Clip in Pedals

tomcog
tomcog Posts: 105
edited July 2011 in Road beginners
Can someone help me get my head round these sorts of pedals, im looking to get a set and some shoes, but im worried that i cant unclip my feet if i need to stop?

Anyone shed some light ?

Cheers
«1

Comments

  • manofsteel
    manofsteel Posts: 68
    tomcog wrote:
    Can someone help me get my head round these sorts of pedals, im looking to get a set and some shoes, but im worried that i cant unclip my feet if i need to stop?

    Anyone shed some light ?

    Cheers

    Go for it! They'll improve your riding no end, and they'll become second nature after your first ride
    'Pain is just weakness leaving your body'

    Charge Duster SS
    GT Zaskar Carbon Expert
    '03 Stumpy HT
    Ribble Sportive Racing
  • tomcog
    tomcog Posts: 105
    CAn you unclip your feet fairly easily though?
  • brin
    brin Posts: 1,122
    After half a dozen spills making a complete tit of yourself you soon learn :wink:
  • tomcog
    tomcog Posts: 105
    HaHa, ill take that as they are hard to unclip..
  • The Ors
    The Ors Posts: 130
    tomcog wrote:
    CAn you unclip your feet fairly easily though?

    Yes.

    You twist your foot to the side. I was nervous initially but they are easier than toe-clips (if you've tried them). You just need to remember you're wearing clips & unclip as you roll to a stop.
  • tomcog
    tomcog Posts: 105
    I have only ever riden using standard pedals.. Does anyone know of anywhere that will sell a shoe and pedal combo?

    Looking to do it on a bit of a budget aswell.
  • Buckled_Rims
    Buckled_Rims Posts: 1,648
    There are basically 2 types of pedals, but the pedantic brigade will soon come along and correct this.

    1. SPD - mountain bike orientated but many (including me) prefer them on road bikes. They are usually dual sided and easy to clip in and out. Mountain bike shoes make for an easy walking action. Great for stop/start traffic.

    2. Road pedals - including (not to be confused) SPD-SL, Time, keo, speedplay. Most are single sided (speedplay dual). Usually have very light shoes, but the cleats are a pain to walk in. I have trouble clipping in/out with my spd-sl pedals and they are the only ones I have fallen off from. These are no good for me in stop/start traffic.


    I'm a huge fan of Shimano M520 SPD pedals. All my bikes have them on. My Shimano 105 SPD-SL pedals failed after 1000 miles with a bearing fault, but they were lovely on long traffic free rides.
    CAAD9
    Kona Jake the Snake
    Merlin Malt 4
  • brin
    brin Posts: 1,122
    Joking aside, have a word with you LBS see if they can kit you out a bit cheaper since you want to buy both shoes and pedals.There are various pedals on the market, i use Look Keo Sprints, they have an adjuster screw you tighten/slacken depending on the amount of tension you require, 1st used them with tension at it's minimum setting for ease of unclipping, got them at maximum now. Just remember you are clipped in when you are about to stop and unclip one foot, you'll soon get the hang of it. As previously stated it becomes 2nd nature.
  • Wacky Racer
    Wacky Racer Posts: 638
    I hope this will help you. I rode with flats all my life, on race bikes when I was a kid, and on MTB's over the last few years. I just never fancied a pedal/shoe combo that looked lethal, and convinced myself that it wouldn't make much difference to my performance.

    I have recently made the move from MTB to road because of where I live, and decided to go clipless. I bought a pair of Exustar pedals which are similar to the Look brand, and a pair of Mavic shoes, and felt a right prat propped against my car on the drive while I faffed about trying to clip in. During my ride I clipped in and out a dozen times just to get the hang of it. By the time I had got back from a 20 odd miler I was clipping in and out like an old pro.

    I won't tell you what you should buy, loads of people on here will tell you their favourite combo, the only advice I would give you is to get a pair of pedals with tensioners so you can set them up to clip in and unclip easier to start with, and you will increase the tension as you become more confident.

