Cycling backward

[Bernard Durand]

I am not sure of this question should be ask on this newsgroup. I apology if not and by all means,
point me to the right newsgroup.

I have seen and have tried a couple of time to pedal backward while taking a spinning class. Is
there any advantage in pedalling backward while training on a spinning bike or a trainer?

Also, someone told me that spinning backward is quite harmful to the pedals as they can become
loose!!! Is this correct?

Regards

Bernard Durand

Ottawa

 

[Peter Cole]

"Bernard Durand" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:GQ_aa.2745$j5.5609@news...

> I have seen and have tried a couple of time to pedal backward while taking a spinning class. Is
> there any advantage in pedalling backward while training on a spinning bike or a trainer?

I sometimes use my fixed gear bike on an indoor mag trainer. I've found it fun sometimes to pedal
backwards. The surprising thing is that there seems to be absolutely no difference in degree of
difficulty in maintaining a given power level & duration whether going forward or back. I don't
think there's any advantage to this, other than amusing oneself. It uses the same muscles.

> Also, someone told me that spinning backward is quite harmful to the pedals as they can become
> loose!!! Is this correct?

Left pedals are left (reverse) threaded for a reason. In theory, I guess pedaling backwards risks
unscrewing pedals, but I haven't had that happen in my (admittedly brief) forays into contrary
pedaling. If pedals do become loose, and are ridden that way, the soft threads in the (usually)
aluminum cranks can get chewed up pretty fast. I guess on a spin cycle the cranks would be steel, so
damage would be slower and more distributed. I can't say I've ever ridden on loose pedals, so I
don't know how obvious they are.

 

[Mark Hickey]

"Bernard Durand" <[email protected]> wrote:

>I am not sure of this question should be ask on this newsgroup. I apology if not and by all means,
>point me to the right newsgroup.
>
>I have seen and have tried a couple of time to pedal backward while taking a spinning class. Is
>there any advantage in pedalling backward while training on a spinning bike or a trainer?

Doing so might concentrate on a slightly different set of muscles than "normal cycling", but if
you're contemplating doing this as training for "normal cycling", why bother. If, OTOH, you are
planning on riding a fixed gear bike backwards for any length of time, it may be just the ticket!

>Also, someone told me that spinning backward is quite harmful to the pedals as they can become
>loose!!! Is this correct?

If they're tightened properly there shouldn't be any problem. However, the tendency will be for the
pedals to unscrew as you ride. While you won't "crash" in the classic sense if a pedal DOES come
off, I can only imagine the damage that a fully spun-up spin cycle flywheel would do to your still
attached leg if you DID fall off the bike. It could be ugly.

Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles http://www.habcycles.com Home of the $695 ti frame

 

[Luigi De Guzman]

"Bernard Durand" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<GQ_aa.2745$j5.5609@news>...
> I am not sure of this question should be ask on this newsgroup. I apology if not and by all means,
> point me to the right newsgroup.
>
> I have seen and have tried a couple of time to pedal backward while taking a spinning class. Is
> there any advantage in pedalling backward while training on a spinning bike or a trainer?
>
> Also, someone told me that spinning backward is quite harmful to the pedals as they can become
> loose!!! Is this correct?

Why are you pedaling backward at all? I've heard this used as a tactic by some of the more
adventurous velodrome racers to gain the rear position in a match sprint...but I'm guessing you're
not one of those...

On a trainer, with a freewheel bicycle, you can pedal backward all you like to no avail. The
freewheel mechanism in the rear wheel will allow you to pedal backward, and will not engage the
wheel in a driving action.

On a trainer, with a fixed-gear bicycle (that is, a bicycle without a freewheel) you would engage
the drivetrain and the wheel would indeed spin backwards.

That still begs the question why on earth you'd want to do it.

-Luigi pedalling forwards gets me from A to B pedalling backwards engages my coaster brake. (man I
miss my nice bike at home)

 

[Ron Hardin]

Bernard Durand wrote:
> Also, someone told me that spinning backward is quite harmful to the pedals as they can become
> loose!!! Is this correct?

