Felling Trees

[screenman]

Second car analogy. Are clips for people who wish cycling was more complicated like motoring?

Do you push down on the pedals when cycling, if so then that is the same as clipping in. Do you twist your foot slightly when taking them off of a flat pedal, I can tell you the answer to that is yes, so there you are unclipped.

Now if you have to think about the clutch when driving a car you are certainly not very experienced at driving.

 

[screenman]

1 Yes
2 More frequently as the years go by.

What about you?

Blimey, what else do you forget about when driving?

 

[mjr]

Do you twist your foot slightly when taking them off of a flat pedal, I can tell you the answer to that is yes, so there you are unclipped.

I've no idea whether I do at the moment and why would I care? It's unimportant and not worth bothering about. Having special rituals to take a foot off a pedal isn't a desirable part of cycling for me. If you think everyone twists their foot when taking them off of a pedal, how do you explain all the clip-falls?

Now if you have to think about the clutch when driving a car you are certainly not very experienced at driving.

20+ years including periods driving coast-to-coast TYVM BLNT. I think about all sorts of engine things (mmm, turbo singing) but that may be because I'm the son of a mechanic who had "the car book" as early reading - I'd say if you don't think about the clutch, then you probably should switch to an automatic and let the machinery manage it for you.

1 Yes
2 More frequently as the years go by.

What about you?

My current car has automatic stop-start and if I forget/fluff the clutch and stall it, it'll restart itself if I press the clutch pedal quickly I don't do it much, but it's nice not to be left doing a manual restart when it happens.

 

[screenman]

I only drive about 35,000 so not in your league and have only done so for the past 43 years, my point about the clutch is that it is not something you have to think about any more, unlike when you first started driving.

 

[mjr]

my point about the clutch is that it is not something you have to think about any more

Yes and my point in response was that if you're only using the clutch unthinkingly, you're probably not using it optimally.

But more relevantly and unanswered: if you think everyone twists their feet when taking them off of a pedal, how do you explain all the clip-falls?

 

[screenman]

Yes and my point in response was that if you're only using the clutch unthinkingly, you're probably not using it optimally.

But more relevantly and unanswered: if you think everyone twists their feet when taking them off of a pedal, how do you explain all the clip-falls?

Go back to the bit about the clutch. I have honestly seen more people fall off bikes when using flats than when clipped in.

I should say I do respect your choice, but a I feel you often spread fear about clueless pedals.

 

[ChrisEyles]

I like the idea of clueless pedals

To be fair, everyone I know who uses SPDs has had a stationary sideways tumble on them at some point, though usually only the once and no harm done. Then again I've come close using toe clips, and am probably perfectly capable of falling off flat pedals too (in fact when the weather gets better and I get my MTB out the shed it can only be a matter of time!).

Think the analogy of a clutch is a good one though - takes a bit of getting used to at first (hence the odd tumble), but after that it's a doddle and doesn't take up any brain space to speak of.

 

[mjr]

clueless pedals

Now there's a Freudian slip!

I've probably also seen more people fall off bikes with flats, but there are far more people riding bikes with flats. It is not my intention to spread fear about clipping-in, but I do wish to challenge the fear and fibs written about flat pedals, that they're somehow unsuitable for Real Cyclists.

 

[screenman]

Wow! what is a real cyclist, that is a good question. In my book there are cyclist and there are thugs on bikes. Clipped in or flopping about I care not, but clipped in is better in my opinion, but there again I may well ride my bike for a different purpose to you.

Now clear off I am trying to get some work done here.