Bythlon clipless pedal alternative – a good idea?

edit: For a market overview and comparison of all alternatives to clipless pedals, including Bythlon, you can check out our article on the topic here: Clipless alternatives.

Martin Feuerhahn founded Bythlon Components Co. Ltd., based in Taiwan, with the goal of creating pedals that prevent the foot from slipping off, but also not locking it in like clipless pedals do.
The design is such that you step in the pedal with cleats that match in shape to the negative spaces in the pedal.
Is this a solution for a problem, a solution in search of a problem, or even a bad idea?
To understand the pedals, we need to understands what the benefits of traditional clipless pedals are and then look at what the Bythlon pedals do and what they don’t do.

There are five benefits of traditional clipless pedals:

1. foot cannot slide off pedal
2. during sprint efforts, hard efforts in climbing and standings additional force can be applied in the upwards section of the rotation by pulling upwards
3. the foot will always be on the same position of the pedal, allowing for precise fit adjustments
4. the foot can float (rotate on the pedal), allowing for more free movement, shown to eliminate knee pain for some
5. a better road feel by being more connected to the bike.

The Bythlon pedals certainly achieve 1), 3 & 4 (with a stated 6 degree of float) and arguably contribute to 5).

What they don’t seem to do is help you on your upstroke, and that is what many will argue makes them unsuitable for competitive cycling. 
However, research has shown that when cycling with even power over flatter terrain, all power is typically generated on the down stroke, with close to no or very little contribution on the uplift.  Other studies have shown that trying to actively uplift the pedal does also not lead to more pedalling efficiency. That said, with Bythlon pedals you can still support the uplift, by simply un-weighing your leg that is on the up. All that means is that many road cyclists and especially triathletes would at least have no drawbacks using the Bythlon pedals. For commuters, they might give a better foothold, while still allowing a quick foot down at traffic lights or other situations that require a quick stop.

So are they worth a try? Maybe, especially if you just can’t get used to clipless pedals or have a physical limitation that makes the unclipping motion difficult.

Specs:

• Weight: 144 grams per pedal, 43 grams per cleat
• Size: width 89mm, length 84mm. Pedal centre to crank: 52mm
• Material: PA/glass fibre compound (body), Cro-Mo steel (axle), Fiberglass and TPU (cleats)

Got any feedback or questions? Please comment in the section below!