Functional bikes. Not Porn not Anti

http://i.imgur.com/PHmqmqh.jpg

Spotted at Heathrow by redditor fruitylips.

Those pedals are a bit like the Shimano 600AX ones

Surprised that so few people have heard of Cleland bikes. If you've ever ridden a mountain bike then you've been influenced by Geoff Apps' work.

Geoff actually recently sold a 1980s Cleland on Retrobike for a grand. It's more handsome than the modern one:

That ambulance bike, why use p clips right next to the bloody rear rack mounts...

Those pedals are a bit like the Shimano 600AX ones

But look where the pedal axle sits, that's unlike any pedal in mass production. The axle is level with (rather than under) the ball of the foot.

I know nothing about biomechanics but I do know Bont, Speedplay and others make a big deal of the reduced stack of their shoe/pedal systems. If this is a real problem, then I think App just solved it.

He has also introduced a new problem - pedals will be pretty flexy for the same weight. May not be a problem for non-racing cyclists.

Good point, although now the axle does't run through the pedal you can make that axle diameter as bit (and stiff) as you like.

Yeah, but only if you manufacture cranks to match it, otherwise you're stuck with standard 9/16". You could have it widening up to whatever diameter you want (improving stiffness but increasing q-factor) but the tapering section will always reduce stiffness.

Those pedals are on the Cleland to give a lower effective BB height whilst still allowing lots of clearance. Speedplay push their lower stack height to allow a lower saddle height for aero gains, which IIRC is one of the reasons why Hippy uses his mid-foot cleat position.

from tag

Every firefly I see is a beaut, can't get enough of them!

That firefly... No, especially with ti fork.

The main reason I designed these pedals is because they 'cradle' your foot. It's very comfortable, especially off road.
I have a wanged-up knee, and find these help with the chronic pain, almost eliminating it. Because of that knee problem, I can't use clips or anything like that ~ it was being unable to release my foot from the pedal quickly enough that caused the accident in the first place.
Reverting to 'standard' pedals feels very insecure; it feels like your feet are going to fly off the pedals.
I don't notice any flex.
Weight can be much reduced by using a smaller bearing, making them from titanium, and reducing the sealing.
This is the current design intended for off-road use, which occasionally involves stretches deep water, especially this year, and so has a double labyrinth seal at the crank end.
They are designed to fit a standard crank.
The pedal platform can be at any level and they are dead easy to service.
These illustrations may be of interest...

4 Attachments

Heres mine

The main reason I designed these pedals is because they 'cradle' your foot. It's very comfortable, especially off road.
I have a wanged-up knee, and find these help with the chronic pain, almost eliminating it. Because of that knee problem, I can't use clips or anything like that ~ it was being unable to release my foot from the pedal quickly enough that caused the accident in the first place.
Reverting to 'standard' pedals feels very insecure; it feels like your feet are going to fly off the pedals.
I don't notice any flex.
Weight can be much reduced by using a smaller bearing, making them from titanium, and reducing the sealing.
This is the current design intended for off-road use, which occasionally involves stretches deep water, especially this year, and so has a double labyrinth seal at the crank end.
They are designed to fit a standard crank.
The pedal platform can be at any level and they are dead easy to service.
These illustrations may be of interest...

Nice one. Those look really interesting.
Influenced by these?

http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=6d052397-5a93-4ab8-a969-adbcd98ad51e&Enum=109

or;
http://www.speedplay.com/pedalmuseum/images/1898_ramsey_swinging.jpg

There's very little 'new' in bike design.

The last rendered image shows the pedal with the platform mounted in a mid position. Which made me think that the basis of this design would allow the fine tweaking of platform height to compensate for people with unequal legs.

Nice one. Those look really interesting.
Influenced by these?

http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=6d052397-5a93-4ab8-a969-adbcd98ad51e&Enum=109

or;
http://www.speedplay.com/pedalmuseum/images/1898_ramsey_swinging.jpg

There's very little 'new' in bike design.

The last rendered image shows the pedal with the platform mounted in a mid position. Which made me think that the basis of this design would allow the fine tweaking of platform height to compensate for people with unequal legs.

My primary inspiration was back in 1982 with the Shimano Dyna-Drive pedals. However, I wanted a lower platform and the ability for my pedal to fit a standard crank. Over the years I've played around with numerous ways of creating the pedal I wanted.
My workshop and financal resources were (and remain) very limited indeed. The major breakthrough for me was learning to use CAD software and the development in laser-cutting, which is now accurate to 0.02mm. Prior to this, the prototypes cost me in excess of £400, the parts I couldn't make myself being machined by an engineer. Well worth it to be free of pain during and for a couple of days after a ride.
Early on in the design process, I began to realise the potential for varying the level of the platform, and the variety of platform designs possible.
It could form the basis of a very compact folding pedal.
One thing that people don't seem to get is this 'cradling' effect. You can only really appreciate this on reverting to an above-the-pivot pedal after using my swing pedal for some time.
How can I best describe it?
If you push your foot foward on a 'standard pedal' (assuming no cleats or other foot-retaining devices), the pedal rotates slightly with the front end dipping down; your foot will tend to slide off. Same happens in reverse, your foot can slide off the back as well. As you ride along, this is happening all the time, although you don't notice it, or you accept it as a given. This is why clips and cleats, SPDs, and all those things (which I don't like) were invented.
With the swing pedal, if your foot moves foward, the front edge of the platform moves up instead of down, preventing the possibility of slip-off. This applies in reverse, so to get an up-pull on the pedal, you can point your toe down and pull up. The natural motion of the pedal increases the grip your foot has on the platform.
I think the design has tremendous potential, otherwise I wouldn't bother with all the work it takes. The simplest solutions seem to take the greatest effort to devise.

Brilliant. Welcome to the forum Geoff.

Awesome stuff.

I saw another brand with a cradle pedal like this recently but I think theirs required machining to or use of a specific crank arm.

The bike upthread looks bonkers, not something I'm really into but seems like a lot of thought and consideration gone into it.

Yeah that firefly is awesome, would be the perfect touring bike with some panniers etc

Wonderful explanation. Have you any plans to sell your pedals, Geoff? I would be interested in a pair.

Wonderful explanation. Have you any plans to sell your pedals, Geoff? I would be interested in a pair.

I can't afford to get into marketing them.
However, I dare say there'll be a few prototypes turning up on eBay in a few months time.

Awesome stuff.

The bike upthread looks bonkers...

Er, do you mean where it attaches to the crank?
Getting the axle threaded has been a major cost and logistics issue over the years.
I don't want these pedals to cost very much, so I've got round that problem by designing a plain axle which is exactly the same diameter as the threaded hole in the crank.
The axle is drawn through the crank with a countersunk allen bolt and washer, with the final tightening against a similar arrangement at the other end that secures the bearing onto the axle.
This does mean that, with the present design at any rate, the pedal is attached to the crank before the end cap and platform are fitted.
I don't think that will be a problem, though.

I can't afford to get into marketing them.
However, I dare say there'll be a few prototypes turning up on eBay in a few months time.

Awsome, post links if they do! And good luck with getting them to market, there must surely be one for them.

Awesome stuff GeoffApps. Your vids remind me of when I started mountian biking in my local woods around Hampshire. Although I'd be trying to do that sort of stuff as fast as I bloody well could. Still great.
I totally see the benefit in your pedals, would be excellent for downhill too. Actually your pedals remind me of the Flypaper pedals but are probably better!
Keep up the good work!