Clipless pedal question......

MattC59
MattC59 Posts: 5,408
edited June 2009 in Road beginners
Hi All,
I'm about to start my foray in to the worlk of road bikes and have been wondering about clipless pedals. I'm looking at getting the Ultegra pedals and have read loads of stories of people falling sideways.

I've been using SPDs since they first came out in the early '90s and currently have the tension on my XTR SPDs wound right up. Getting out of them is second nature and I don't even notice th twist when I step off them. I can't remember the last time I fell off due to not clipping out in time.

Are Road clipless pedals harder to get out of / a different technique ? Is the fact that I'm so used to MTB SPDs and don't even notice them anymore going to result in a road/hip interfact situation ?

Cheers........ Matt
Science adjusts it’s beliefs based on what’s observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved

Comments

  • softlad
    softlad Posts: 3,513
    they are no different - just twist your ankle outwards and bingo. If you have been on SPDs for the last few years you will have no problems whatsoever....
  • Mister W
    Mister W Posts: 791
    The technique to clip in is different but, as softlad says, getting out is exactly the same.
  • MattC59
    MattC59 Posts: 5,408
    Hoorah !!!

    No embarassing moments on my side in the road, for me then !!

    Yeah..... Right !!!! :roll:
    Science adjusts it’s beliefs based on what’s observed.
    Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved
  • fnegroni
    fnegroni Posts: 794
    I find SPD-SL harder to unclip than SPD. Not an unwanted feature, but worth noticing.
    http://wokinghamcyclist.blogspot.com
  • father_jack
    father_jack Posts: 3,509
    Agree with fnegroni, because more leverage force to get out. Easier a bit slower clipping in as well.
    Say... That's a nice bike..
    Trax T700 with Lew Racing Pro VT-1 ;-)
  • Gustibus
    Gustibus Posts: 12
    I don't find the road pedals any harder to unclip but they seem harder to clip in. That might be because of the shoes - if I miss in road shoes they slide all over the pedal due to the solid soles. In MTB shoes it's not a problem as the soles have plenty of grip.

    I've only been using a road bike for a few months so maybe I'm just crap :lol:

    My nightmare is clipping in road shoes while starting uphill from a set of traffic lights with a huge queue of traffic behind. First time I tried that I went on my ass, the car behind stopped and the passenger asked if I wanted a lift :oops:
  • Dunkeldog
    Dunkeldog Posts: 138
    Like everything clipping out becomes second nature... like falling off a bike... erm...
  • teagar
    teagar Posts: 2,100
    Gustibus wrote:
    I don't find the road pedals any harder to unclip but they seem harder to clip in. That might be because of the shoes - if I miss in road shoes they slide all over the pedal due to the solid soles. In MTB shoes it's not a problem as the soles have plenty of grip.

    I've only been using a road bike for a few months so maybe I'm just crap :lol:

    My nightmare is clipping in road shoes while starting uphill from a set of traffic lights with a huge queue of traffic behind. First time I tried that I went on my ass, the car behind stopped and the passenger asked if I wanted a lift :oops:

    I find gearing up a couple sprockets just before an uphill red light makes it a bit easier to clip in. Gives you that much more time to clip in before having to stop and give the clipped foot another turn.
    Note: the above post is an opinion and not fact. It might be a lie.
  • MattC59
    MattC59 Posts: 5,408
    Gustibus wrote:
    if I miss in road shoes they slide all over the pedal due to the solid soles. In MTB shoes it's not a problem as the soles have plenty of grip.

    Being a noob to this, I may be stating the blindingly obvious, but has anyone thought of putting a strip of thin, non slip, rubberised tape on the soles of their shoes ? Surely this would give us newbies, at least some, purchase on the pedals when we screw up clipping in.

    Just a thought.............
    Science adjusts it’s beliefs based on what’s observed.
    Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved
  • father_jack
    father_jack Posts: 3,509
    I may be stating the blindingly obvious, but has anyone thought of putting a strip of thin, non slip, rubberised tape on the soles of their shoes ?

    I have stuck a piece of sticky foam on the underside of my left shoe, as that's the side I unclip.
    Say... That's a nice bike..
    Trax T700 with Lew Racing Pro VT-1 ;-)
  • GyatsoLa
    GyatsoLa Posts: 667
    The danger in using road clipless pedals comes not from falling off the bike, but from the first time you walk into a cafe with a shiny tile floor.
  • doog442
    doog442 Posts: 370
    just put your spd's on the road bike...
  • geoff_ss
    geoff_ss Posts: 1,201
    doog442 wrote:
    just put your spd's on the road bike...

    Exactly. I like to be able to walk comfortably in my cycling shoes and I only use SPDs - mostly single-sided ones. So-called road pedals are fine if you're racing but unnecessary for sport/touring use.

    Geoff
    Old cyclists never die; they just fit smaller chainrings ... and pedal faster

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