Trackstands, Are Flats Bad For Your Knees and My Favorite Riding Shoes - a podcast by James Wilson - MTB Strength Training Systems

from 2020-06-24T04:32

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In this podcast I cover...



Skills



Trackstands: The most under-rated skill in mountain biking.



  • At its core this is the skill of balancing without any momentum.


  • The slower you are going the more you need your slow speed balance.


  • Skills like switchbacks, technical climbs and rock gardens all require this skill.


  • Allows you to use skill instead of momentum and luck.


  • Easy to improve/ One of the best uses of your “off trail” training time.


  • Make sure you work both feet forward.



Rider Q&A



Are flat pedals bad for your knees/ role of float in clipless pedals.



  • Your leg and foot don’t create energy in a straight line, they use a spiral motion where the foot “screws” into and off what it is on.


  • This movement is in relation to the ground/ what you foot is on.


  • When you strap the foot to the pedal and restrict its movement in relation to the pedal then your knees will blow up from this lack of rotation.


  • Putting float in clipless pedals allows a little rotation before you unclip, allowing the foot to rotate a little and taking stress of the knee.


  • On a flat pedal your feet aren't restricted in relation to the pedal and so it can create that screwing motion into the pedal.


  • This is the more natural way for your foot to function and captures the rotational energy the foot and leg produces.


  • This is why people with knee problems often see improvement when switching to flats despite the lack of “float”.


  • Float is a solution to strapping your foot to the pedal, which is a product of the unstable forces going into the pedal. 


  • Your foot doesn’t need or want “float” as you find it in no other sport or situation. 


  • If you fix the problem of the unstable energy through a pedal like the Catalyst Pedal then you don’t need to strap your foot on the pedal in the first place.



Gear Review



Sense Of Motion Shoes



  • Small operation making shoes in Montrose CO.


  • Foot healthy shoes.


  • Light and breathable.


  • Dry quickly.


  • Just enough sticky rubber to do the job, especially on Catalyst Pedals.


  • www.SOMfootwear.com 



Until next time...



Ride Strong,



James Wilson


Further episodes of The Riding For A Lifetime Podcast

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Website of James Wilson - MTB Strength Training Systems