Pedals & Shoes

Yamabushi

Hi, I am in my mid 40's and have just started cycling after 20 years of doing nothing followed by a couple of years of running !

I bought a Specialized Allez about 2 months ago, which has been brilliant. It has normal pedals with toe clips, which I thought were the norm, but I keep seeing people with shoes that clip into the pedals and have been reading on this site and others about floating and non-floating cleats ! What is this all about ?

Will proper cycle shoes make any real difference to me ? If so what would be a good set up for a beginner like me ? I am doing about 60 -80 miles per week at the moment but want to increase this over the months.

Thanks for any advice

Infamous

Clipless pedals are much better than straps and clips. I only changed from straps to clipless a few weeks ago, and they are so much better.

Apparently, they are more efficient (although I didn't notice any difference), and they make sure your feet are always bolted to the bike, meaning your feet can't slip off at any time, and also meaning you can pedal full circles, if you so wish.

The most common type of cleat are:
SPD
SPD-SL

SPD are mountain bike cleats, they can be used with shoes that you can walk properly in.
SPD-SL are for road bikes, It's a little tougher to walk in, but not that bad.

When you buy the pedals, you get the cleat with them, so If you buy SPD pedals, you need a shoe that can take SPD cleats and so on.

There are other types of cleat (Look and Time etc), if you choose them, make sure the shoe can fit them.

Bamsicle

I had my very first go on Clipless Pedals last night!
So I thought a newbies point of view on this topic may help.

I've been riding off road for about 2/3 years now, and always used flat pedals as I didn't want to throw myself in the deep end. After doing my first mountain bike race a few months ago, I got fed up with my feet slipping off the pedals so following advice I went in search of some clipless pedals. I found some Specialised Women's Specific shoes which were really comfortable, so just had to get some pedals to fit. The spec states that they are suitable with all main types of pedals, SPD and Time were mentioned.

I've heard some bad reviews about SPD so decided to go with Time XS Carbon pedals. It really does depend on what type of rider you are, and it makes a huge amount of difference if you're riding on/off road. I was told that road clipless pedals are a lot harder to get in and out of, so I was advised if I got a road bike to stick with mountain bike pedals, so then I have the same pedals on all my bikes.

You get more float on mountain bike pedals, which is why I say it depends on your riding style. If you prefer to be completely static then maybe go for one of the other brands.
In the short ride I did last night I found it so much better, but prepare yourself for some falling off. The amount of times I 'forgot' I was attached to the bike and 'threw' myself off the bike was incredible. I ended up looking like a 5 year old with a huge graze on my knee where I hit the deck. (To much amusement to my boyfriend).
However, I wasn't put off and quite looking forward to falling off on a proper ride this weekend.

hopper1

Welcome to the forum, Yamabushi.
Clipless is the way to go, mate.
Personally, I have Shimano 105 SPD-SL pedals, with Shimano M131 shoes. I chose the cleats with float (Yellow).
I have SPD pedals and shoes for my MTB.
You will find that proper shoes give much better support to your feet on the pedals.
When clipped in, you are able to pedal more efficiently, too.
When you first start riding with this set up, make sure your pedals are set to minimum, to allow for easy unclipping (instructions provided). Practice clipping in/ out while holding on to a door frame or post of some sort before venturing out on to the road. Try to pick your first ride out on a route with minimum junctions! When approaching traffic lights/ junctions, unclip one foot before you get there!
Pretty soon all this becomes second nature.
You can choose float, or no float cleats. Float allows your foot to move approx. 5-9 degrees during your pedalling cycle when clipped in, which is more forgiving on your knees. If you choose 'non' floating cleats, then you need to spend much more time setting up your cleats on your shoes to avoid later knee problems.
If you ride out and back for training, without stopping then you should look at buying the roadie type set up.
If you plan on a bit of touring, or stop for coffee/ walks etc, then a MTB/ Touring type set up may be more appropriate, as the cleats are set in to the shoe, so allow for easier walking, also have more flexible soles.
Time, Specialized, Shimano & Look are probably the more popular brands. Most do both road and MTB/ Touring set ups.
Pop down to your LBS, I'm sure it will be a lot easier to understand if they show you the available types, and they will be able to advise, too.
Good luck.

cumbriamike

Hi Yamabushi

Maybe this pedal would be a good place to start, the Shimano SPD A520 pedal is classed as a 'touring pedal' but when in the same position as you & noticed that everybody else was using clipless pedals. I bought a pair & they have been just the job

You could then buy an inexpensive pair of SPD shoes & I would recommend getting some overshoes to keep your feet warm & dry (the Endura waterproof ones are brilliant & at only £19.99 fantastic value)

