We totally get it: there’s something really nice and spontaneous about hopping on your bike in whatever shoes you’re wearing and busting out a few miles, or picking up some groceries down the street. But we’d like to talk about what happens after those first few miles, as riding becomes a lifelong activity or even a mode of transportation. Here are five reasons to consider the leap to clipping-in full time.
Using a platform pedal, even the most powerful pedal stroke is only moving the bike forward from about the 1 o’clock position to the 6 o’clock position on the crank. While the jury is out on exactly how much more acceleration becomes available once your foot is confidently attached to the pedal, tests tend to hover between 20 to 30 percent. This is largely because, whether consciously or not, as one leg is pushing down, the other is pulling up. That extra power might not sound like much in writing, but it’s certainly enough to bring a smile to even the most experienced trail riders.