I've seen that test, and I reject it for a number of reasons, and by their own admission it wasn't a scientific test. On the road or trail we aren't trying to measure pure power in a vacuum.Quote:
Originally Posted by meter-man
The most common way to waste energy while pedaling is to stomp down on the pedals too hard - in other words, continuing to push down once the pedal is at it furthest down position. Any energy delivered to the pedals there gets wasted as foot/shoe compression, frame/BB torque, and heat. It doesn't help you go faster. That's why pro road riders are fixated on pedaling circles - it's just shorthand for not wasting energy at the bottom of the pedal stroke.
A rider trained with tons of miles over years should have a really smooth pedal stroke, and that can help them be smooth in flats. I have a buddy who's a top 5 american triathlete who showed up at a race without his bike shoes. Rode the 100 mile leg barefoot on clipless pedals. Got 2nd or 3rd in the race (though he couldn't walk for a week). Fuck, I can hop on the "pub" bike drunk off my ass and pedal the smoothest strokes you could want on flats, because I spent an enormous amount of time training my body to do that. But most people can't, and even if you can, it's still not as smooth. (looks like the dude in the test, in a lab, was trained enough to pedal smooth) And when you add in the bumpness and randomness of a mtn bike trail, almost noone can be really efficient using flats. In fact, I'd say noone, especially over technical terrain.
But with clipless, I can keep turning circles while bouncing all over the damn place, because I don't have to waste energy staying connected to the pedals. I can also keep hammering rather than trying to control my bike.
In fact, if you know how to do this, think about how you bunnyhop on flats - you kind of twist your foot into the pedal and push down and back to stay connected. That uses energy, and that's the same energy you use to stay connected on flat technical trails using flat pedals.
Also, there's a lot of focus lately on how pulling up on the pedals isn't really done normally and uses more energy than pushing down - all true. But if you are needing seated power for a technical uphill section, I guarantee you can generate more power adding the pull to your stroke, and if you are really on the edge of too tired, and need a little more, accessing a set of muscles that are less fatigued (the upstroke) can get you that little extra you need to stay in touch with the group, etc.
I've ridden an enormous number of miles both on flats and in clipless (hell, and in clips/straps, which some say are actually the most efficient because they eliminate shoe stretch) and I've done the same rides both ways enough to know how much faster I am in clipless. Those anecdotes are at least as scientific as that test.
My opinion, fwiw.
Oh yeah, forgot to add: believe that a non-scientific study with no cohort that is put on the internet by a manufacturer of flat pedals proves that flats are as efficient as clipless AT YOUR OWN RISK. Heh. They even titled it "Does this video prove flats are as efficient as clipless?" Ha. A question. Read - we know this can be proven false so if we just present it as a video and a question then we can't get sued but people that want to ride flats will have the ammunition they need to justify their purchase.