Review of the pedals here http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/article/mps/uan/2525

overshoes here

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... 064?_brc=0

And maybe something like these SPD shoes

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... 683?_brc=0

Hope this has been of help.

alfablue

Cumbraimike, I prefer double sided SPD's (currently using XTRM970's) because I don't want to flip the pedal. When I first started with SPD's I went for the PD-M324 combination pedals (i side flat) but the pedal didn't always lie with the clip in side up, do the A520's do this? I suppose they may have a slight weight advantage over double sided ones

For beginners I recommend PD-M520's, amazing value for £15 to £17 if you shop around.

keef66

Same story as Alfablue. Had the single sided M324's on my mtb so I had the choice of using the plain side with flat shoes for shopping or very lumpy off-road where I'd need to keep putting a foot down, or clip in to the other side when wearing spd shoes on the road or less demanding tracks.

When I got the road bike I specified double sided spd pedals (M540's) so I only need one pair of shoes, and I don't have to worry about which way up the pedal is before clipping in.

And I have shoes I can walk in when I get off the bike.

doktorsteve

If you have wide feet then Specialized seem to be good. The toe box is quite tall as well. I have a hell of a job getting shoes to fit but the spesh road sport were at least as comfortable as any trainers. They take 2 hole SPD and 3 hole Look/Time/SPD-SL.

I bought Look Keo classic road pedals. The cleats have none slip rubber corners which make them OK to walk on but which wear out pretty quickly. I like the width of the road pedals compared to the SPD, and I am happy with the way they click in and out.

If you fit SPD cleats to these road shoes then they click on the ground as you walk and you might be better off with the equivalent off road shoe.

cumbriamike

but the pedal didn't always lie with the clip in side up, do the A520's do this?

When I got the road bike I specified double sided spd pedals (M540's) so I only need one pair of shoes, and I don't have to worry about which way up the pedal is before clipping in.

Its never been a problem 'finding' the right side but as I live in a very rural area I only usually have to unclip either at the end of my ride or if I stop for a break etc

I tried the M540s but felt that the pedal platform on the A520s is more suitable for a road bike but I am sure plenty of 'roadies' would not be seen dead using either!

Yamabushi

Wow - so much useful advice, thanks to everyone, seems like clipless is the way to go !

Will proper shoes stop my toes going numb after about 10 miles as well ?

alfablue

Yamabushi wrote:

Will proper shoes stop my toes going numb after about 10 miles as well ?

They may well do, ordinary shoes have a very bendy sole and this is not too good for the foot under pedalling forces, and you also lose a lot of power. My girlfriend recently started with SPD's and she said now she realises what I was going on about (for so long), she says they have made a huge difference to her hill climbing ability.

hopper1

Yamabushi wrote:

Will proper shoes stop my toes going numb after about 10 miles as well ?

Hopefully! They're probably going numb because they are being forced into your toe clips.
With a clipless system your feet are free of any constriction, apart from your shoe.

keef66

the only time I find my feet go numb is if I tighten the velcro straps a bit too enthusiastically, or fail to allow a bit of extra room when I switch to thicker winter socks.

adeyboy

I went for the Shimano MO75 shoe with the A520 pedal as it allows me to walk into cafes etc perfectly well but gives me the benefits of clipless pedals/shoes. The A520 is a SPD 'touring' pedal, it has a wider cage to spread your foot's weight over the longer distances covered, when compared with the frequent unclipping etc of mountain biking.

These articles
www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/article/mps/uan/3358
www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/article/mps/uan/2525
helped sway things too.

A

the_hundredth_idiot

I've got the A520 and they're fine except ... there was always going to be an except ... they are upside down as often as not. Not a problem if I was going out for a long ride in the country but a bit of a pain as I use the bike for commuting in London - I'm forever clipping in, clipping out for lights, trying to clip in as moving awy from lights (and having to look down to see what side up the pedals are - not a safe manoevure).

I'm tempted to get some of the MTB style double-sided M520s and just swap them over for the A520s if I use the bike for a very long ride. Around town, I think double-sided has to be a better bet.

alfablue

The Hundredth Idiot wrote:

I've got the A520 and they're fine except ... there was always going to be an except ... they are upside down as often as not. Not a problem if I was going out for a long ride in the country but a bit of a pain as I use the bike for commuting in London - I'm forever clipping in, clipping out for lights, trying to clip in as moving awy from lights (and having to look down to see what side up the pedals are - not a safe manoevure).

I'm tempted to get some of the MTB style double-sided M520s and just swap them over for the A520s if I use the bike for a very long ride. Around town, I think double-sided has to be a better bet.

Ah, that's what I suspected (being upside down - this used to get on my nerves) - double-sided is best then, they only weigh about 60g more. M520's work brilliantly. Never felt the need for a larger platform (though this is probably as much to do with the stiffness of the shoe).