No, but you get the opposite of anything you pray for, if you pray on the trainer.
--
Ron Hardin [email protected]

On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

 

[David Reuteler]

Luigi de Guzman <[email protected]> wrote:
: That still begs the question why on earth you'd want to do it.

i've tried riding backwards on my track bike (on the road) with almost no success. i can do it ok on
the rollers, however. anyone have any luck beyond a few meters?
--
david reuteler [email protected]

 

[Maciej Ostaszew]

10 Mar 2003 21:25:32 GMT, David Reuteler :
> Luigi de Guzman <[email protected]> wrote:
>: That still begs the question why on earth you'd want to do it.
>
> i've tried riding backwards on my track bike (on the road) with almost no success. i can do it ok
> on the rollers, however. anyone have any luck beyond a few meters?

I have seen one man riding backward during Cycle Messengers World Championships. He made at least 30
circles (about 15-20 meters each) and he can do much more.

maciek

 

[Buck]

"David Reuteler" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Steve McDonald <[email protected]> wrote:
> : Put on thinking caps and it becomes obvious that the pedals and the crank on a freewheel
> : bike spin in the forward direction when applying power, even when you're facing backwards
> : and the pedals would not come unscrewed. Only if you're on a track bike and are pedaling
> : the crank in a backwards direction, do the pedals have a reversed spin under power.
>
> you would spin the seat 180 degrees, sit on it and ride forward backwards? you're a weird
> boy steve.

Spin the seat? Don't most of these backwards-riders sit on the handlebars?

-Buck

 

[Robin Hubert]

I can ride backwards, but not the way y'all are thinking. It involves sitting on the handlebars or
close to it and pedaling the normal direction (but backwards to the driver). Learned it as a kid.
This works best with cruiser style bars that'll cradle your ass.

Robin Hubert

 

[David Reuteler]

Buck <j u n k m a i l @ g a l a x y c o r p . c o m> wrote:
: Spin the seat? Don't most of these backwards-riders sit on the handlebars? -Buck

apparently.
--
david reuteler [email protected]

 

[M Gagnon]

"Bernard Durand" wrote:

>I have seen and have tried a couple of time to pedal backward while taking
a
> spinning class. Is there any advantage in pedalling backward while
training
> on a spinning bike or a trainer?

I cycle only outside, so my comments might not fit adequately. I have pedalled backwards a few times
when going downhill. Don't ask me why, but at that time, one a bike with rattrap pedals but without
toe clips, it seemed an easier way to relax on long downhills (> 2-3 km) than by pedalling forward
at a low pace. In hindsight, now that I use toe clips (for the last 23 years), I don't think I ever
pedalled backwards since.

>
> Also, someone told me that spinning backward is quite harmful to the
pedals
> as they can become loose!!! Is this correct?

It's actually the opposite. Or it might be. The right pedal screws on normally, but the left pedal
uses left-hand thread. As long as your pedals are in good shape, I don't see any problem. However,
if the bearings in your pedals seize, the pedals would unscrew if you pedal forward, but tighten
more if you pedal backwards. I let you think of what would happen if your pedal jam suddently while
you spin backwards at 100 rpm...

Regards,

--
Michel Gagnon -- Montréal (Québec, Canada) mailto:[email protected]

 

[Lindsay Rowland]

Robin Hubert <[email protected]> wrote:
: I can ride backwards, but not the way y'all are thinking. It involves sitting on the handlebars or
: close to it and pedaling the normal direction (but backwards to the driver). Learned it as a kid.
: This works best with cruiser style bars that'll cradle your ass.

Er..., um... to do this I'd have to swap the pedals around to be able to clip in, but being opposite
threaded this isn't possible. Oh, I know, I could swap the spindles around - too cool!

Cheerz Lynzz

 

[Garmonboezia]

Maciej Ostaszewski <[email protected]> wrote in news:slrn.pl.b6qa5a.1pf.mefju@mefju:

> 10 Mar 2003 21:25:32 GMT, David Reuteler :
>> Luigi de Guzman <[email protected]> wrote:
>>: That still begs the question why on earth you'd want to do it.
>>
>> i've tried riding backwards on my track bike (on the road) with almost
no
>> success. i can do it ok on the rollers, however. anyone have any luck beyond a few meters?
>
> I have seen one man riding backward during Cycle Messengers World Championships. He made at least
> 30 circles (about 15-20 meters each) and
he
> can do much more.
>
> maciek

What city was he from?