Zen Cleats and introducing the brand new “uh…no” marker
YellowCrank introduces products that are uniquely engineered or designed. Typically it is left to the reader to judge how useful they think a product might be for them.
But every once in a while, I come across an item where I go “wtf” first, then look a bit deeper and still go “wtf,” followed by a “uh…no.”
My issue in such cases is less so with the aesthetics, or the extent to which the product is useful. Instead, it is with what I think are purely wrong claims being made, misleading the buyer.
I have until now ignored those products, deeming them unworthy of being listed on YellowCrank.
But now I think that it is necessary to call them out, as they not only deceive buyers, but they also do a disservice to all other companies that make an honest effort at developing something that does make a difference and has the possibly equally difficult task at convincing media and buyers of that fact.
Rarely do fraudulent products get called out by the “big” cycling media (besides in some features about past failures), as there is simply no money to be made by mentioning them. Making another review article about the latest Sram groupset or Fizik saddle is more profitable.
Since YellowCrank writes about everything other media does not report on, it makes even more sense to introduce this new category and a new marker, the “uh…no” marker.
YellowCrank’s sign of wtf and disapproval.
Today you’ll read about the first product to get called out here, the cleats sold under the “Zen system” name by the Italian company Skopre.
The claim is that using wedge-shaped cleats changes the “direction of the vectorial push,” accelerating your cadence and, ultimately, your power output.
They are citing a study (they call it a “test”) of one (!), with a rider riding an indoor trainer twice (!), and being able to put out more power when using the Zen cleats. Of course, any result is meaningless.
The set-up, as described in itself, raises many questions; here is the direct quote:
“Protocol and Method
A single trained subject, with use of a bicycle simulator and power meter.
The simulator was set on the biomechanical measures of the subject under
test thus allowing to obtain his best performance of pedalling.
The simulator is equipped with sensors on the cranks able to read
the general power through the power expressed at the pedal.
The simulator is equipped with a magnets motor that allows to
define a constant resistance. The subject was asked to keep RPM
around 80 per minute, read by the simulator.”
Their result showed an increase of about 4% in power output. Sorry, this is nonsense. It just means the subject did not keep the same average cadence in both cases. It does not say anything about the reason why.
I took an image from their website and added my illustration to show that a wedge changes the plane of the pedal; it does not affect the foot position nor its relation to the pedal axis. So there is no difference besides adding weight and mass and slightly increasing the distance from the pedal axis to the foot.
Please save your money and spend it on good coffee before or mid-ride. It will have more effect on your performance.
I have contacted Skopre for comment; if they have anything to add, I’ll share it here.
Hi there, I am based in Italy and I have been working for several years to this project ZENsystem Cadence/Power Booster, and tested with many cyclists both amateurs and pros, and then, after having proven the product works we have launched it and we are finally received positive comments from pro cyclists (not sponsored nor paid) confirm the product works as per the press release that was released yesterday, Nov 24th. Let me know in case you wish to receive samples for your own a testing, and I will be happy to mail them to you. PS: when I lanched CamelBak, BUFF, Rotor and GoPro (I have been scouting and launching innovation during over 35 years to date, many people thought such products would never get to become what they instead became, milestones in the market place, making the day of many happy users, worldwide. Let me know…
Press release above mentioned and picyure of the pro here below:
Dear All at Riteway Japan,
we are pleased to share with you the press release here below issued yesterda. This is an unexpected result due to a kind action of our supplier Roto in Italy (roto.it, Mr. & Mrs. Antonelli manufacturer of our patented ZENsystem Cleat) who sponsored the Pro Cycling Team with their water bottles and gave a few pairs of our special cleats to the team manager who eventually let the riders test them.
You may translate in Japanese and use it at your best in your social network in Japan.
Cheers,
Stefano
Please consider this communication as a Copyright, Private and Personal. The content is intended for the Addressee only, it should NOT to be forwarded or disseminated without the express written permission of the author. If this mailing reaches you but is NOT addressed to You, nor expressly for Your reference, then you are required to immediately delete the entire message from your system. Thank you!
AVVERTENZE AI SENSI DEL DLGS 196/2003 – Le informazioni contenute in questo messaggio di posta elettronica e negli eventuali allegati sono da considerarsi strettamente riservate. Il loro utilizzo è consentito esclusivamente al destinatario del messaggio, per le finalità indicate nel messaggio stesso. Qualora riceveste questo messaggio senza esserne il destinatario, invito cortesemente a darmene notizia via e-mail e a procedere alla distruzione del messaggio stesso, cancellandolo dal Vostro sistema. Costituisce comportamento contrario ai principi dettati dal Dlgs. 196/2003 il trattenere il messaggio stesso, divulgarlo anche in parte, copiarlo od utilizzarlo per finalità diverse
Stefano Doldi > Founder CEO
SKOPRE S.r.l.
Ph. +39 348.56.12.655 | @ s.doldi@skopre.com | http://www.skopre.com
Italy – Via Case Sparse 6, 15050 Sant’Agata Fossili (AL)
Before printing a document think about the environmental impact!
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———- Forwarded message ———
Da: Stefano Doldi
Date: mer 24 nov 2021 alle ore 10:10
Subject: Fwd: COMUNICATO STAMPA – ANCHE I CORRIDORI DI ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI SIDERMEC HANNO PROVATO LE TACCHETTE SPECIALI ZENSYSTEM CLEAT
To:
Ciao Mauro questa è il risultato di una fornitura fatta a mia insaputa da un nostro cliente che sponsorizza con le borracce la squadra,
Un abbraccio
Ste
———- Forwarded message ———
From:
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2021 at 08:34
Subject: COMUNICATO STAMPA – ANCHE I CORRIDORI DI ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI SIDERMEC HANNO PROVATO LE TACCHETTE SPECIALI ZENSYSTEM CLEAT
To:
PRESS RELEASE – THE RIDERS OF ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI SIDERMEC HAVE TESTED THE CLEARS ZENSYSTEM CLEAT
The riders of Androni Giocattoli Sidermec have tried and tested ZENsystem in the version “CLEAT”, special clears for road cycling shoes, which are compatible with Look pedals, which allow you to obtain a real increase in power without additional effort. Some riders of the team, which have confirmed itself as the best Italian team in the Uci world rankings, tested the special cleats during training, and have been able to confirm the actual benefits and increase of power using the system.
ZENsystem is now also available in the SLIP version, an insert that is positioned between the sole and the cleat, compatible with all pedals; the models take advantage of the wedge-shaped design and transform a road cycling shoe into a more performing shoe than any other that does not have it.
Technically, in fact, the ZENsystem design geometrically increases the distance between the pedal axis and the sole, and allows the foot to move forward on the pedal axis by tilting the pedal plane downwards without changing the position of the rider in any way. The result is the optimization of the pedaling thrust vectors near the bottom dead center. At the same time, the compression of the kneecaps is reduced, which greatly affects the mechanical efficiency of pedaling.
ZENsystem, with greater fluidity and comfort, allows you to have an increase in pedaling cadence with a 5% increase in power, especially uphill, passing, in the simulations, from 185.2 watts to 193.4 watts without any effort additional.
More information on ZENsystem can be obtained at https://www.skopre.it/index.php?cPath=23
PRESS RELEASE – November 24, 2021.
Attached one photo.
Fabio Marzaglia
Asteel Sa
+39 3386045992
Responsabile comunicazione Androni Giocattoli Sidermec
Sent from Gmail Mobile
Area degli allegati
By the way,, no one reached out to Skopre to date, or we would have answered ppromptly. Cheers,