Ready to go 'clipless'?

vivacasper

Hi all,
Any advice appreciated for pedal/shoe combo's.Fairly new to road riding and on a pretty tight budget.£100.Just looking to hear a few personal experiences/recommendations.
Cheers,
vivacasper

rc856

Welcome to the forum
Best advice might be to pop to your local bike shop and try on some shoes.
I use Specialized BG (body geometry) shoes, with Specialized inserts, and they suit me fine.
They might not suit you if your feet are wider/narrower etc.

As for pedals, I've been using Time RXS carbons for a few years without any issues although I've never tried any others.

gregster10217

Think you'll be struggling to get Spesh BG shoes and Time RXS pedals for £100!!!!!

Best bet is to have a look at somewhere like Chain Reaction Cyles for shoes,

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Categories.aspx?CategoryID=1550

They have some great deals/clearance items, but try some on somewhere first to get an idea of size. Some shoes need to be a size bigger than your normal shoe size.

Whilst on CRC have a look at these,

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=22687

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=28263

Both ideal starter pedals and will give you an idea if it's something you'll manage, without breaking the bank, before buying a pair of carbon soled shoes for £250+ and carbon pedals at a similar price!

There are of course other websites out there that will offer you good deals, this is one I use, regularly, and they have always delivered v quickly.

Good luck. Come back and let us know when you've got them. There'll be plenty of advice on the best way of getting used to them!

badhorsy

I'm also brand new to the world of clipless pedals.

I chose to go for the Shimano 105 SPD-SL pedals (they match my groupset):
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-105-pd- ... ad-pedals/

and these awesome shoes from Wiggle:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-r1-road-cycling-shoe/

desweller

I have to admit (and I expect to get mildly flamed for this) I do not see a good reason not to buy a pair of the bog standard Shimano SPD pedals and a pair of MTB shoes as your first setup. The Shimano pedals are excellent value, robust, easy to clip into and competitive on weight, plus MTB shoes will allow you to walk around in a manner not reminiscent of an incontinent duck.

vivacasper

Thank you for the replies/links.
Forgot to mention the SPD vs SPD SL dilemma.
Feeling brave I think and will go for SPD SL.

ShutUpLegs

DesWeller wrote:

I have to admit (and I expect to get mildly flamed for this) I do not see a good reason not to buy a pair of the bog standard Shimano SPD pedals and a pair of MTB shoes as your first setup. The Shimano pedals are excellent value, robust, easy to clip into and competitive on weight, plus MTB shoes will allow you to walk around in a manner not reminiscent of an incontinent duck.

I rarely go walking in my road shoes.

CiB

+1 on the Shimano MTB pedals.

rolf_f

CiB wrote:

+1 on the Shimano MTB pedals.

+2. A big advantage is that the clip in action is simpler - more press and twist rather than flick forward, hook cleat in, press down and hope you are clipping in to the right side of the pedal

The walking issue is worth thinking about - I don't walk far in bike shoes but, for work, I do have to climb and descend 4 flights of stairs most of which have a surface that isn't very compatible with road shoes - too slippy. I've skidded on the stairs more than once in road shoes.

Finally, High on Bikes (via Ebay) will sell you a pair of Shimano MTB pedals for £20 including cleats. Leaves a lot spare for the shoes.

derosa

CiB wrote:

+1 on the Shimano MTB pedals.

+3
Cheap, double sided, reliable. Sound starting pedals that can be used on the commute\winter bike if you choose to move to a more expensive\sportier setup later on.

Buckled_Rims

CiB wrote:

+1 on the Shimano MTB pedals.

and I'll +4 this

I've just tried a new combination on the turbo last night. M520 SPD pedals and Time RXS MTB shoes. These feel really great and as soon as the snow goes away I'll try them out for real on the road. And I can actually walk in them!

My normal road combo is dhb shoes and 105 SPD-SL pedals.

rc856

gregster10217 wrote:

Think you'll be struggling to get Spesh BG shoes and Time RXS pedals for £100!!!!!

quote]

Ah..... :? :oops: , sorry...my brain obviously didn't register that bit.
I'll get my coat........

flasher

Specialized BG road shoe, just go one size up from your normal shoes and Look Keo easy, great way to start off clipless. Shop around ebay etc. and you should get well within your budget, these take you a fiver over!.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/loo ... look%20keo

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... 0-ec019531

Nikko2

Another +1 for MTB style SPD's here. I have some of the cheap shimano SPD pedals and some vittorio shoes. These are stiff soled and have rubber treads. Plus I can use the same shoes on bth MTB and road bike.

I do wonder what the advantage of full on SPD SL with road shoes is. I thought they might have stopped lateral movement in the pedal action but they seem just as bad in that regard.

