• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Become a Premium Member
  • About

Road Bike Rider Cycling Site

Expert road cycling advice, since 2001

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Bikes & Gear
  • Training & Health
  • Reviews
  • Cycling Ebooks
    • Ebooks Training
    • Ebooks Skills
    • E-Articles Training
    • E-Articles Nutrition
  • Member Area
  • Newsletter

Does Toes-Down Pedaling Hurt Control?

Question: My friend is very strong, but squirrelly. He just can’t hold a good line. He pedals with his toes down, and I believe this may be contributing to his problem. Do you agree? — Bob W.

Coach Fred Matheny Replies: I can’t think of any physical reason why pedaling on his toes would make him an unstable bike handler.

Some riders naturally pedal with flat feet, others drop their heel slightly at the bottom of the stroke, and some pedal with their toes pointed down all the way around the pedal circle.

One notorious toes-down pedaler was five-time Tour de France winner Jacques Anquetil. No one ever accused him of being a squirrelly bike handler!

I suspect your friend’s problem is simply poor riding technique, probably due to a tense upper body. You might consider taking him to a grassy field and practicing riding side by side slowly, bumping shoulders and leaning on each other to teach him to relax his arms.

You describe him as strong, so perhaps he lumbers in a big gear that wobbles the bike as he pushes hard on each stroke. If so, have him gear down, spin faster, and concentrate on making circles with his feet.

Two other tips:  Be sure he is looking ahead in the paceline rather than at the back of the rider in front. He should keep the pedals turning instead of coasting and pedaling, coasting and pedaling — even if this requires brief periods of soft pedaling when no force is being applied.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search

Recent Articles

  • Newsletter Issue No. 950
  • Virtual-Based Trainer Racing Notes
  • Elite STERZO SMART Steering Riser Block for Zwift Review
  • UnTapped Salted Cocoa Gel and Waffle – Quick Review

Recent Newsletters

Newsletter Issue No. 950

Newsletter Issue No. 949

Newsletter Issue No. 948

Newsletter Issue No. 947

Newsletter Issue No. 946

Footer

Affiliate Disclosure

Our cycling expert editors and writers choose every product we review. We may earn an affiliate commission if you buy from one of our product links, at no extra cost to you. This income supports our site.

Follow Us

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
Privacy Policy

Still Haven’t Found What You’re Looking For?

Copyright © 2021 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in