First clipless pedals and shoes - what's the bst way to go?

ai_1

I'm new around here so please let me know if this is not the best forum to post this question in?

I bought a second hand Specialised Tricross Triple Sport about 6 weeks ago and have started cycling 3 times a week. For now I'm doing a mostly road cycling with a little canal path cycling thrown in. All going well I might start doing some adventure races and triathlons next year, so I expect to lean towards the roads rather than canal paths in the medium/long term..
I've been using clips and runners for cycling but my feet are suffering a little so I've decided I need stiffer footware. While I'm at it I reckon I may as well go clipless.
I've no experience at all with clipless pedals. Initially I was looking at the Shimano R087 SPD SL shoes but then I started thinking this might be a bad idea on the occassions when I want to use canal paths and other slightly rough or gravely terrain or if I decide to do some touring later in the year.

Would it be sensible to get the MTB version of these shoes instead, the Shimano M087 SPD, and go with a pedal like the Shimano A530 that has a platform one side and clip the other? My thinking is that this would give me the flexibility to clip-in on roads and smoother sections of canal path but un-clip and flip to the platform side for rougher terrain where I might need to put a foot down from time to time.

This makes sense to me but I don't have the experience or knowledge to be sure this is the best choice. For example, how much of a compromise are the MTB shoes compared to dedicated road shoes? I know they're not quite as stiff but will that be a big factor considering it'll be some time, at best, before I'm doing any competitive riding?

Any comments or suggestions welcome!

Thanks,

A

alfablue

It makes a lot of sense to go clipless, and to get mtb pedals and shoes so that you can walk when off the bike.

I would go for double sided pedals though. Single sided ones are a pain - you have to think which side you need and flip the pedal if its the wrong way up. Also, there is no problem putting a foot down if clipped in, you just unclip. Never been a problem for me on road or mtb'ing.

night_porter

What you are suggesting does make sense but I have to agree with alphablue that unclipping to put your foot down is quite easy with SPD's.

But I would also suggest that you get used to them on the road before doing the canal paths then you will be confident that you can unclip quickly.

I find that I unclip without even knowing, had an emergency stop the other day and both of my feet were out of the pedals instantly. Even surprised me a little!

As far as stiffness is concerned there is no difference. A mate has the Shimano RO77 shoes and I use the MO77's and they are identical apart from the extra rubber on the sole to allow easy walkiing (not connected to anything when on the bike). But you can put SPD cleats onto most Shimano road shoes as well as the SPD-SL cleats.

I have ridden both and there are no real differences apart from when walking which is why I use the mtb ones.

markowe

I would totally second the comment about the A530. I thought that they were going to help me transition into riding clipless by leaving the option of using the platform with regular shoes but as alfablue points out, they are a royal pain if you need to clip in fast. My first season racing I started out with these and quickly realised that I was losing literally minutes over the course of a race faffing about rotating the pedal to the right side. So they were out pretty quickly. And anyway, once you have gone SPD and got used to it a bit you will wonder how you did without, and feel no need to ride platforms anymore.

Going with MTB cleats (SPD) is always an option to consider if you think you are going to be doing ANY kind of walking/pushing etc., just because you can get shoes with a recessed cleat and enjoy at least SOME mobility, as opposed to SPD-SL which are basically impossible to walk in, never mind run.

ai_1

Thanks for your help guys.

I had difficulty finding any of the MTB shoes I was interested in available in my size and then spotted a pair of Shimano R087 shoes that fit me in a local shop at a reasonable price and decided to go that route and got a pair of Shimano R540 SPD SL pedals. I'm still not certain if this was a better option for me than SPD shoes/pedals but I'll see how I get on. So far so good.
I've already decided I'm a big fan of clipless pedals over clips.

Aidan

edhornby

point to note, the shimano pedals out of the box have quite a high spring tension to release, so if you wind down the tension using the little hex key on the back of the pedal bed on each side, it will make it easier to clip/unclip

mattsccm

cheap mtb spds.
£20 if you look around. Try a racey mtb shoe. Still ok to walk in but maybe a touch stiffer when you want it.

pease

chainreactioncycles are doing M520's for under £20 at the mo, and free postage too Shoes, i think, will be the key to getting the setup right (say he who is waiting for his first clipless setup to arrive)....

TanukiRider

If you are a size 11, check the for sale forum, I have some as new Spesh Tahoe shoes, M505 pedals and cleats at a bargain price

You wont look back from clipless pedals, I cant imagine being on the road bike without them!