    Never say never, but so far I've had no spills and not once been unable to unclip in a hurry. My fears were no different to yours, and having now tried them I wonder why I made all the fuss. My wife nearly wet herself that first time I used them hanging onto the spoiler on my car trying to keep balance while I fumbled around like a schoolboy in the dark having his first romp with a girl, so don't worry and just get some, you'll be fine.
    Ridley Orion
  • tomcog
    tomcog Posts: 105
    Im tempted now by all the good reviews..

    Just wondering if someone could provide some suggestions, as im not sure what clipless look like etc..

    I might be looking to go second hand, and cash is tight at the moment, im ridding in a 100km in sept so im hoping to get them asap so i am able to get used to them.

    Thanks all
  • Buckled_Rims
    Buckled_Rims Posts: 1,648
    tomcog wrote:
    Im tempted now by all the good reviews..

    Just wondering if someone could provide some suggestions, as im not sure what clipless look like etc..

    I might be looking to go second hand, and cash is tight at the moment, im ridding in a 100km in sept so im hoping to get them asap so i am able to get used to them.

    Thanks all

    Cheapest pedals and cleats are the Shimano SPD M520 :wink: Usually £20 inc cleats. Shoes are a personal thing, but I've seen many bargains from £20 to £45. Aldi/Lidl sometimes have them from £15.

    If you go down the Time/Look/mavic pedal road, then make sure the shoes are compatible.
    CAAD9
    Kona Jake the Snake
    Merlin Malt 4
  • tomcog
    tomcog Posts: 105
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-M520- ... 379wt_1139

    These ??

    Aldi sounds fun, haha.

    Are any cycle shoes compatible with these pedals?
    Are there any to look out not to buy?
  • Wacky Racer
    Wacky Racer Posts: 638
    I bought these and love them, very easy to clip in and out, and you can set the tension. I wouldn't recommend shoes, you need to try some on, they all fit differently, so ignore advice on shoes unless you have exactly the same shaped feet as everyone else.

    http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... XUSPEDA200
    Ridley Orion
  • tomcog
    tomcog Posts: 105
    Wacky racer - are they fairly easy to cli[p in and out of? Are they toe in aswell ?

    Sorry for all the questions, im new to this..
  • P_Tucker
    P_Tucker Posts: 1,878
    tomcog wrote:
    CAn you unclip your feet fairly easily though?

    No, everyone who uses them falls off every time they stop.
  • briantrumpet
    briantrumpet Posts: 20,349
    P_Tucker wrote:
    tomcog wrote:
    CAn you unclip your feet fairly easily though?
    No, everyone who uses them falls off every time they stop.
    And sometimes when they're still moving. Shouldn't have tried to lean against a spectator to unclip. Basic error.
    https://www.facebook.com/unanglaisendiois
  • Wacky Racer
    Wacky Racer Posts: 638
    tomcog wrote:
    Wacky racer - are they fairly easy to cli[p in and out of? Are they toe in aswell ?

    Sorry for all the questions, im new to this..

    Yes, you are clipped in front and rear, if that makes sense. You clip in the front and push down at the heel end to clip in. To clip out you just twist your foot slightly, and believe me they are dead easy to use. You use a small alan key to adjust the tensioner at the heel end of the pedal, you are best to set them to low tension when you first use them, and as you get the hang of them you will tension them more. They come with a pair of red cleats which you screw into the shoes you buy.

    I can't comment on the durability of this pedal as I haven't had them long, but they are rated well, and are very easy to use. The quality of materials and build quality appear to be good too, and I think they are a great price compared to similar.
    Ridley Orion
  • Evil Laugh
    Evil Laugh Posts: 1,412
    If you're worried get some shimano m324 pedals and spd shoes with a stiff sole, a cx shoe for eg like mavic razors,

    The shimano pedals above come with multi release cleats which release your foot if you yank it up in a panic. They have a flat side you can use so you can practise having one foot in and one out. Make sure you adjust the tension on the pedals to the lowest setting meaning it will be easier to unclip.

    My missus uses these pedals. It took her 30 mins or so to be confident riding clipped in, she cycled home that day and has never come off.
  • Buckled_Rims
    Buckled_Rims Posts: 1,648
    tomcog wrote:
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-M520-Silver-SPD-MTB-Pedals-/270759184075?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item3f0a8146cb#ht_2379wt_1139

    These ??

