SPDs

NGale

With the new bike I am looking to invest in within the next few months I am thinking of possibly investing a few extra quid in some SPDs and shoes.
However I have never used them before and was wondering how easy they are to use, most importantly disengage so I don't fall off!
I also tend to use the arches of my feet to pedal rather than the balls of my feet, so hopefully SPDs may go some way to changing my cycling style.
So how long does it take to get used to them? and if I decide to go for it what are the best pedals and shoes to go for? (allowing for the fact I have weird size 8 feet! :shock: )

dirk_van_gently

NGale wrote:

So how long does it take to get used to them?

Took me 10 minutes, however I was used to using toeclips, so perhaps not such a big step as going from flats.

NGale wrote:

and if I decide to go for it what are the best pedals and shoes to go for? (allowing for the fact I have weird size 8 feet! :shock: )

IMHO Shimano pedals.
as to shoes, well take your pick, there are loads out there, however from personal experience Shimano have always been good for me. Comfortable, and hardwearing.

Bikerbaboon

1) every one falls off once or twice and it will always be right infront of a group of people.
2) once you are used to them you can get your feet out as quick as you can take your feet fomr the flat pedals.
3) you will only beabe to ride on the balls of your feet with spds
4) i would go for MTB spd over road as the shoes are easyer to walk in and can look normal.

Gilbie

Very easy, just need to remember to twist your heel out (or in) Keep on a low retention setting to start and if you use Shimano then the cleat has a fair amount of adjustment on the sole of the shoe. May be worth trying on a grassy field for the first time.

linsen

Not everyone falls off at first! Still best to practise though

Expect your legs to ache - you use different muscles so my pace was much slower for a bit

coffeecup

I fell off once ..... at the bike rack in work....

knocked over some bikes and got a set of handlebars in the ribs :oops:

haven't fallen off since because of the pedals and that was 3 years ago. It becomes second nature and you can loosen them off so that you're not held in too tight.

I've had a couple of accidents commuting where I've gone over the bars and my feet came out without a problem

roger_merriman

i turned the pressure right down and thus far haven't had a clipless moment mind you old red gets used for surrey lanes rather than mean london streets, say. but these where the first clips of any time i'd tried, certinaly by far and away better than any road flats, i'm not conviced for mud plugging but on the black stuff, they are very nice, you feel nice and secure but can clip out easy,

il_principe

Piece of p1ss. I've never had a moment. Took my bro out for his first ride on sun, 24 miles and he had one moment. Typically it was at a busy junction!

They are fab and will help you - I'm not sure that cycling with your arches is not a particularly clever idea!

Jen J

I inevitably took a tumble on my first clipless ride, but then I'm as clumsy and accident-prone as you can get.

My fall happened when I unclipped one side and leant to the other ( :? ), nothing to do with not being able to unclip - I have always found it very easy to unclip, and when I did fall, my other foot unclipped anyway.

It feels so much better - you feel like your actually biking properly, rather than just sat on a saddle and pedalling. I know what I mean anyway...

NGale

jashburnham wrote:

They are fab and will help you - I'm not sure that cycling with your arches is not a particularly clever idea!

No I know, and I am trying to adjust that, although one foot seems willing the other is being a git about it.

Don't know why I pedal like it, always have done for as long as I can remember.

I have kind of come to the conclusion that if I am going to spend out £500 or so on a bike I may as well invest a little extra in some SPDs and shoes.

I have tried toe clips in the past and frankly found them about as useful as a chocolate tea pot and just didn't get on with them, so maybe the SPDs will be the way to go.

lost_in_thought

NGale wrote:

With the new bike I am looking to invest in within the next few months I am thinking of possibly investing a few extra quid in some SPDs and shoes.
However I have never used them before and was wondering how easy they are to use, most importantly disengage so I don't fall off!
I also tend to use the arches of my feet to pedal rather than the balls of my feet, so hopefully SPDs may go some way to changing my cycling style.
So how long does it take to get used to them? and if I decide to go for it what are the best pedals and shoes to go for? (allowing for the fact I have weird size 8 feet! :shock: )

I also have size 8 feet, have a pair of specialized taho shoes,which have cleats and practical soles, go for a 41, and a pair of shimano cleated sandals in a 41-42.

Never had any problems with clipping/unclipping, apart from a few leaning the wrong way moments. Get multi-release SPDs, well worth the extra couple of quid.

passout

I MTB on mine and never had a crash due to them. You'll be fine by your scond ride with them on.

NGale

lost_in_thought wrote:

NGale wrote:

With the new bike I am looking to invest in within the next few months I am thinking of possibly investing a few extra quid in some SPDs and shoes.
However I have never used them before and was wondering how easy they are to use, most importantly disengage so I don't fall off!
I also tend to use the arches of my feet to pedal rather than the balls of my feet, so hopefully SPDs may go some way to changing my cycling style.
So how long does it take to get used to them? and if I decide to go for it what are the best pedals and shoes to go for? (allowing for the fact I have weird size 8 feet! :shock: )

I also have size 8 feet, have a pair of specialized taho shoes,which have cleats and practical soles, go for a 41, and a pair of shimano cleated sandals in a 41-42.

Never had any problems with clipping/unclipping, apart from a few leaning the wrong way moments. Get multi-release SPDs, well worth the extra couple of quid.

You know I think there must be something about women who come from the south west who have large feet, I think we are secretly hobbits or something

I will look at the multi release option. I would perfer the practical kind of shoe anyway, especially if I can get something I can also wear at work.

biondino

This ios the point where I thoroughly recommend Crank Brothers Eggbeater pedals - 4 ways to clip in so you never have to worry about the pedal angle, very light and pretty, and fit any two-holed sole (so are ideal for MTB shoes which trust me, you want).

NGale

biondino wrote:

This ios the point where I thoroughly recommend Crank Brothers Eggbeater pedals - 4 ways to clip in so you never have to worry about the pedal angle, very light and pretty, and fit any two-holed sole (so are ideal for MTB shoes which trust me, you want).

funnily enough those are the ones I was looking at. may look at getting a set on the bike I have now and transfer them out when the new road bike hits the streets.

biondino

They're a great talking point, too. "What the hell are those? How do you stand on them?"

symo

Anyone recommend some spd's that can also be used with normal shoes? You know something with a platform to stamp on in my oh so cool skate shoes on the way to the skatepark?

snakehips

Tiredness can be a cause of 'clipless moments'. I have done the Dunwich Dynamo the last two years and fallen off both times.
In 2007 I was cream crackered at about 4 in the morning and just forgot. I scraped my left knee so badly that I put people off their breakfast when I eventually walked in to the cafe on the beach.
This year I unclipped successfully at one point , but my weight was in the wrong place and I fell off to the other side!

Snake

my bikes ....... http://beta.yudu.com/library/item_details/17432/Snakehips--Bikes