Rigid cantilevered stud

An article of footwear, comprising:

• an upper;
• a sole member engaged with the upper, the sole member having a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region;
• a first traction element having an attached end, an opposing free end, and a main body portion that connects the attached end and the free end, wherein the attached end is secured to the sole member and the free end extends away from the attached end;
• wherein the free end of the first traction element is positioned a first distance away from a surface of the sole member when the sole member is in an unflexed position and a second distance away from the surface of the sole member when the sole member is in a flexed position, the second distance being greater than the first distance, and wherein the first traction element has a first length between the attached end and the free end that is sufficient to permit the free end to form part of the ground-contact surface of the article of footwear when the sole member is in the flexed position.

An article of footwear, comprising:

• an upper;
• a sole member attached to the upper, wherein the sole member forms a portion of the ground-contact surface of the article of footwear;
• and
• a rigid cantilevered stud having an attached end and an opposing free end, wherein the attached end is attached to the sole member and the free end extends away from the attached end and forms a portion of the ground-contact surface of the article of footwear during at least some times during a step cycle.