WIll I benefit from Clipless Pedals and Shoes

zanelad

I cycle 5 mornings a week (on average and weather dependant) and usually ride 16 miles, sometimes 20 at a time. I do so to lose weight and get some exercise.

The bike (a Ribble Audax) came with pedals that allow me to wear trainers.

Lately, I've been thinking about going down the clipless pedal route. Before I spend a small fortune I wondered if I will notice any real benefit, or should I save the money and avoid the inevitable tumble or two.

All advice and amusing ribbing welcome.

Thanks.

Z.

Kaise

clipless pedals do have their benefit, they help increase pedalling efficiency (although you need to learn the pedalling dynaics stuff to get better)

You should have any tumbles as long as you have a bit of a practice before going out on a ride and keep the clip loose (you can adjust the strength of the bind) and then that way you can clip out pretty easyily

I have only used shimano SPD and SPD-SL but i wouldnt go back now unless just riding to the shops.

keef66

I use the mtb type SPD pedals on the road bike with some compatible touring shoes. This means I can walk easily when I get off the bike.

Main benefit is feeling attached to the bike; I can pedal as fast as I like without risking a foot slipping off a pedal and scraping my shin.

Haven't had a fall in 5 years of using them, despite the best attempts of a blind motorist at a mini roundabout, and a left turn in the dark / fog which turned out to be somebody's drive.

Kaise

also if you do decide that SPDs are the way forward then if you google

DZR Shoes
Chrome Shoes

they do a range of shoes you can use and hit the pub in, quite useful!

kingrollo

Go to wiggle and search for Wellgo pedals - these have a cleat on one side - but a normal pedal on the other - buy MTB shoes (with a recessed cleat) and your sorted.

Pedal as you do now - but if you feel brave clip in.

I still commutte on these - really handy.

unixnerd

SPD pedals are the way to go. Just back off the tension all the way to start with. It's also a good idea to unclip if you may need to put a foot down shortly and well before traffic lights etc. Any falling over issues stem from not unclipping soon enough or forgetting you're clipped in!

Shimano M520s are what you want:
http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/categ ... s-10-39632 Cheap as chips and last really well.

They come with a plastic insert on one side which has reflectors built in (UK law). It's handy because in traffic you can flip the pedal over and use it as a flat. The nice thing about most SPD shoes is that you can walk about in them. A lot of the sportier cleat systems make this much more difficult.

bakerstreet

I didn't do any reading on pedalling technique when I went clipless in early Jan.

The shoes and pedals have made a huge difference to my cycling. Before I was cycling with trainers and toe clips.

I used to struggle to get my feet into the toe clips and it was a bit lethal when I was in traffic. I find the SPDs are much easier to clip into on the move IMO.

The only thing I regret is getting full on road shoes. My back wheel snapped a spoke the other day and I had to walk three miles in road shoes with metral cleats. Not comfortable and I can't stand the noise.

I'll be buying MTB shoes next year so I can actually walk normally!

briantrumpet

bakerstreet wrote:

I didn't do any reading on pedalling technique when I went clipless in early Jan.

The shoes and pedals have made a huge difference to my cycling. Before I was cycling with trainers and toe clips.

I used to struggle to get my feet into the toe clips and it was a bit lethal when I was in traffic. I find the SPDs are much easier to clip into on the move IMO.

The only thing I regret is getting full on road shoes. My back wheel snapped a spoke the other day and I had to walk three miles in road shoes with metral cleats. Not comfortable and I can't stand the noise.

I'll be buying MTB shoes next year so I can actually walk normally!

Yes to all of this. I couldn't believe the difference swapping from toe-clips to SPDs - much easier to clip in & out (no real forethought needed once you've got the technique). And yes to MTB-type shoes. I'll quite happily commute 5 miles or do an 80+ mile ride in them, and you can walk like a normal human being in them.

The only time when I did come a cropper was one time when I uclipped my right foot as I came to a stop as lorry was coming the other way on a single-track road ... unfortunately my point of balance was just slightly over to the left, so I very slowly toppled over to the left into the hedge. Only my pride was hurt.

zanelad

Thanks for the advice guys.

I went into my LBS yesterday and ordered some Shimano RT31s. An off road shoe but with quite a heavy road orientation with recessed MTB cleats.

I like the idea of being able to walk in them if the need arises. Tried on some road only shoes and it was like walikng on sheet ice, and that was without the cleats!

