Click Click (or clipless pedals)

About 800 km in odometer and here it goes. Before I took the bike to its first service I had gotten new pedals. Unfortunately my tools are not good enough to remove the old ones so I took the pedals to Velosport and they changed them during the checkup. Happy, happy, joy, joy!

The new pedals: Time Z. They come with the cleats.

Don't take this too seriously but clipless pedals are the next thing after the training wheels that everyone should learn to use with bicycles. After you are familiar with them and can spin (it is worth practicing a at least a little bit of that skill). It is up to you if you will be continuing to use them. Initially I thought that pedelec really does not need clipless pedals, but ... once the 25 km/h cutoff point is reached and more velocity is needed! Riding is also more efficient and  that has positive effect to the range of the bike. My guestimate would be around 15-20% more range from the battery due the clipless pedals. If you do start learning to use clipless pedals make sure that you learn how to get your feet off from pedals. Another drawback is that special shoes are needed in order to get the benefit out of the pedals. Then again if you have hard soled cycling shoes you will be able to transfer more of your energy to the pedals. Other plus side I can mention that it is easier to maintain your balance when you are locked in. Waiting in the red lights and you can just balance it out :).

350 km on the pedal, about 5 km with normal shoes.

I've been using Time ATAC in my Trek Fuel pretty much from the start. I learned to ride clipless with the Shimano SPD's. Pedelec has to have option to be ridden without cycling shoes. So I got Time Z pedals. They are big enough to be ridden without special shoes. At first it feels weird when you press against the spring action, but after a little while you hardly notice it anymore. I also suspect that if you would use light soled shoes the soles of the shoes might get chewed down pretty rapidly. Naturally any longer trip I would  use shoes with the cleats. I have three main reasons for going with Time system:

1. No adjustments. There is no adjustments to the locking system. Only adjustment is done with the cleat but I have always found the normal 13 degree rotation good for releasing the foot from the pedal.

2. Float and sideways movement in the pedal. The foot can turn few degrees as well move sideways in pedal, thus you won't break your knee while cycling.

3. Constant release. I always know how much I have to turn my leg in order to open the lock in the pedal. And as there is no adjustments this will not change. Well in the time when the cleat gets worn down there may be little change. But then it will be time to change the cleat soon anyway.

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