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A Flat Pedal with Float? 8-Degree Pedal Offers Actual Float with Normal Shoes

8 Degree Pedal blue hero(Photo/8 Degree pedal)
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Flat pedal riders will get a kick out of this. How about a new flat pedal that uses a “breakthrough technology” of self/centering, flat floating, and is truly clipless? Meet the 8 Degree Floating Pedal.

The press release claims that the 8 Degree Floating Pedal adapts to each rider’s biomechanics by allowing the rider to angle their feet. This, in turn, would/could reduce the risk of discomfort or injury associated with a fixed position on a pedal.

8 Degree Pedal black pair
(Photo/8 Degree pedal)

The “breakthrough” tech is versatile and can work for road and MTB cyclists, BMX, home/gym workouts, or recreational riders. They offer an adjustable range of float from -4 degrees to +4 degrees. This allows the cyclist to fine-tune the pedals to meet their specific needs. This would also make it a breeze to use the same pedals for different bikes, making it a pretty flexible pedal.

You might be thinking, why would need float on a pedal where you’re not clipped in? If you’re running mountain bike shoes with tacky soles, or even just pedals with aggressive pins and normal shoes, it can be hard to move your foot around on the pedal. This pedal would allow you to keep your feed “locked in” on the traction pins, while still allowing for float. Similarly to clipless pedals, that float could make your pedal stroke more comfortable by putting less stress on your joints. That was the idea behind the Funn Hover pedal concept back in 2015.

How It Works

8 Degree Pedal red single

Let me try to explain this. Once you put your foot on the pedal, the pedal will be able to pivot laterally +/- 4 degrees by swiveling the whole pedal body on its spindle, gliding back and forth on an internal rod with springs on either side providing the tension.

I don’t know if that makes any sense, but you can see the pedal work in the video above.

Features

  • 8-Degree Float: Offers an 8-degree float for comfortable foot movement
  • Innovative Design: Unique flat pedal technology
  • Self-Centering: Automatically returns to the neutral position
  • No Special Gear Required: Works with standard shoes
  • Wide Float Range: Pivots laterally +/- 4 degrees
  • Comfort and Efficiency: Reduces strain, and pressure points, and enhances pedal efficiency
  • Injury Reduction: Alleviates the risk of strain by promoting natural leg movement
  • Versatile: Suitable for all cycling disciplines
8 Degree Pedal black single

Currently, there is no word on when these pedals will be available or the retail price. The press release mentioned that they are in the final stages of testing to meet international safety standards. Check the link below to join their newsletter so you can get yours when they drop.

8DegreePedal.com

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22 Comments
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hamjam
hamjam
11 months ago

Every doctor seems to all of a sudden be an expert on clip pedals and they tell you to switch to flat pedals. However, flat pedals have zero float, until now. I think blaming the equipment for injury is crazy considering how many other variables are involved, but these may be worth a try. Looks awesome.

Champs
Champs
11 months ago

There’s an entire subreddit where this will raise a few interested eyebrows, but for me I’ll enjoy Speedplay on the road but keep my flat pedals simple.

John Doe
John Doe
11 months ago

The cycling industry is getting as gimmicky as the golf and coffee industry smh

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
11 months ago
Reply to  John Doe

Never bring up coffee and golf in the same conversation.

Tired of it all
Tired of it all
11 months ago

So… It’s like an elastomer sprung pedal axle? What happens when the spring wears out? How well do the bearings work given the range of motion the pedal goes through? Does it even have bearings? There seems to be a whole sector of the market trying to make flat pedals with all the benefits of clipless pedals by tweaking this and that and it just doesn’t make any sense. Clipless pedals are objectively better than flats for almost all purposes, and flats as they are now give people a psychological feeling of safety. No matter what you do with flat pedals, they won’t reach the performance of clipless, and that is fine.

Mikie B
Mikie B
11 months ago

That’s stupid. Clipless pedals kill more cyclists then any other cause. Prove me wrong.

