[CR]RE: Goring a sacred cow/pedal foot movement restraint (Ed Granger)

(Example: Framebuilders:Bernard Carré)

From: <EdVintage63@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Jan 2007 15:05:34 EST
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]RE: Goring a sacred cow/pedal foot movement restraint (Ed Granger)

I think there have been some studies that show that the contribution made by the "off" leg is minimal, but that overall pedaling efficiency is improved. But where I find it really makes a difference and where the upward pull on the pedal really helps is on any hill that it takes more than 30 seconds or so to climb at speed. Most especially long, moderate climbs (3-6 percent or so) done at a good clip. As my leg muscles tire and burn, I can shift some of the effort away from the leg making the downward stroke and away from those muscles as well. By using a different set of muscles more consciously (those engaged in the pulling up motion) I can in a sense "rest" my quads a bit. This makes a huge difference in maintaining climbing speed. I'm sure I'm not the only person who does this. In fact, I'm pretty sure I do something similar in time trial mode or during harder periods of riding like intervals or when closing a gap.

Ed Granger
Lancaster, PA, USA