Pedals

chi11i

Hi all, got my new bike coming this week, fingers crossed. What are the adv/disadv on clipless pedals? Are they worth geting, what do most people have?

Mickey Eye

Typical answers will be based on what type of riding you do. Then the evangelicals will pipe up about how whatever platform they use is the right one and the other side is just compensating for poor technique.

I use my bike for cross country and also commuting, where clipless really shines. But I'm sure there will be plenty of people to come and disagree.

ratty2k

Depends how comfortable you are unclipping... I personally ride flats, but have SPD's on my road/CX bike as the terrain is mild. Plenty of folks like SPD's for all kinds of terrain, but if just starting out, then I'd stick with flats for a wee bit....
Dont get pulled into SPD's just because "everybody else" uses 'em- there are a large amount of folks very happy on flats.

chi11i

Thanks guys

TomBeardsley

Definetly stick with the flats for a while until your happy doing fast riding and throwing the bike about. Then maybe give SPD's a go. I rode flats for 4 years before I converted to SPD's. They're very good for XC and on the uphills they're great but when you first start with them it can be quite unnerving not being able to pull your feet straight off the bike.
But I've never had a crash where I havn't been able to unclip of where my feet havn't fallen out of the pedals :P
So maybe give it a while and then have a go with them to see. But I wouldn't dive straight in with them. Its a lot easier to learn good technique and bike handling when you have the confidence of not worrying about your pedals.
Hope that helps
Tom

Airienteer

I rode for one year on flats before I tried SPDs. I definately think it's worth sticking with flats initially as they teach good technique, using your weight and foot angles to control and lift the back end not just relying on your cleats. I still use flats for more downhill orientated duties, but you can put more power down (or up!) with SPDs.

neil_sheehan2000

I don't quite understand the 'flats teach good technique' arguement- surely they teach you good technique for flat pedals, no? I mean, if SPDs let you do things in a different- some would say easier- way (I suppose bunnyhops would be the most obvious example), does it really matter if you're only going to be riding with SPDs anyway?

Airienteer

neil_sheehan2000 wrote:

I don't quite understand the 'flats teach good technique' arguement- surely they teach you good technique for flat pedals, no?

Well it's always useful to be able to use flat pedals properly. Plus the techniques learned using flat pedals tend to be a lot more efficient, so you'll be able to bunny hop higher.

Northwind

neil_sheehan2000 wrote:

I don't quite understand the 'flats teach good technique' arguement- surely they teach you good technique for flat pedals, no? I mean, if SPDs let you do things in a different- some would say easier- way (I suppose bunnyhops would be the most obvious example), does it really matter if you're only going to be riding with SPDs anyway?

Good example here is spinning/pedal action... With flats, you have no choice but to have a nice round spin, otherwise your feet will be loose on the pedals all the time. With SPDs, the pedals can force your legs into the round spin, which is the result you want but can *not will* leave you pedalling oval, then being forced into round. Which is inefficient but also ultimately can knacker your knees.

Also, jumping/drops/rough stuff, you can *not will* basically sit on the bike like a sack of spuds as you won't be kicked off. With flats, you need to move with the bike and absorb the impacts in order to stay on- bad jumping with SPDs works, bad jumping with flats leaves you in mid air with your feet waving about.

But, none of these things mean that you can't learn to ride exactly as well with SPDs, and it's nonsense to suggest that flats will teach you things you can't learn on SPDS IMO. But, flats will force you to learn while SPDs won't. These are all techniques that are the same for both flats and pedals mind, flats users get really hung up over the SPD hop, and how it's not a proper bunnyhop and it's just bad technique. But it works! So why not?

chorscroft

I kinda followed the crowd and bought SPDs and instantly regretted it. At the minute my technique is not yet refined enough for SPDs and although I could clip in and out fast enough I didn't feel totally confident with them.
I've now bought a set of Wellgo MG1s which seem great however although they are very grippy you need the right kind of shoes. My nike trainers don't grip well on them so I managed to win a pair of DC skate shoes on ebay for 10 quid
I'll see how they work but I've got a notion for a pair of fivetens. Especially those new freerider ones CRC have got in.

dunker

onto my 3rd year with my bike and now i've got some of my old bike skills back just starting to think about spds. my feet never slip on my flats with my fivetens though, hmmmm still thinking it over.

luvluvlvtoday

Shimano M250, cheap and reliable. Everybody at my bike club has them and are very good pedals.

DiscoStu73

I've just bought my first off road bike and now all my bike mates are telling me to go clipless. I've just spent the day looking at all the various systems and pedals and THEN came across this thread. Bugger!
I'm not comfortable with the clipless idea yet, and I'm still getting used to how my bike feels, as it's very different to my old one.
So having read this I reckon I'm sticking to flats first and upgrade later, as and when required. But I do have another thing to ask about this:
When you say flats, do you mean completely open pedals or pedals with toeclips? My bike has toeclips on the pedals and I don't find it to easy coming out of them either, I prefer bare pedals tbh. But what is the expert advice?

