The Pedal Laboratory

Maia has brought in some shoes to try out on the new driving simulator's pedals. Which ones let her toes flex the most?

Qandisa is looking for a pair of sandals for pedal pumping at the lab, which come the closest to feeling barefoot. She tries four pairs on each of the four pedals, including two flat-heeled thong sandals, and a low and medium wedge-heeled sandal. Which do you think will allow her toes the most freedom to flex, curl, and scrunch?

Violet is on a mission to find the best shoes for pedal pumping - in other words, the ones that feel most like pressing them barefoot. Violet has exceptionally limber toes, and is thus in search of a shoe - or more likely, a sandal - with a lot of flex. She starts out barefoot, pressing each of the four different types of pedal all the way down, using only her toes. Then she tries a high-heeled sandal, with predictable difficulty due to the heel. She next tries a favorite flat sandal, with flip-flip-like straps at the toes, and is able to get very good action from these. She then tries a closed-toe heel, and a medium-height wedge sandal, with varying degrees of failure. Finally, she tries a flat T-strap sandal, which she reports as being even more flexible than the previous flat sandal, and that feels "like I didn't really even have shoes on."

Chichi wants to see which shoes are most like bare feet for pedal pumping. She first tries out the pedals completely barefoot, and demonstrates some of the most flexible toes we've seen! Then she moves on to a nice T-strap sandal with a low wedge heel, and then a low-heeled thong sandal with practically unlimited flexibility. We believe she is the first technician here to press the valve all the way down with her toes fully in contact with the pedal. On the big grey bellows pump pedal, she even manages to lift up her heel after fully depressing the pedal with her toes, causing the thong to curl upward as much as its decorative elements allow. She then tries a simple flat sandal, and finally, a rare high-heeled thong sandal, and again demonstrates superb flexibility.

Amo tries out a number of shoes, ranging from flat sandals to high-heeled pumps, for use on the laboratory's various foot pedals. Of course, she begins by operating them barefoot, as her control. Which one will she prefer?

The Lab is building a new driving simulator, and Alice wants to check it out. At 4'6" tall, Alice is accustomed to having to adjust her seat for her size two (!) feet to reach the pedals. Once that is accomplished, she methodically tests all the controls, including calibration of the pedals' full travel range.

The Lab is building a new driving simulator, and Alice wants to check it out. At 4'6" tall, Alice is accustomed to having to adjust her seat for her size two (!) feet to reach the pedals. Once that is accomplished, she methodically tests all the controls, including calibration of the pedals' full travel range.

Sablique has brought a number of different shoes to the lab to see what works best on the pedals.

Sadie has brought a few pairs of shoes into the lab, and has set up an experiment to determine which pair provides an experience most similar to barefoot pedal pumping. She begins by working the four pedals with her very limber toes, and then tries a pair of her favorite heels, which predictably, fail to provide adequate flexibility for her toes. A pair of mid-heeled wedge sandals fare better, but the real contest is between two pairs with nearly flat heels and very flexible soles. The first of these - a pair of strappy semi-open sandals, works very well. But the second - a pair of very bare thong sandals with beautiful butterfly ornamentation, allow nearly unlimited arching, toe curling, and similar movement.

Isis has brought in some shoes to try out on the new driving simulator's pedals. Can any of them keep up with her ultra-flexible toes?

Isis has brought in some shoes to try out on the new driving simulator's pedals. Can any of them keep up with her ultra-flexible toes?

Teagan has brought a number of shoes to the laboratory to determine which works best for repetitive pedal pumping.

Nikki begins her test by working each of four different types of pedals barefoot, pushing them all the way down with her un-encumbered toes. Then she proceeds to try out a number of different types of shoes, to see which one provides the best freedom of movement. She starts with a red T-strap sandal with a low wedge heel, then tries a high-heel sandal, a flat thong sandal, a high-heeled pump, and finally, a rare high-heeled thong sandal. Which one do you think will be her favorite?

Amanda Bryant is preparing to inflate some test articles that will require use of the foot pumps, and so wishes she could just do it barefoot, so her toes could flex and scrunch as much as necessary. But she's been advised that she needs at least some sort of sole between her foot and the pedal, for safety and comfort over the long term. While skeptical, she brings in a few sandals, each with a different heel height and style, to see which is most like being barefoot.

Reina has brought in some shoes to try out on the new driving simulator's pedals. Which ones will she prefer for driving?

Reina has brought in some shoes to try out on the new driving simulator's pedals. Which ones will she prefer for driving?

Sadie has brought in some shoes to try out on the new driving simulator's pedals. Which ones will she prefer for driving?

Sadie has brought in some shoes to try out on the new driving simulator's pedals. Which ones will she prefer for driving?

Sahrye has tested the driving simulator's hardware, and now wants to actually simulate some driving. She chooses a small car with an automatic transmission, and a town streetscape with no traffic. What could possibly go wrong?

Sahrye has tested the driving simulator's hardware, and now wants to actually simulate some driving. She chooses a small car with an automatic transmission, and a town streetscape with no traffic. What could possibly go wrong?