When it comes to pedalling efficiency, if you ask anyone, they will tell you that flat pedals are less efficient than clipping in. I’ve even heard crazy claims of 10% or more efficiency gains by clipping in.
You know what? I think it’s a load of rubbish. I’ve been riding flat pedals for about 5 years and do not feel any loss in power or efficiency whether I ride for a short hour blast, or whether I head out for a 40km epic.
I honestly think that flats are comparable to clipping in and it is down to the rider and their level of skill and fitness. I wanted to put this to the test, so having completed a fitness test last week as part of my Fast at 40 video series.
I had a data set to compare to. By repeating the test under similar conditions I would be able to get a good idea whether flats or clips are more efficient. The results were pretty conclusive in 1 respect and left me scratching my head in another.
I hope you enjoy the video. Let me know whether you ride flats or clips!