Northwind

Noooooo, no toeclips. Not required, and they're a faff, and terrible if you come off- worst of both worlds. I used to use them all the time back in the old days and I had a few nasty experiences with them, but they were more acceptable back then when pedals had no grip at all. Just Say No. Flat pedals with grub screw "spikes" and a flat skate shoe gives you much better results without the drawbacks.

SpinningJenny

decent flats to start, but that's just me.....

Dazzza

Yup flatties to begin with but if you do decided to go spd go shimano first, it's the most widely available system so parts are easy to find and you get a good mix of float/adjustability.

Started off with dx spd flats then been through time attack/eggbeaters then back to xtr spd's which to me are the dogs atm.

Anyway these are a bargain if you're curious.

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/?fn=produ ... egoryId=81

Just make sure you buy the right cleats for your pedals, i always buy multi release, bit easier to get out.

loltoride

Northwind wrote:

neil_sheehan2000 wrote:

I don't quite understand the 'flats teach good technique' arguement- surely they teach you good technique for flat pedals, no? I mean, if SPDs let you do things in a different- some would say easier- way (I suppose bunnyhops would be the most obvious example), does it really matter if you're only going to be riding with SPDs anyway?

Good example here is spinning/pedal action... With flats, you have no choice but to have a nice round spin, otherwise your feet will be loose on the pedals all the time. With SPDs, the pedals can force your legs into the round spin, which is the result you want but can *not will* leave you pedalling oval, then being forced into round. Which is inefficient but also ultimately can knacker your knees.

Also, jumping/drops/rough stuff, you can *not will* basically sit on the bike like a sack of spuds as you won't be kicked off. With flats, you need to move with the bike and absorb the impacts in order to stay on- bad jumping with SPDs works, bad jumping with flats leaves you in mid air with your feet waving about.

But, none of these things mean that you can't learn to ride exactly as well with SPDs, and it's nonsense to suggest that flats will teach you things you can't learn on SPDS IMO. But, flats will force you to learn while SPDs won't. These are all techniques that are the same for both flats and pedals mind, flats users get really hung up over the SPD hop, and how it's not a proper bunnyhop and it's just bad technique. But it works! So why not?

Excellent post well said, I was so spectical of spds unitl I used them, the speed and control is for me impossible to recreate on flats.

SpinningJenny

my approach is to get used to a completely new bike (first hardtail) first, and then, once i'm sorted, progress to spd if i feel the need...

she handles much differently to my first bike, so it's a vague attempt to not make a complete idiot of myself

DiscoStu73

I'm going round the bend looking at all the pedal options!
I was thinking of getting Wellgo V8s or V12s, so I can get the hang of riding my bike before changing up to clipless. But then I thought what's the point of buying pedals and then buying more?
So, what about the 2in1 variety, like the Shimano PD-M424 or PD-M545? They give the option of trainer or cleat, but do they actually work? Would I get as much grip on them with a trainer as I would on the flat V8/V12?

GHill

The 2in1 pedals are the worst of both worlds IMO. When I tried them I could never get the right side when I needed it and the grip was nothing like it is on my Big Earl flat pedals with pins.

DiscoStu73

GHill wrote:

The 2in1 pedals are the worst of both worlds IMO. When I tried them I could never get the right side when I needed it and the grip was nothing like it is on my Big Earl flat pedals with pins.

I don't mean the ones with flat on one side and SPD on the other- I imagined they'd be a hassle. The ones I mentioned above have both options on each side, so you don't have to worry about getting the wrong one. The SPD part pops-up when you apply a cleated shoe. In theory it sounds great but having never even thought about pedals before I'm in the dark.
Here's the M545:

Dazzza

You would need to use an spd shoe though, remove the cleats if you don't want to be clipped in, if you used ordinary flat shoes the spd part would push you off the cage a bit defeating the whole point.

They are a good compromise though and you can buy shoes that look like your average pair.

Beardface

I think its all personal opinion, and as most others have said, it depends on your riding style too..

personally, I am a massive fan of flat pedals, as I sometimes like to throw my bike, 'moto style' into a corner, with a leg out for (at least what I think to be) extra balance. Maybe its becuase I'm so used to flats and that I'm scared to change over.. it also makes me more comfortable knowing I can put a foot down in that split second if I need to, I just feel I might panic a bit with spd's, but having never used them, I dont know that for sure..

Also, I am a bit sceptical about spds, as I've seen my mate basically front flip, whilst clipped in.. lol, funny as hell now, but looking back, not a pretty sight..

However, thats just my opinion!