Headhuunter

The main advantage I think of SPD SL over standard SPDs is the larger pedal platform. If yuo're doing long club rides and the like then you may end up with "hot spots" of pain on your feet from using SPDs. SPDs main benefit is that yuo can buy shoes which allow you to hop off the bike and walk around easily if need be, however on a long haul 60+ mile club ride with few breaks, the tiny SPD platform may not be comfortable. SPD SL and "proper" road bike clipless pedals are designed for comfort over long distance rather than ease of clipping in/out and walkability. Just depends on what riding you'r planning...

kingderham

Bit over budget but you can get a shimano 105 spdsl for under £50.00 and then a good pair of shoes, i went for the shimano r133 (£140.00) as i liked the ratchet buckle system and it is a mid range shoe, also liked the specialised shoe(£150.00) with a turn dile thing to tighten the shoe. I went to my LBS as they will put the peddles on my nike nd set my shoes up for me, but you can get shoes and peddles cheaper of the internet.

vivacasper

Plenty to ponder there folks.
Thanks

holker

Can have best of both worlds check out these
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/triath ... 0000000000
and these
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/triath ... 0000000000

ShutUpLegs

Headhuunter wrote:

The main advantage I think of SPD SL over standard SPDs is the larger pedal platform. If yuo're doing long club rides and the like then you may end up with "hot spots" of pain on your feet from using SPDs. SPDs main benefit is that yuo can buy shoes which allow you to hop off the bike and walk around easily if need be, however on a long haul 60+ mile club ride with few breaks, the tiny SPD platform may not be comfortable. SPD SL and "proper" road bike clipless pedals are designed for comfort over long distance rather than ease of clipping in/out and walkability. Just depends on what riding you'r planning...

+1

BBH

ShutUpLegs wrote:

Headhuunter wrote:

The main advantage I think of SPD SL over standard SPDs is the larger pedal platform. If yuo're doing long club rides and the like then you may end up with "hot spots" of pain on your feet from using SPDs. SPDs main benefit is that yuo can buy shoes which allow you to hop off the bike and walk around easily if need be, however on a long haul 60+ mile club ride with few breaks, the tiny SPD platform may not be comfortable. SPD SL and "proper" road bike clipless pedals are designed for comfort over long distance rather than ease of clipping in/out and walkability. Just depends on what riding you'r planning...

+1

+2

I started with SPD-SL's and it was great. Was riding for me and not commuting though. I started with Shimano PD-R540 pedals and R086 shoes, found them to be great, interaction was really good, tension can be adjusted (makes it easier/harder to get in/out), no dead spots with the shoes and even with cleats on - easy walking at the cake stops!

All comes in under 100 from chain reaction I think !

p.s. Expect to have a 'moment' - It happens to us all

rodgers73

I went to Evans and got some Specialised road shoes and some Shimano SPD-SL pedals all in for approx £107 (shoes about £60, pedals £37). Shoes are great and the pedals are fine once you've spent 10mins or so practicing clipping in and out.

I preferred going into a real shop than buying online as it meant I could try on the shoes rather than guess. Having said that, I only tried these shoes on (no others) and was happy with them straight away. Done about a 1000 miles in them since and no complaints - very comfy all round.

gregster10217

rodgers73 wrote:

I went to Evans and got some Specialised road shoes and some Shimano SPD-SL pedals all in for approx £107 (shoes about £60, pedals £37). Shoes are great and the pedals are fine once you've spent 10mins or so practicing clipping in and out.

I preferred going into a real shop than buying online as it meant I could try on the shoes rather than guess. Having said that, I only tried these shoes on (no others) and was happy with them straight away. Done about a 1000 miles in them since and no complaints - very comfy all round.

Doesn't that make £97???

rodgers73

Damn, it does! I should check my receipt! :?

gregster10217

rodgers73 wrote:

Damn, it does! I should check my receipt! :?

rodgers73

5pudgun

DesWeller wrote:

I have to admit (and I expect to get mildly flamed for this) I do not see a good reason not to buy a pair of the bog standard Shimano SPD pedals and a pair of MTB shoes as your first setup. The Shimano pedals are excellent value, robust, easy to clip into and competitive on weight, plus MTB shoes will allow you to walk around in a manner not reminiscent of an incontinent duck.

+1 I use mtb spd pedals on all my bikes

Super Domestique

I did the whole clipless thing on a way tight budget and went for the dhb r1 shoes as mentioned (got a fiver off for changing my profile in the Wiggle newsletter too) plus some Shimano R540 pedals from CRC @ £25.

As I am new to the whole 'road' scene I have nothing to compare them with so they work fine for me.

Mark Alexander

All good advice I hope it all works well.