar where the axle is - mating with a slot in your shoe sole that contains another magnet or electromagnet would be simpler mechanically, easier to disengage and easier to deal with off the bike.

bobotech

I don't ride a lot. Well currently I am not riding at all since I broke my leg a bit over a month ago. But I am a short distance rider due to be me being a clyde. And I have not been riding long, only a few months at best since I was a kid.

Anyway, I think the thing that bothers me the most about the thread is the mocking and condescending treatment towards me that I'm receiving. I don't mind being told that the idea is a bad idea and isn't feasible (like airbags and abs brakes were back in the '70s), but being told like I'm some sort of simpleton is just not nice. I haven't experienced the sad side of BF but I think I got a little taste here. As a new member (less than 4 months), I had not found this forum to be unfriendly in the least but this thread has shaken that view a bit.

Jeff Wills

The treatment shown here is incredibly mild compared to other discussion forums. (Think politics and religion.) As others have said- get more experience, in mileage, in time, in numbers of situations- and then take a look at your idea again and see if it makes sense. I've been riding bikes, working on bikes, and spent time in the business over the last 35 years and I still catch myself considering ideas that won't wash.

Remember that the bicycle is a very simple device and any variation is going to make it more complicated. Sometimes "more complicated" does make sense, but sometimes it's just gratuitous.

rebel1916

Man, you come up with a complicated solution in search of a problem and people are gonna jump on you for it. Especially when you haven't even tried clipless It's the internet, what do you expect. Get a cheap pair of SPDs or some used pedals off ebay, try em for a few weeks, and then you might be qualified to share your feelings with the group

bobotech

Oh I agree fully. But this isn't a politics and religion forum. If I was in Trollheim or the politics forum (there is one here, right, I forget?), I would fully expect to be part of the flaming and fun. Its just that this subforum (BGD) is an odd place to end up feeling ridiculed. This is just general bike discussion.

wphamilton

The same thing could have been said about clipless relative to toe clips, and probably was.

Bobo, there is a natural resistance to anything different from traditional equipment and it's particularly strong where someone has spent thousands of hours doing something a particular way. It's human nature. Ignore it.