A magnetic alternative to clip-ins.

[Andy in Sig]

Strictly speaking this should be in the equipment bit but I think it may be of wide interest. One of the German bike mags (Aktiv Radfahren Sep/Okt) has an article on a new pedal which instead of clips has a strong magnet. This is complemented by a relevant piece of metal in the shoe sole. The sole is also cut to the the shape of the whole pedal, thus enabling the alignment to be got right. Shoes and pedals are made by Mavic. The only problem as far as I can see it is that the article doesn't make mention of the possibility of any lateral adjustment of the position of the shoe in relation to the pedal. The whole thing goes by the name of EZ Ride. I wonder if it will catch on. In principal it sounds like a great idea.

Looks like there is a website www.ezridemavic.com but I can't open it from work.

 

[Aperitif]

Nice thought... being dragged towards the side of a car and hitching an involuntary tow - or cyclists side by side pushing each other over without touching...:?:

 

[Aperitif]

Now I have read the article - I want some!

 

[mickle]

I wonder how they'll function after a traipse through some cow sh!t.

 

[Crackle]

Well my first thought, is that you come out of the office unable to engage the shoe because of all the paper clips stuck to the bottom. Or you are unable to walk up metal ramps without great effort. Both of which are ridiculous I know. Interesting, especially for touring.

 

[Maz]

This could polarise the cycling community.

 

[Crackle]

This could polarise the cycling community.

:?: You've been on right good form recently Maz.

 

[summerdays]

Maybe because the magnet is recessed it won't pick up the paper clips.... it certainly sounds interesting.

Who's going to give it a go and test it for the rest of us?

 

[PrettyboyTim]

Here's some pictures for anyone who can't get through:







But how would you adjust the angle? It doesn't look like the pedal is adjustable.

 

[wafflycat]

Hmm... could this be a solution looking for a problem that's already been solved?

 

[Maz]

Who's going to give it a go and test it for the rest of us?

Magnetom.


IGMC.

 

[Andy in Sig]

Here's some pictures for anyone who can't get through:







But how would you adjust the angle? It doesn't look like the pedal is adjustable.

That's exactly what I see as the chief problem. What I think needs to happen is that the part of the shoe sole which is cut for the pedal needs to be rotatable and then fixable. Looking at the existing design of the shoe, that shouldn't be too difficult.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

mountain bike stuff, nothing to see, move away…

 

[ChrisKH]

One disadvantage, unlike some other pedal mechanisms, you can't adjust float or lateral fit. I can see the attraction though.

 

[magnatom]

Magnetom.


IGMC.

Eh? You want an MRI scanner to test the magnetic pedals and shoes?!

Trust me, you don't want to take anything metallic (ferromagnetic to be precise!) close to one of these scanners!