Ask The TRIA Orthopaedic Surgeon
Today, we have another hot-button issue for our TRIA surgeons and sports medicine specialists to chew on: to clip in or not to clip in.
We all tried out the toe-strap and gym shoe combination when we first began cycling.
They were easy and you could wear your normal gym shoes. It made riding and commuting a breeze!
If you're one of the lucky (and coordinated) few who went straight to the clip-less pedal option, then you more than likely fell at many an intersection or stop sign before you mastered the art of rotating your heels in the opposite direction to free yourself from the binding below.
Why the options? Is one more efficient than the other? It's an obvious technological advancement, but can it aid both biomechanically and physiologically? For this answer, we asked Dr. Fernando Pena, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon, whose specialties include foot and ankle issues, reconstruction, and sports medicine. Here's what he thinks about toe clips and clip-less pedals:
The recreational rider will do well with pedal cages and gym shoes. There will be very little benefit to the financial investment of going to clip-on pedals and shoes. Just make sure they both (shoes and cages) fit you well. A comfortable shoe to go walking may not feel that comfortable after a while of pedaling, as the forces across the ball of your foot are higher. If the shoe is not wide enough, you may experience some numbness of the foot. Be careful with not taking chances for an accident. In case of a need for a rapid dismount, the cages may keep you from separating from the bicycle quick enough and you may suffer more injuries than you anticipated based on the speed at the time of the crash.
If you are planning to move it one level up, clips are always beneficial. The most obvious one is that they allow you to use your hamstrings, back of your thigh muscles, to carry up the pedal, so you fire your quads on the way down and your hamstrings on the way up for that pedal. Another added benefit is to keep your feet straight instead of pointing in or out. That will decrease the chances for any knee cap problems (pain, swelling, tendinitis) once the mileage is increased. The only clear down side is the financial investment. If you use orthotics (shoe inserts) make sure you will be able to fit them into your riding shoes. You may even need to go for an specific pair just for your riding shoes, given their unique width. Similarly, dismounting from a bike with clips, takes time and practice to do it safely and quickly. Be careful those few first times out...
We hope you enjoyed Dr. Pena's response! It took us all a while to figure out how to clip in and out and still stay upright, so don't fret! All it takes is an empty parking lot, some spare time, and a lot of patience!
We all tried out the toe-strap and gym shoe combination when we first began cycling.
They were easy and you could wear your normal gym shoes. It made riding and commuting a breeze!
If you're one of the lucky (and coordinated) few who went straight to the clip-less pedal option, then you more than likely fell at many an intersection or stop sign before you mastered the art of rotating your heels in the opposite direction to free yourself from the binding below.
Why the options? Is one more efficient than the other? It's an obvious technological advancement, but can it aid both biomechanically and physiologically? For this answer, we asked Dr. Fernando Pena, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon, whose specialties include foot and ankle issues, reconstruction, and sports medicine. Here's what he thinks about toe clips and clip-less pedals:
The recreational rider will do well with pedal cages and gym shoes. There will be very little benefit to the financial investment of going to clip-on pedals and shoes. Just make sure they both (shoes and cages) fit you well. A comfortable shoe to go walking may not feel that comfortable after a while of pedaling, as the forces across the ball of your foot are higher. If the shoe is not wide enough, you may experience some numbness of the foot. Be careful with not taking chances for an accident. In case of a need for a rapid dismount, the cages may keep you from separating from the bicycle quick enough and you may suffer more injuries than you anticipated based on the speed at the time of the crash.
If you are planning to move it one level up, clips are always beneficial. The most obvious one is that they allow you to use your hamstrings, back of your thigh muscles, to carry up the pedal, so you fire your quads on the way down and your hamstrings on the way up for that pedal. Another added benefit is to keep your feet straight instead of pointing in or out. That will decrease the chances for any knee cap problems (pain, swelling, tendinitis) once the mileage is increased. The only clear down side is the financial investment. If you use orthotics (shoe inserts) make sure you will be able to fit them into your riding shoes. You may even need to go for an specific pair just for your riding shoes, given their unique width. Similarly, dismounting from a bike with clips, takes time and practice to do it safely and quickly. Be careful those few first times out...
We hope you enjoyed Dr. Pena's response! It took us all a while to figure out how to clip in and out and still stay upright, so don't fret! All it takes is an empty parking lot, some spare time, and a lot of patience!
Labels: Dr. Fernando Pena, MBF, Minnesota Bike Festival, Nature Valley Grand Prix, NVGP, Orthopaedic Surgeon, TRIA
posted by Daniel Gaz at
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