First fall!!!!

Harry B

It was bound to happen some time. I'd had a glorious day out in the Feb sunshine, gone through some lovely countryside and was just a couple of miles from home when I stopped at traffic lights, took one foot out of the straps. Lost my balance and couldn't get the other foot out in time :? :oops:

Luckily I managed to get my body between the ground and my bike so the bikes fine apart from a couple of scratches on the brake handle

I had a nice graze on the left knee and a puncture wound on the back of my right leg. Other than that it was the embarrasement that was worse :oops: It was schools out time and the road was full of yummy mummys picking up the kids

Throughout the ride and I had been thinking about whether I should go clipless and decided that whilst the improvements in performance might only be slight that would be outweighed by the risk of falling off when I couldn't get my foot out :? :?

So what do I do know? Should I go clipless or not???

Mog Uk

Harry B wrote:

Should I go clipless or not???

In a nutshell.. Yes.....

Random Vince

i've found i can get my foot out mid trackstand if needs be.

couldn't do that with clips due to having to pull my foot back.

I've yet to fall due to clipless,

i've had two falls like you describe due to toe clips, one in 1997 and one in the summer (partially due to cramp)

Ruari

Go clipless, you'll never look back. If you were alrightwith toe-clips, clipless is way better and takes a lot less time getting used to.

Harry B

Ruari wrote:

Go clipless, you'll never look back. If you were alrightwith toe-clips, clipless is way better and takes a lot less time getting used to.

Any suggestions on which make (shoes and peddles) for a medium budget?

Random Vince

Lake or shimarno shoes have worked for me

currently on deore pedals, which are proberbly mountain bike parts knowing me.

just like my rear mech and now my cassette :oops:

Richrd2205

Harry B

Sorry to hear about your fall.

WRT the question about pedals & shoes, there are almost as many opinions as riders who use them. FWIW, I use Specialized shoes, which I would recommend very highly indeed, especially if you have wide feet. They also come in a range of flavours from leisure shoes to full on CF road shoes, which should mean you can find something that suits. For pedals, I use Speedplay Frogs, which I really like, but are something of an acquired taste. Crank Brothers get lots of positive feedback & make both Candy & Mallet pedals that have a fairly broad platform & aren't too expensive.

It's also worth thinking about whether to use road or MTB pedals & shoes: IME MTB pedals are far better for general riding/commuting/city riding etc & road pedals are best for racing & long rides where you don't get off much. Unless you're going to be doing a lot of the latter, then I'd go for MTB pedals/shoes every time.

johnnyc71

I started with these pedals:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... 0%20Pedals

and these shoes:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... TB%20Shoes

The shoes are good for wider feet. My were a perfect fit straight out of the box. The sole is also fairly stiff, compared to some MTB shoes.

I now use these pedals, since they have a platform:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... 7%20Pedals

I really like these pedals.

You can also go for the Wellago style platform on one side and clip on the other:

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgur ... n%26sa%3DN

I prefer the dual sided clip in - don't have to find the right side of the pedal to clip in.

Good luck - and be careful out there!

OffTheBackAdam

Dows this mean that somebody, outside of a 3rd world country, still uses clips & straps? :shock:

Random Vince

i had been doing until october

dont use either on the mountain bike