Female specific pedals - What's the difference?

[punkypossum]

Just came across these...apart from the fairly girly colour scheme, how are they different? I don't know anything about road pedals, but why would women need different pedals?

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productdetail.asp?productcatalogue=TIMEPEDA485000000000

 

[kyuss]

I think the spring tension isn't a strong, making it easier for folk with little feet to get out.

 

[jimboalee]

I've got Clipless ( can't be bothered to note the model numbers ) and I've set the springs so I can push my shoe in with my hand and then flick it out with my fingers.

If they are lighter, the blokes will be buying them

There are also the Look Keo Elle at 260g.

 

[allen-uk]

A desperate attempt by pedal-peddlers to charge a bit more for something totally unnecessary on the grounds that it is for women (sorry, for girls).

And someone said we didn't need women's lib any more? Gordon bennett...


A

 

[summerdays]

I must admit I have always wondered whether there should be a difference. If our hips are supposed to be wider than a man's (and mine are wider than Mr Summerdays), wouldn't it make sense to have the bottom bracket slightly wider? Or is the difference only a mm or 2?

 

[allen-uk]

Don't give the buggers ideas, summerdays.

 

[grhm]

I believe the idea of adjusting the pedals and/or BB to the width of the rider is not a new phemonenom - a colleague was advised to get a different set of pedals to sort out the bikes "Q factor" so suit her hips.

I'd no idea what Q factor was till I found this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_Factor_(Bicycles) (and I'm still not too sure ).

 

[andrew_s]

I agree with kyuss - they have a lower release force.
Release force generally isn't adjustable on Time pedals.

 

[Dave5N]

Non-issue. Despite some old guard views, experience shows even young kids can cope without problems.

 

[kyuss]

Non-issue. Despite some old guard views, experience shows even young kids can cope without problems.

50 years ago people coped without problem riding bikes that probably weighed the best part of 40lbs. Coping without problems is no reason to not innovate or improve designs for a specific purpose.

 

[Steve Austin]

I thought they would be more more pink.

 

[Headgardener]

I believe the idea of adjusting the pedals and/or BB to the width of the rider is not a new phemonenom - a colleague was advised to get a different set of pedals to sort out the bikes "Q factor" so suit her hips.

I'd no idea what Q factor was till I found this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_Factor_(Bicycles) (and I'm still not too sure ).

That is because there is no info regarding the subject on the Wiki page.

 

[Dave5N]

50 years ago people coped without problem riding bikes that probably weighed the best part of 40lbs. Coping without problems is no reason to not innovate or improve designs for a specific purpose.

Your missing the point. If the spring tension is two weak, then cleat can disengage uninteionally. In some circumstances that can have painful consequences.