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Human Power and Propulsion

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Pedals and Crankset

In bicycles, and many human powered boats and aircraft, pedals couple the rider to the rest of the power train. In this section, the bottom bracket, crankset, pedals, and chain wheel(s) will be considered as a system designed to maximize this power transfer with the minimum of energy loss.

The photograph shows a Zipp pedal on a carbon fiber crank that is coupled to the chain-wheel. The shaft supporting the pedal has low friction bearings and a similar configuration is used in the bottom bracket to minimize the work from the rider lost to friction. Traditional pedals have had cup-cone bearings and the pedal structure is of light metal construction with a cleat or clip to engage the riders shoe. Other pedals may have a non-slip metal or rubber- type surface that holds the shoe in place by frictional forces or uses a special fastener attached to the shoe.

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