I too was disappointed with the "study." By study I thought Jan meant a scientific study where a hypotheses was rigorously tested with a repeatable methodology that would refine the hypothesis. Instead it was subjective with non-repeatable observations of how Jan reacted to a system that was different to his own pedal system and possibly his own bias. At the end of the short article, we are left with an untested hypothesis that "Uphills, especially short rises, are easier when your feet are firmly attached to the pedals."
I personally don't disagree with this hypothesis, just like in the past I didn't disagree with the hypothesis that tire pressure was directly correlated to speed. I think if Jan had advertised that he had some observations of pedal performance or some such wording, then I would have not had an expectation of a (scientific) study. Joe "huge fan of BQ and pay for 3 subscriptions" Ramey On Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at 12:07:49 PM UTC-6, Jan Heine wrote: > > I am sorry that there was a misperception that we did a detailed study of > pedal retention. We tested a few pedals, both with and without retention, > and the results were interesting. Whether a more rigorous study is needed > when the results are so clear is another matter. To cite an even more > extreme case: Do we also need a rigorous study to prove that a bike with > flat tires rolls slower? > > I think it's pretty clear that during "normal" riding, retention makes > little difference. Grant P. is right when he says that you don't pull up > much, if at all. However, during short efforts on rolling terrain, it's > obvious that you can pull up, and I did realize how much I do pull up when > that ability was taken away. On the same bike and the same course, I > suddenly needed to shift on the smallest hills, whereas usually, I just > roll over them. And getting out of the saddle had no benefit, since I > couldn't lever the bike with my lower foot as a fixed point. Suddenly, my > power output was limited by my body weight... > > In the article, I compared it to opening the lid of a jar. If you hold the > jar with one hand and the lid with the other, you can apply way more force > than if you have your friend hold the jar while you turn the lid. > > Considering this, I am not sure I want to put our limited resources into a > more sophisticated study. > > Jan Heine > Editor > Bicycle Quarterly > Seattle WA USA > www.bikequarterly.com > > Follow our blog at http://janheine.wordpress.com/ > > On Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at 9:28:39 AM UTC-7, Jayme Frye wrote: >> >> Received my summer issue of BQ. I am disappointed with the published >> "test". Not that the test does not support my position but that it was a >> seat-of-the-pants test. I was expecting/hoping for power outputs, VO2 >> charts, lactate threshold kinds of data. This is what I would expect from >> the BQ crew given all the rigor applied to tire testing. >> >> Jayme >> >> On Friday, May 15, 2015 at 9:23:53 AM UTC-5, Patrick Moore wrote: >>> >>> Doubtless of interest to RBW listers. Quoted from the Compass blog for >>> those who don't read it or BQ. >>> >>> I'll be very interested myself, as someone hitherto convinced that >>> retention is a great help. If tests show that retention doesn't help, I'd >>> probably still keep retention on my fixed gears, for safety, and because >>> they do undoubtedly allow pulling up for more torque when climbing steep >>> hills, but would undoubtedly switch to platforms for my off road derailleur >>> bike. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> *Jayme Frye says:May 15, 2015 at 6:27 amI was with you up until SPD >>> clipless pedals. I am not convinced there is any need for retention systems >>> outside the ultra competitive world of pro cycling (primarily sprints). >>> Perhaps you could use your testing methods on the claims that pedal >>> retention systems are more efficient and allow the rider to produce more >>> power by pulling up. That would make for a great BQ article.CheersReplyJan >>> Heine, Editor, Bicycle Quarterly says:May 15, 2015 at 6:55 amWe did test >>> this. It’s in the Summer issue, which will come out soon…Reply* >>> >>> -- >>> Resumes, LinkedIn profiles, bios, and letters that get interviews. >>> By-the-hour resume and LinkedIn coaching. >>> Other professional writing services. >>> http://www.resumespecialties.com/ >>> www.linkedin.com/in/patrickmooreresumespec/ >>> Patrick Moore >>> Alburquerque, Nouvelle Mexique, Vereinigte Staaten >>> >>> ************************************* >>> *The point which is the pivot of the norm is the motionless center of a >>> circumference on the rim of which all conditions, distinctions, and >>> individualities revolve. *Chuang Tzu >>> >>> *Kinei hos eromenon. It moves as the being-loved. *Aristotle >>> >>> *The Love that moves the Sun and all the other stars. *Dante >>> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
