Clips, shoes

Sewinman

Have been told by Clever Pun that I need the above to go faster. Could people suggest some good/cheap ones?

Thanks in advance. For a Marin hybrid..

Littigator

Yep, I like the Shimano SPD SLs, go for the 105 pedals for a cheap starter rather than the more expensive ultegra or dura ace.

Starter shoes can be had for about 40 quid. Pedals are £15 if you shop around and the cleats are about £15 as well.

biondino

I wouldn't get road shoes, but mtb shoes - then you can actually walk in them off the bike. SPDs or, even better, Crank Bros Eggbeaters are my tip. Wiggle's own-brand DHB shoes look good as a first pair.

Sewinman

biondino wrote:

I wouldn't get road shoes, but mtb shoes - then you can actually walk in them off the bike. SPDs or, even better, Crank Bros Eggbeaters are my tip. Wiggle's own-brand DHB shoes look good as a first pair.

Would they fit the pedals suggested by Littigator?

Thanks both.

2wheelzgood

I'd and have gone with mtb style spds as above. The shoes have recessed cleats so you can walk with them. I now don't have to take extra shoes to my mates etc.
I found some diadora. casual looking black shoes on ebay. I use a cheap pair of powerplay shimano imitations on my singlie but would suggest a bit more cash spending on some shimanos as the bearings have gone in 5 months of abuse. double sided shimano 520 are the basic ones, or 540 or others

Egg beates look good too and you can also walk in them

lost_in_thought

I'm a +1 for the MTB ones, SPDs, unless you're a gifted ice-skater the SPD-SL shoes look treacherous. The SPD shoes won't fit the SPD-SL pedals.

I managed to pick up some SPD pedals for a measly 9.99 from my LBS in Essex, can't check the brand as they were on my bike which was stolen. And you can get just about any shoe from the SPD selection that takes your fancy - head to an Evans or similar big shop which has a good selection and try everything on. There's a huge variety.

I have some SPD sandals which I love and everyone else hates...

patchy

ditto SPDs and MTB shoes - you only really need the full SPD-SL, Time etc setup if you're doing proper road racing (and then you end up in wonderfull conversations about stiffness and power transfer, which always make me want to scrub myself with a brillo pad afterwards).

those sandals are seriously AWFUL.

Clever Pun

the cleats have to match the pedals you buy, the shoes are seperate

shimano or time are good starters and as said mtb shoes are certainly best for commuting

if you head to a shop and get someon to explain, that'll help as you get to see all the component parts and how they fit together

Littigator

patchy wrote:

ditto SPDs and MTB shoes - you only really need the full SPD-SL, Time etc setup if you're doing proper road racing (and then you end up in wonderfull conversations about stiffness and power transfer, which always make me want to scrub myself with a brillo pad afterwards).

those sandals are seriously AWFUL.

OOhhhhh crikey you naughty naughty boy, I'm trying to concentrate on work here...ahem (cough) sorry about that!

That Petrol Emotion

Also, I was always told to purchase shoes such as trainers, cycling shoes etc. during the afternoon as your feet tend to swell during the heat of the day and what seems like a good fit first thing in the morning may not be so comfortable when you go to put it back on later.

Don't know how true this is mind...

Kieran_Burns

I decided on semi-cleated pedals in the end - this way when I am in town and need to be off and on the pedals I can do so easily.

Then when I'm on the country lanes and can clip myself in I have the option.

Oh, and I got a pair of SPD shoes with the recessed cleats for all the above reasons (and not sandals, 'cos they look gay )

biondino

Just to be clear, SPDs and SPD-SLs are different.

- SPDs are traditionally mtb pedals; the shoes you use with them have recessed cleats so not only can you walk easily in them but you can buy shoes that look just like regular shoes.

- SPD-SLs have a cleat that stick out the bottom of the (usually v slippery) sole, which makes them a bit more efficient when riding at speed but you can't walk in them very easily without looking silly, wearing away the cleat and falling on your arse. And, for commuting, you have to put your foot down at every traffic light etc. and the last thing you want to do is slip and fall sideways under a bus.

Kieran_Burns

SPD-SLs have a cleat that stick out the bottom of the (usually v slippery) sole - owned some and they were

but you can't walk in them very easily without looking silly, - I did

wearing away the cleat - you do

falling on your ars*. - just the once and it had been raining

you have to put your foot down at every traffic light etc. and the last thing you want to do is slip and fall sideways under a bus. - nettles in my case!

which is why I now own SPDs

gtvlusso

I use SPD-SL, but then I commute a long way on big roads with no stopping (well, not very often). PD540 pedals and Ultegra Pedals (see bike pics below) and Sidi shoes.

Plus side - comfy shoes, very stable cleat, lightweight, you are locked in!

Minus side - cannot walk in them, not so nice on a busy journey with allot of stops/lights.

SPD's on my mountain bike - Diadora shoes - £20 for the pedals and £25 for the shoes and they are waterproof!!

Plus side- Waterproof shoes and a massive range of styles for all budgets, easy to get in and out of, cheap pedals to replace, shoes you can also walk in.

Minus side - Not as stable as SPD-SL, not as light as SPD-SL, not as stable over a distance.

Basically - go for SPD's!!! Shimano do loads of versions for budgets - shoes, pedals and cleats. Dead simple to change, but remember to put coppaslip on the threads when you change the pedals - will stop the new ones from corroding in!

dafruk

Curses, wish I'd seen this post before puchasing a set of SPD SLs.

Not too much of a shame, but I do use my bike to commute every day so seems I'd have been better off with just SPDs. Still I plan on getting a proper road bike (as a second bike) once I get the annual bonus so they won't go to waste.

Sewinman

Thanks for all the advice, went to the shop under Embankment and understand the differences now.

It may sound really stupid - but why does it make a difference to speed? :oops:

gtvlusso

SPD-SL cleats and a wet road = trouble when you clip out!

However, don't walk on wooden floors in any cleats!!!! Cost me over a £1000 when I realised the damage I had done walking to the kitchen.

gtvlusso

You can pull on the pedal upstroke as well as push on the down stroke - better for hill climbing.

Also, you are not adjusting your foot on the pedal, you can do this subconciously and loose the pedal connection - keeps you locked in place and focussed on pumping the legs only!

biondino

Having bigged up spds, I actually use Crank Bros eggbeaters which I am super happy with - just bought a second pair for my winter bike. They have all the pluses of spds, are lighter, simpler and cooler

dafruk

biondino wrote:

Having bigged up spds, I actually use Crank Bros eggbeaters which I am super happy with - just bought a second pair for my winter bike. They have all the pluses of spds, are lighter, simpler and cooler

They do look delightfully unusual

So what do the cleats you use with these look like? Presumably they are commonly available, though I've never come across them?

biondino

The cleats are very similar to SPD cleats - let me find a picture:

SPD cleat:

eggbeater cleat: