Why are stock pedals so bad?

MSByrne

Hi, I've recently ordered a new road bike (Spesh Secteur 2011) and I've read a huge amount all over the place about how the pedals which usually come with new road bikes (toe clips and strap) and everyone almost unanimously agrees they're horrible and they replace them with SPD's as soon as possible!

My problem is that this bike cost a lot of money (for me) and at the moment I can't afford a set of shoes and pedals so it looks like I'm stuck with these for a while, unless I stick the flat ones from my MTB on the bike.

My question is, what's so bad about them? I tried the bike out at the shop but the owner of the shop told me not to bother clipping into the pedals so I've never actually tried them out. Is it a good idea swapping them for flat pedals until I can afford SPD's?

Thanks

Anonymous

I don't think there's anything particualy bad about them.

They're just a bit cheap and plasticy (if they're the ones I'm thinking of).

I wouldn't worry about it to start with.

andrewjoseph

I've never tried toe clips, but my understanding of them is that they are harder to get out of than spd's. I think you need to loosen the straps, pull the foot backwards out of the toe clips, before you can put a foot down.

if the straps are not tight then there is little point in using them as you gain no benefit but a lot of hassle.

Duffer65

Until you can afford some clipless pedals and shoes. Ask the bike shop to take the toe clips off and just use the pedals as platforms, which would be better than using toe clips imho.

-steves-

On mine I took the straps off, took the toe clip off and used it as "flat" pedals for a while, until the point of 3 months later, I have now changed them to SPD's and bought some appropriate footwear. Is there anything wrong with the pedals, no, I used them for 3 months, had some very respectable times, done some respectable distances and was "ok" with them. After 20 miles i was getting a dead foot, so changed the pedals to SPD's and its made no difference on my dead foot, it still happens lol. Do I ride and faster, nope, do I ride any longer, nope, have I got more power up a short hill, it would appear so by the times that are coming back.....

I would stick with them for now, but change then as soon as you can afford to. Just my personal opinion of course

Dmak

Keen cyclists have specific preferences regarding pedals. It would be silly to bump up the price for the sake of some pedals that you don't actually want.

For the first few rides on my new Allez i used the platforms from my MTB because I was unfamiliar with the bike.

Before buying any new pedals give speedplay a good look, they're not cheap mind.

dabber

I don't agree with the comments about not using the toe clips. I'd use them until you can afford to upgrade to spds. At least using toeclips your foot will be fairly anchored to the pedal and in a reasonable position...... not just floating around. You don't need to do the straps up so tight that you can't get out of them when you need to.

But yes, when you can afford to get some decent shoes and spds, they will make quite a difference.

sheffsimon

Nothing particularly wrong with clips and straps, they were used for years before clipless came along. Rode and raced with em for a good few years myself.

If you are using them without cleats (cleats for clips and straps that is), then you will be able to pull your foot out easily. Bit of practice and you will soon be able to flick the pedal so your foot slides in.

Not sure what the quality will be like on your new Spesh.My missus got a Spesh hybrid last year with clips and straps, and she found them a bit plasticky.So much so that she swapped them for better quality, still with the clips and straps though.

No offence meant, but at your level it wont make a blind bit of difference. I daresay at the level of most contributors to this forum, it wouldnt make the slightest difference either.

MattC59

Cheap pedals are generally installed, because the manufacturers are aware that most people will swap them for the clipless pedal of their choice asap.

Lillywhite

SheffSimon wrote:

Nothing particularly wrong with clips and straps, they were used for years before clipless came along. Rode and raced with em for a good few years myself.

One particularly famous pro cyclist, Sean Kelly, was very reluctant to swap over to the new fangled clipless pedals in the late 80's and IIRC he even won the World Cup in 1989 using clips and straps which he preferred. Recall seeing him in the Wincanton Classic when it was held up in Newcastle. Then again every rider had down tube gear selectors.

Super Domestique

Dabber wrote:

I don't agree with the comments about not using the toe clips. I'd use them until you can afford to upgrade to spds. At least using toeclips your foot will be fairly anchored to the pedal and in a reasonable position...... not just floating around. You don't need to do the straps up so tight that you can't get out of them when you need to.

But yes, when you can afford to get some decent shoes and spds, they will make quite a difference.

Totally agree with you. Nothing wrong with clips and straps. I even used them on my mtb years ago. I'd rather be using them than nothing on a road bike. I intended to use the stock ones for a couple of months when I got my Allez. However the clips were hard cheap plastic that didn't seem to for right. I would have gone back to the shop but saw some shimano spd sl cheap and nabbed some dhb shoes with a wiggle voucher instead.