I find the scraping mud sensation quite natural, but I don't consider that ankling as I first heard of it. It's also not as if I or anyone is a robot/machine with the incapacity to use different mucscle groups on demand while riding variuos terrains and cadences. The term "ankling" to me infers a conscious effort to dip the heel throughout the stoke, even the bottom. What I'm referring to keeps the foot relatively level thoughout the downstroke, even at the bottom. No straining. If anything I find it more relaxing and very efficient. This is how I learned of it from the Greg Lemond book of the 80's. In scraping mud off your feet, the feet are level all the through the back pull. I do not scrape heel first either(nor walk heel first), it's mid-to-fore foot that hits first, then pull back with a level foot. It's still widely done today by many professionals, because for many riders it's their natural stroke, where their optimal power is. Everyone has their natural way of pedalling though, some keep a level foot, some tend to point the toes down. Saddle height also plays a role here, if the saddle is just too high it'll be impossible to do or even "test" this. Strength, flexibility, mobility all contribute. Even if one "tests" it, unless they stick with it for a long time and find it's suitable for them, they'll likely revert back to what they were doing before. This doesn't disprove the motion however
Regardless, this article speaks to what 'm referring to. https://cacyclinghub.com/what-is-ankling-in-cycling/ On Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 11:07:08 PM UTC-4 [email protected] wrote: > I find that consciously 'ankling', in the 'scraping mud off your shoes' > kinda sense helps a lot in those times when it's too steep to keep > spinning, you don't want to, or can't, stand, and the section is short > enough that shifting isn't worth it. > > I hit this point quite often on my '71 Raleigh Competition. > Because it's a 5-speed. > Because it's got downtubers. (Suntour Symmetrics, which rule.) > But mostly because I suck. > > --Shannon > > On Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 4:12:25 PM UTC-7 [email protected] wrote: > >> Aha, James Nestor, that’s how I found that video. Very interesting, and >> yet one more rabbit hole to fall into. >> >> FWIW, by haplessly following links into links, I found the “Roadman” >> cycling video blog, and one of the principal’s videos encourages low >> cadence, high torque training for more rapid aerobic improvement. >> >> Now, I resolutely *HATE* “training,” but high torque/low cadence is how >> I ride. I must patent a training program involving riding a fixed gear into >> NM spring winds. >> >> Well, at least we’ve dispensed with “ankling." >> >> >> >> On Sat, Mar 14, 2026 at 3:24 PM Chris Halasz <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Patrick >>> >>> This Chris has tried ankling, and has never been convinced of its >>> efficacy. I'm reminded how Jobst wrote >>> <https://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/ankling.html>, bluntly, that "To >>> artificially emulate someone's ankle motion or lack thereof, while >>> pedaling, is as useless as emulating a walking gait. The study laid ankling >>> to rest for a while, but because urban legends have a life of their own, >>> rising again at the slightest opportunity, ankling, with its lore, is >>> assured a long life.” As for me, who's to say that it doesn't work for some >>> people, or like clipless pedals: if you like 'em, use 'em! >>> >>> As a 'slow-'n-steady' pedaler, I do, however, practice a breathing >>> routine that James Nestor <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgD-bUD99gA> >>> wrote was used by professional cyclists, whereupon during high and >>> sustained exertion one inhales (nasally) for three (or so) breaths (or >>> pedal cycles), and then exhales (still nasally, for me, to limit humble >>> bees entering my mouth) for something like five breaths (or pedal cycles), >>> or at least that's how I remember it, and how it works for me! >>> >>> - Chris >>> >> -- 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 [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/182c94b5-25bd-4f7a-92d4-b3da0291a542n%40googlegroups.com.
