Cage Free Pedals are a more approachable solution to increasing pedal stroke power.
Project Focus
Defining the Problem
After seeing a fellow biker nearly fall off her bike at an intersection after failing to place her foot in her toe cage I decided to investigate. I purchased a pair of toe cages and installed them on my bike. After riding nearly 500 miles over the course of one semester and speaking with numerous other cyclists I identified three significant pain points associated with toe cage bicycle pedals.
1. Toe cages flip over easily making it more difficult than necessary for a rider to position their foot in the pedal.
2. Adjusting a toe cage while riding to achieve maximum efficiency is awkward and dangerous as it requires the rider to remove their eyes from the road.
3. Toe cages have a propensity to become unusable if stepped on incorrectly which happens more than occasionally because of problem 1.
While over time my proficiency with toe cages improved they seemed an unnecessary burden for a rider who simply wanted to improve their pedaling efficiency without spending lots of money on clipless pedals and clunky shoes.
Historic Inspiration
150 years of pedal history. The first pedal patented in the United States is pictured top left and featured a counterweight to keep the pedal in one position. I drew from this design and many other successful and unsuccessful pedal designs to find a direction for Cage Free Pedals.
Market Position
Cage Free pedals are designed for the casual commuter; the individual that uses a bike because it is a practical means of transportation. They are not trying to win races, conquer mountains or courier packages. While performance is not their goal they appreciate an improvement in their pedal stroke because they pedal freqently.
Sketching and Modeling
I initially started with two stacked cylinders creating the structure of the pedals. After speaking with a multitude of potential users and a few professionals in the biking world I shifted directions to a more familiar platform based design.
I approached both cyclists and non-cyclists alike with three study models to narrow in on an aesthetic direction. Almost universally those I spoke with preferred the pedal pictured in the top right, as it seemed more in line with what they were accustomed to seeing on bicycles.
Working Prototype
Cage Free pedals are adjustable to accommodate a large range of foot sizes. Using an Allen wrench, the user loosens two set screws, moves the cross bar to the desired height, and tightens the set screws.
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