What is pedal float?
Pedal float doesn’t refer to what happens when flowers are submerged in water — not, at least, in the world of cycling. Instead, pedal float refers to the amount of mobility your foot has when it’s clicked into the pedal of a bicycle. Note the use of the word “clicked” rather than “clipped.” Pedal float is only an issue when using clipless pedals, into which your feet click with the help of a cleat. Don’t worry — it’s confusing even to the pros. Why is pedal float important in cycling? There are a few reasons, the most important of which is its impact on the muscles and joints of the body, particularly the knees. When we talk about pedal float, we’re talking about the degree of rotation the foot has in swiveling from left to right while clicked into the pedal. In other words, the foot shouldn’t be able to float up and down — that would cause the rider to lose thrust during pedaling. With the foot firmly attached to the pedal, the rider is able to maintain force on the upward as well