Mike Wottawa
Mike Wottawa
11 months ago
Reply to  Mikie B

Where is the research on that? Is this data driven?

Eggs Benedict
Eggs Benedict
11 months ago
Reply to  Mike Wottawa

It’s cult/tribal driven.

Mike Wottawa
Mike Wottawa
11 months ago
Reply to  Mikie B

Please show me the article proving your statement

Mike Franke
Mike Franke
11 months ago
Reply to  Mikie B

Clipless pedals don’t kill cyclists. Cyclists with clipless pedals kill cyclists

blahblahblah
blahblahblah
11 months ago
Reply to  Mikie B

prove yourself right

syborg
syborg
11 months ago

You should do a little research. Studies consistently show same or better performance of flats over “clipless” pedals for amateur riders. Same for pros except in the narrow case study of a 200m uphill sprint which clearly favored “clipless” pedals.

“Clipless” pedals are not better than flats.

If you like them then good on ya. That doesn’t make then better for others.

Nathan
Nathan
11 months ago
Reply to  syborg

Citations, please.

Bergsteiger
Bergsteiger
11 months ago
Reply to  Nathan

The big difference is the low rpm high torque situation of that 200m uphill sprint where clipless came out ahead. So for single speed MTB applications there can be an advantage.
The next biggest problem in comparisons is the issue with adaptation or familiarity. I have had people say I tried to ride flats once and did something and my foot came off, so then they beat the drum that flats are bad. That is not a fair comparison.

For average Joe public, taking into account for familiarity there isn’t a real difference. Power is a bit higher on one and efficiency is a bit higher the other way in a lab setting. In the real world eh, not super noticeable.

The largest actual reason for the widespread use of clipless starting in top level competition is say a slipped pedal can cost that fraction of a second between winning and not. That distorts down to you have to use clipless to be a real rider. Meh to that.
For competition and probably most people riding a mix of both is probably the best scenario. Do training on flats to help with pedaling dynamics and not falling into bad technique that clipless can foster, then clipless for racing.

As with everything it seems to be pick a camp and be a dick about it. Totally not needed and with any contact points what works for one person doesn’t work for everyone. Open mindedness to other options is needed.
On a personal note I can ride both, but have mostly switched to flats to prove the naysayers wrong or to support friends with medical issues where a doctor recommended flats for specific issues and then they got way too much backlash from everyone saying that is crap.

Eggs Benedict
Eggs Benedict
11 months ago
Reply to  Bergsteiger

Righteous.

But how about stretching the climb to 10 miles (regular pace, not sprinting). Then let’s see how the two compare. And then do that multiple times over a 100 mile route. Better pedaling efficiency, and superior muscle recruitment. There’s no comparison.

Money
Money
6 months ago
Reply to  syborg

We were joking about the studies, where you searching the interwebs for this here info anyways?

Money
Money
6 months ago

You really just ask if a pedal has bearings?

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
11 months ago

Hoping they make a floating stem next!!!

Sirclimbalot
Sirclimbalot
11 months ago

Is this an April fools day joke? Flat pedals have infinite float… It’s called move your feet.

Ben
Ben
11 months ago

The idea of a pedal with built in float was invented in New Zealand 30+ years by a company called Keywin. They’re still in production.

kim
kim
11 months ago
Reply to  Ben

Finally! cant wait until its available!. My clipless work ok but such a task and obstacle to have to deal with every time I start and stop. especially when I need my feet to disengage immediately do to crash or sudden obstacle. The clipless have caused me to crash many times do to release issue.
If this 8 degree pedal really works as claimed I think will be the choice for lots of riders like me.

Fang Chang bing banger
Fang Chang bing banger
11 months ago
Reply to  Ben

Raced with a guy who used Keywins. Looked like great pedal but was such a niche brand he had a ridiculous amount of spare cleats stockpiled in his garage.

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