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Q: Do locals pedal with their heels in your town?
Seems strange to me but maybe I am the one doing it wrong. Recently I noticed that locals in my town use their heels when pedaling a bicycle. I usually use my toes or at least the front of my foot. I'm wondering if this is just common in northen Shenzhen or is it the same where you live?
10 years 32 weeks ago in Health & Safety - Shenzhen
I've never noticed, but now I'm curious and I'll probably be looking twice at every bike I see..
It seems like a really awkward way to pedal a bike !
I will give a full report in a couple of days. Stay tuned !!!
Maybe it all started long ago with foot binding.
TedDBayer:
I can't imagine finding that attractive, women would have to wear shoes or socks 24/7..
My findings from this mornings dog walk. 26 subjects surveyed, here are the results 
(I did briefly consider making it a pie chart, but then remembered that there is no such thing as good pie in China)
Scandinavian:
It was really hard to find a usable flip flop. I couldn't see the chart done with any other type of shoe.
DrMonkey:
Using the middle the foot and heel are overall efficient (to transmit muscle power to the pedals), while the toes is just not quite as efficient. Ideally, the foot should be placed such as the ankle axis is on the middle of the pedal.
Scandinavian:
@Monkey. There is a reason why the pro's have TOE-clips. It is to use ALL the muscles in the lower extremities. The reason why middle foot pedaling seems to work is when you have a bike with the saddle too low, not well adjusted for your body. I used to ride a lot, and if you are not pulling up with one leg while you are pulling down with the other, then you are not applying yourself.
DrMonkey:
I use the toes when I need to climb a steep slope. I don't seat, I stand on the pedals, and I use deep inspirations. I used to beat all my mates at climbing slopes by bike ^^ Cruise on a flat road, middle of the foot.
icnif77:
@Dr: 'there is big difference between regular bike and pro bike ride. Regular bike ride, you must stand up, because you lack of 'pull' which pro bikers use with clips.
When you stand up and push, you use whole body weight to 'push', and at cycling with clips, one can achieve the same while sitting and use push&pull as Scan is saying. When one get use to 'easy clips release' (at fall), biking with clips is much easier than 'regular' cycling.
The locals in your survey seem to be more advanced in cycling compared to where I am.
The heel method of pedaling is very popular in my town also.
DBowman:
Now I am wondering if it is the same people who drag their feet when they walk.
iWolf:
Maybe it is a genetic thing, sort of like how the moment a girl becomes pregnant she immediately begins to walk like a duck. Or the zombie apocalypse arrived in China first.
I went to a Guangdong AAAA beach (whatever that means) last week and noticed that many girls also wear high heels on the beach.
Scandinavian:
Feet draggers are the pre-diabetics. ! Google it. It's scary !
Scandinavian:
...or alternatively, they are lazy sods with poor footwear
It's simply down to lack of maintenance. With no oil on gears or chains it's hated to pedal so they have to use their heels to get any power into the pedals to get anywhere.
DBowman:
I'll agree with the lack of maintenance. I have found it hard to get maintenance done on a bike here. I suspect that is to improve sales.
Scandinavian:
the closets to maintenance I've been was taking the car to the shop because the trunk automatic release occasionally fails. The guy says. "wait until you have an accident, so we can fix it for free". My retort was a suggestion to not encourage me for insurance fraud and also suggest he look in the terms of the warranty on the car. "the customer is always right" hardly ever in China.
Hotwater:
What car is it Scandi? I bought a Lifan 320 (Mini copy) almost 3 years ago. It came with a 2 year warranty. Never had any problems getting anything fixed for free on the warranty.
how about women in high heals either peddilng a bike or riding a scooter, special skill. steady employment for cobblers.
I see a lot of 'em with their feet splayed out... both pedaling bikes and just walking... seems weird to me. I ride every day. my feet basically pointed forward and my contact area is the front of my foot,, not toes, but whatever it's called right behind toes.
ok.. here's a joke:
Why can't the PLA ever have a good Covert Agency Force ? (Snipers, Assassins, SF)
Because they all drag their feet walking ! flop,flop,flop,flop......
lol (gives their position away)
I think it depends how frequent you ride bicycle. I used to ride bicycle for 3 years and I would switch to use my heels just to let the forward part and my toes to have a break.
I think the reason lies in the pedals. I bought and sold various bikes, foreign and domestic, and the local bikes have rubbish pedals. You can't use the ball of your foot cuz it slips off easily. So use the middle or heel.
Or buy metal rattrap pedals and feel the power! And they cheap!
