Merida Bike Manuel d'utilisateur télécharger pdf (Page 90)

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Pedal systems

Not all shoes are suited for cycling. Shoes

used for cycling should have a stiff sole

and provide a firm support for your feet. If

the soles are too soft, the pedals can press

through and cause foot pain. Moreover, soft

soles make for poor power transmission. The

sole should not be too broad near the heels,

as the rear stays will otherwise get in the way

of your pedalling. This will prevent your feet

from assuming a natural position and may

cause knee pain in the long run.

16. The pedals

If your bike is equipped with platform

pedals for competitive use, they are

sharp-edged for a better hold of the shoes.

There is the danger of hurting yourself, if

you slip off. Be sure to wear protective cloth-

ing.

16.1 Different systems – how they

work at a glance

For sporty biking the pedals recommended

most are those which provide a lock and

release mechanism for your shoe, also

referred to as clipless pedals. The firm connec-

tion between shoe and pedal prevents your

feet from slipping off when pedalling fast or

when riding over rough ground. Besides this,

it enables you not only to push but also to pull

on the pedals, which makes your pedalling

more fluent.

Clipless pedals come with a special type of

cycling shoe which locks onto the pedal. The

usual way to engage with the pedal, is to turn

it to the horizontal using the tip of the cleat

(the plate on the sole of the shoe) and then

rest your foot on it. Most mountain bike ped-

als are equipped with a double-sided lock-in

mechanism, so that you can step on the pedal

with either face up. The shoe engages with

the pedal with a click which you will hear and

feel clearly.

With all commercially available systems the

shoe is disengaged from the pedal by twisting

the heel outward.

Lean against a wall or ask someone to help

you steady yourself when you try to engage

and disengage the shoe from the pedal.

Taking up the pedals, engaging the

shoes and disengaging them by turn

-

ing the heel outward should first be prac-

tised in standing. Later you can refine your

technique in a place clear of traffic.

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