    Aldi sounds fun, haha.

    Are any cycle shoes compatible with these pedals?
    Are there any to look out not to buy?

    yes and no :shock:

    yes, they are the pedals I'm on about....NO, don't buy those they DON'T include cleats. Always buy pedals with cleats included as you'll end up paying fancy prices for bits of plastic. Which reminds me.....->

    SPD - has metal cleats.

    Road - are usually plastic cleats.

    If you walk any distance in them, the plastic soon wears out and it's usually £15 a set.
    CAAD9
    Kona Jake the Snake
    Merlin Malt 4
  • Wacky Racer
    Wacky Racer Posts: 638
    Road - are usually plastic cleats.

    If you walk any distance in them, the plastic soon wears out and it's usually £15 a set.

    No they're not, you can buy them online for half that price, and you can buy a set of covers for less than £6.

    Personally I wouldn't walk far in them anyway, they aren't the best things to walk in.
    Ridley Orion
  • andrewlwood
    andrewlwood Posts: 224
    Wacky Racer wrote:
    Road - are usually plastic cleats.

    If you walk any distance in them, the plastic soon wears out and it's usually £15 a set.

    No they're not, you can buy them online for half that price, and you can buy a set of covers for less than £6.

    Please tell me where you have found floating SPD-SL cleats for less than £15. Genuinely.

    I've just gone through my first set of road cleats in 3 months.

    For beginners, I would say SPD-style cleats are far easier anyway - the dual-sided pedals are much easier, and you can get ones with a flat surface that allow you to wear normal shoes as well.

    But definitely go for it - they make a huge difference, and are very straightforward to get used to. Take it a bit easy, practice on a field until you can clip in and out easily, and watch out when moving away in traffic that you concentrate on where you're going, not on clipping in.
  • Wacky Racer
    Wacky Racer Posts: 638
    Please tell me where you have found floating SPD-SL cleats for less than £15. Genuinely.

    I never mentioned SPD-SL, you said "road", I was referring to ones compatible with the pedals I linked to . http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... OOKPEDZ310

    I don't use SPD's for that reason, and I recommended the Look Keo type because they are very simple for someone who has never been clipped in before. As you say though, crap to walk in, but I literally walk from my garage to the driveway (5 yards). Sometimes I meet my Mrs at a pub, she drives there and takes my trainers with her for me to put on whilst drinking, I then swap back again for the ride home.
    Ridley Orion
  • tomcog
    tomcog Posts: 105
    Can someone show me the difference in a 'SPD' style pedal, a 'SPD-SL' pedal ?

    Thanks
  • Wacky Racer
    Wacky Racer Posts: 638
    SPD-SL - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-pd-r540 ... n=products

    SPD - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-a530-sp ... ng-pedals/
    Ridley Orion
  • tomcog
    tomcog Posts: 105
    Thanks, that makes life easier!!

    Do you need to get specific pedals for SPD & SPD-SL ?
  • Wacky Racer
    Wacky Racer Posts: 638
    Do you need to get specific pedals for SPD & SPD-SL ?

    Once you have decided which pedal you want, you then need the compatible shoe. The cleats for SPD's are different to SPD-SL's.

    This is a useful link so you understand the difference. http://spdpedals.co.uk/
    Ridley Orion
  • tomcog
    tomcog Posts: 105
    How about these -
    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bon ... e-ec025214

    http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php ... 0s154p2009

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LAKE-I-03-INDOOR- ... 258wt_1195
  • kev77
    kev77 Posts: 433
    Practice makes perfect, i have fallen off also but now they are second nature clipping in and out. I agree completely being clipped in is a very different and positive experience.
  • Wacky Racer
    Wacky Racer Posts: 638
    How about these -

    Of those you list the Shimano's look the best to me, they seem to be compatible with SPD and SPD-SL. The Bontrager's are MTB shoes and are for flat pedals. I've never heard of the one's on EBay so can't comment.
    Ridley Orion
  • tomcog
    tomcog Posts: 105
    Ok, those shimanoes are out of stock otherwise i would of ordered them :'(

    The hunt continues for a budget pair..

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