OK people - I've been doing duathlons for a while yet and always used toe clips - on the basis that I would spend less time in transition if I didn't have to change my shoes.
I need to improve my cycling times and it's being suggested I should use proper clip in cycling shoes. I'm not sure - do you reckon I would get back the extra time I would spend in transition and be faster on the bike or am I likely to come out of it about even ?
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The test will be the sprint at London Tri as I am in spds this year as opposed to trainers, if I am quick enough on the bike to compensate for the time in transition I will be pleased, as this is the shortest distance I would cycle anyway.
The lads/lasses will be along with facts- I just have my opinions and I wouldn't swap back to toe clips now I am used to the shoes.
As Monique says with clipless pedals you get a push/pull driving effect through the whole circumference of the pedaling and infact the action is completely different. Ive just been given a few pointers by LizzyB that have improved my cycling over the last few weeks and that is with the clipless pedals you shouldn’t even be pushing/pulling but putting an even amount of power into the whole pedal revolution so your applying the power in a circular motion rather than up and down. By doing this your using different muscles throughout the whole peddling action rather than just a few with either push or push/pull.
I don’t have any figures but would imagine the time lost in transition would be recouped by the more efficient and powerful pedaling action with clipless pedals.
Did you look to see what other riders were using (must admit I didn’t look particularly but saw some with clipless and some without). Some of the people I was passing and the particularly slow ones didn’t have clipless pedals and thus at the MK Duathlon you’ve only got to be looking at gaining a second a lap to justify them.
It will be interesting to see the statistics and results of Moniques experiment.
Mind you looking at the miserable weather can't say I would have wanted to do it !
Good luck for tomorrow
i think its the wrong way round for the french anyway - ha!
or i mean, hoh he hoh he hoh!
I chose trainers and pedals with toe clips and negotiated transitions area well I felt. The ride was approx 14 miles and so I didnt feel at too much of a disadvantage.
I chose trainers and pedals with toe clips and negotiated transitions area well I felt. The ride was approx 14 miles and so I didnt feel at too much of a disadvantage.
In truth what I need to do is improve my cycling ability overall as that is where I feel I'm really losing out to the other competitors.
I'm new to them as most on here know and again I fell off yesterday. Everytime I've worn them I've fallen at one or other junction. I get confident then forget and bang, down I go!
I expect to fall off again and just laugh about it now - dont care who sees me.
Bandanna Man - Think clipless pedals may save you up 20 secs or so on the Duathlon - more as your cycling ability increases.(though as Hilly says they take a little getting used to).
If your going to stick with cycling I guess going clipless is the way forward to the sooner the better in my book. As ive bee told the best way to get better is just get out there and put the miles in. Im now doing 120 - 150 a week and am noticing quite significant jumps in my ability every week or so, did a 23k (15 miles) in 46 mins yesterday - ave 20mph. Id have never been able to do that 6 weeks ago.
Are you doing the time trial tonight? - im still not sure?
I see on one of the other forums the Stratford tri went well for you - must mean all this training is paying off !