Vorpal what i said was that riding without being clipped in "encouraged the use of the quads" rather than "encouraging" and supporting of the act of peddalling circles. With flat pedals it just isn't possible to activate the 6.00 to 12.00 portion of the cycle in a pulling manner (actually not a conscious pullin action, more sub conscious) by activating the calf and hamstring muscles, or even effectively using the scraping mud of the sole of the shoe technique (aka Greg LeMond), let alone when out of the saddle climbing.Vorpal wrote: ↑30 Jun 2021, 2:54pmEven if I accept the theory that hamstrings are better activated by being clipped in, the needs of pros & sports cyclists are not entirely applicable to leisure and utility cyclists. I certainly wouldn't want any of my bikes set-up the way pros set theirs up.PhilD28 wrote: ↑30 Jun 2021, 1:39pm An interesting paper and absolutely contradictory to what I was taught by national level coaches in training camps when I was a cat 2 road racer.
It also contradicts my most recent bike setup by a UK leading bike fit expert who sets up Ineos riders bikes.
I'll stick with what I've been advised by working pros
If it made that much difference, wouldn't I suffer with problems, hauling camping gear up Norwegian hills? And how did all those cyclists succeed before cleats were invented?
There are hundreds of "expert" opinions on pedal technique and many are contradictory I could quite easily link to articles and papers the counter your argument, such as https://www.roadbikerider.com/what-make ... stroke-d3/ but all I am doing is offering advice from my own experience and through discussions with some of the people who write these papers and books, a couple who have specifically advised me on the most effective ways of engaging all the muscle groups.
That isn't to say I argue with what works for you through your experience, why would I, it would be stupid and pointless. What I am trying to do is assist the OP. One thing about racing, is that it promotes the most effective use of power delivery, and that experience translates very well to touring in my experience.