[Closed] Flats - foot positioning

Same really, maybe come back a little on flats. Imagine gripping the peddals with your toes, like an eagle riding a bike.

Whatever feels right for you really but your ankle's a relatively weak joint so the further forward it is, the more leverage you're placing on it- which is one thing if you're clipped in, but if your ankle softens [i]too[/i] much on a landing your foot's going off the back of the pedal in a hurry.

Under the ball feels better to me when climbing but I'm unconvinced that it really is... It doesn't seem to matter much either way tbh. But for descending, heels down and pedals in the arch is best IMO, strong and secure

I find myself agreeing with Northwind a lot recently.

I steal my ideas from the right people.

There are three common positions for Flat pedals:

RAD
DUUUUDE
& GNARRRRLY

For real cycling put SPD's back

Yesterday's ride was broadly split into 2 groups- those who had flat pedals, and those who had SPDs that didn't work because they were full of ice. Real cycling 😉

Axle a bit behind the ball of the foot for uphill and downhill and everywhere. If you think of pedalling in terms of deadlifting rather than running (muscle utilisation is much more like the former than the latter) then it makes physiological sense.

Imagine gripping the peddals with your toes, like an eagle riding a bike.

I'm sorry but WTF?!! This is just weird. Mind you, I've seen MBR giving similar 'advice' on bunny hopping...

Yesterday's ride was broadly split into 2 groups- those who had flat pedals, and those who had SPDs that didn't work because they were full of ice. Real cycling

If your pedals are full of ice, you're doing it wrong!

How does that work? I suppose arguably we were doing it wrong, since we were out in conditions most people wouldn't ride in.

i agree with Northwind in terms of foot position....but choice of pedal and shoes can make a difference as well...

If your pedals are full of ice, you're doing it wrong!

Just don't drop both heels equally - your soles end up parallel again and no increased grip.

If you drop your leading heel more than your trailing one, you can make a 'v' with your feet and push outwards to generate far more grip.

Dropping your trailing heel also moves your weight to the rear.

In fact my trailing foot tends to be toes pointed, a bit like these guys, but easier to see as I'm slower...

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Of course, over thinking this can be more dangerous than bad foot placement.

What do those peeps in those pics know!!! Nuffin!!!

It's like this...
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Those peeps might have good feet positions, but why are they wearing pyjamas?? 😉

By the time you get your feet in the right position I'll be waiting at the bottom of the hill.

"Real" cycling!?

How about you don't think too much about it?

The more you start worrying about your body position, foot position, attack position, elbow position, knee position, saddle position, blah blah blah.... then less you're concentrating on riding your bicycle in what feels the most natural way for the terrain under your wheels.

No idea how my feet sit on the pedals, they constantly change as required... my clips are quite loose, so my feet are not in a fixed position.

(Somebody will soon be along to tell me a coaching course will sort that out, and I'm doing it all wrong... 😉 )

Heels on the pedals, toes pointing out and seatpost slammed low.
You'll look ace.

To my mind one of the benefits of flats is the freedom of foot positioning they allow. So I'd agree with what others have said - don't over think it. Though FWIW my feet are in pretty much the same place as in spuds most of the time, possibly a bit further forward if its gnarly (rad, sick etc).

GrAvity slave has the right answer. So too does xiphon. I rode spds for many years and changed to flats when I moved away from pure xc stuff to riding north shore and the like. I found that flats taught me to understand how to handle my bike again. Spds are good but they made me forget the basics like hopping, foot placement, etc. Flats = skill, spd = efficiency

Ball of foot over axle. Leading foot with heel dropped a bit, trailing foot with heal raised a bit.

"Real" cycling!?

Yes you know, the sort where you don't dress up like an American Footballer.

Meh. If you've got knobbly tyres and you're not on tarmac then it's mountain biking surely?

If wearing checkerboard pajamas also meant I could ride like Sam Hill I'd put up with looking silly. 😀

Thanks gravity-slave, it makes sense that does, I shall be giving that a go next time I ride.

SPDs offroad makes me laugh and point. Totally pointless unless you're a delusional tarmac licker. Fact.

And don't believe the crap about "needing" sticky soled flats, gravity [i]still[/i] works when you're on your bike.

Place your foot wherever you like, just don't jump or bunny hop on your tippy toes.

Imagine gripping the peddals with your toes, like an eagle riding a bike.
I'm sorry but WTF?!! This is just weird. Mind you, I've seen MBR giving similar 'advice' on bunny hopping...

Whoosh parrot for one!