I'll get the pedals when the shoes arrive, but I like the idea of the dual sided pedals so I can use trainers if popping round the corner. The guy in the LBS also suggested this type of pedal.

Thanks again and I can't wait to try them out.

Peddle Up!

You'll notice and benefit from the mover to clipless. And you WILL fall off or over.

Evil Laugh

Have a look at the shimano m324 pedals. They come with multi release cleats and a good flat side pedal. My girlfriend uses them for commuting in London. If you get into a sticky situation and rip your foot up it will release.

Also handy having a flat side for heavy traffic when constantly on and off the pedals as you can keep one foot in and use your resting foot on the flat side of the pedal. This method was good for her learning the pedals but to be honest it took her about an hour before she tightened the release mechanism up and was whizzing around all clipped in.

Neither of us have had a fall on the road so I don't think it's a given. I did however have the mother of all SPD accidents cycling inside a glass doored house. Don't do that!

blackpoolkev

Evil Laugh wrote:

I did however have the mother of all SPD accidents cycling inside a glass doored house. Don't do that!

I like my bike, but I'm just not dedicated enough to ride in the house.Is this something that will come to me in time?
Maybe put some boards on the stairs and and use for climbing practice.I'm sure if I don't clip in,I'll be perfectly safe.

Boy Lard

Just a small word of warning. I got some spds (M520s, set to slackest setting), just before Christmas. Now I am new to the road bike and obviously very new to the spds. The first 5-6 rides I used the spds I absolutely loved them, no issues unclipping, felt solid on the bike, no looking back...or so I thought.

I hit a patch of ice on my commute, travelling at a very slow speed, and when I picked myself up off the floor I had a double fracture in my right ankle, I have now had an operation to plate and screw my ankle/lower leg, I will be in plaster for a total of 12 weeks and then need further recovery time before being able to cycle again.

The spds did not cause the accident, the ice did, but if I had been on flat pedals the only damage would have been my wounded pride.

Having said that, I loved the feeling of riding clipped in, and I really hope I have the nerve to go back to it after I have recovered.

RDW

Evil Laugh wrote:

Have a look at the shimano m324 pedals. They come with multi release cleats and a good flat side pedal. My girlfriend uses them for commuting in London. If you get into a sticky situation and rip your foot up it will release.!

You could also look at the A530, which also has a flat side but is lighter and more of a road pedal. They generally come with standard cleats (though I've seen them sold without cleats on ebay), but you can buy the multi-release cleats (SH56) separately.

nickbarnard

Been riding clipped in for about a month now - love it! Makes riding out of the saddle a lot better - in terms of power you can get to the pedals and also feeling more secure.

Coming from toe-clips, I find it a lot easier to get in and out of clipless too.

Only wish I'd done it sooner! It's really not as scary as some people make it out to be; give it a try

Cheers,

Nick

BBH

Do it, u'll never look back

SPD or SPD-SL, depends how much walking you do

'the moment' happens to us all, just practice getting in and out and always unclip before reaching lights or junctions!!

bompington

The SPDs on my MTB have just packed in. So I fitted the pair of BMX flatties that were on my road bike when I bought it (no, I haven't got a clue either, the seller couldn't even explain that one) until I get round to getting some new ones.

It's absolutely horrendous trying to stay on the bike, I can't pedal with any speed, power or rhythm. My admiration for Danny Macaskill has gone up even further - how on earth do his feet stay on the pedals?

Just thought an experience of going the other way might be instructive.

Peddle Up!

As an aside, does anyone else "unclip" when riding a bike with flats? I do this on my hybrid from force of habit.

rick_chasey

Peddle Up! wrote:

As an aside, does anyone else "unclip" when riding a bike with flats? I do this on my hybrid from force of habit.

Can't say I do.

bompington

Peddle Up! wrote:

As an aside, does anyone else "unclip" when riding a bike with flats? I do this on my hybrid from force of habit.

No, because my feet have already slipped off the pedals anyway by then

Evil Laugh

Peddle Up! wrote:

As an aside, does anyone else "unclip" when riding a bike with flats? I do this on my hybrid from force of habit.

Yeah, my brain is fully programmed so when my right hand hits the brake my right foot unclips. I just angle my heel a bit when braking/coasting and if things start moving again just straighten foot and I'm back in.

I probably unclip a lot more than I need to but as I'm often cycling through London traffic/lights/zombiefied pedestrians I touch down a lot so better this way.

Pross

Being clipped in gives a big help but so does the cycling shoe itself with its rigid sole. Far less pressure being wasted through the shoe bending.