Just gone clipless...

DanDax1990

First ride today using SPDs, Although it was only a short road commute to work, They feel ace.

Gonna take a ride through the woods after work and see how they feel, I'm mainly hoping they'll help me during rocky climbs. The only reason I've been stopping during the climbs is because of my feet bouncing about and losing the momentum. Had a few hairy moments when descending at speed and my feet bouncing off my flats too lol.

Also it's a lot easier to bunnyhop lol.

Quick question though... I have the tension of the pedals at the lowest setting at the mo, Should I keep them at the lowest until I properly get used to them... Or set the tension higher as not to get used to using them at the lowest setting? Or will I be fine using them at the lowest setting non stop?

Also was thinking of getting some M530, I currently have M520s thanks to my brother. Will I notice any difference? They have a bigger platform as such? Will that help with clipping in?

Wily-Quixote

IMHO keeping the pedal tension low won't adversely affect you unless you tend to swing your heel out during pedalling or on landings. It won't make any difference to vertical fixation on the pedal, which will remain secure.
M530s? I wouldn't bother. I went from XT spds to XT 'trail' (with a cage around them) I can't say that I noticed that it was any easier to clip-in.

felix.london

ha! Of course they feel great on the road!..the real test is when things get slow and techy and you need to dab a foot down and you just plain forget to unclip in time and end up in a bush with the bike in top of you...I speak from experience

Chunkers1980

Don't bother with the trails. Completely pointless in my view.

Odd that, I think rocky and rooty climbs are the only place spds are a pain, when you need momentum from a stop and struggle to turn the crank and get clipped in.

Giraffoto

felix.london wrote:

..the real test is when things get slow and techy and you need to dab a foot down and you just plain forget to unclip in time and end up in a bush with the bike in top of you...

By "test" you mean "humiliating and messy pain in the neck/shoulder/elbow/knee", don't you? I still prefer to be clipped in though

.blitz

DanDax1990 wrote:

I have the tension of the pedals at the lowest setting at the mo, Should I keep them at the lowest until I properly get used to them... Or set the tension higher as not to get used to using them at the lowest setting?

Whatever you're happy with there are no rules. As unclipping becomes more instinctive you may want to increase the tension but until you stop thinking about it and unless you're unclipping accidentally I would leave it as it is.

DanDax1990 wrote:

Also was thinking of getting some M530, I currently have M520s thanks to my brother. Will I notice any difference?

Have got some M530s, two pairs of M785s and some M985s they are all pretty pointless imo. The platform may look good and it could a psychological prop but for me it makes no difference. They're designed to work with all SPD shoes and the platform doesn't touch the sole when clipped in. M540s are like £28 from Wiggle and at 350g they're only a few grams heavier than XTR. Compare this with M530s at 450g I guarantee you will notice the difference.

mogrigg

I've recently gone clipless and love it too. It was fun when going down some steps (which required sharp breaking/stopping at the bottom) and I forgot to unclip either during or before the decent, which resulted in a nice bruise on my thigh. Fortunately I saw the funny side and laughed it off. You live and learn

Chunkers1980

You shouldn't ride unclipped, you're likely to cause more problems

DanDax1990

Yep I understand that I WILL end up doing a comedy fall :P

Greer_

And it will undeniably be at low speed, you'll try to put your foot down, and in slow motion ... you'll land in the nearest bush! I do love my clip ins though, improved my riding and technical climbing to no end!

lawman

Like you I recently switched and the difference is huge, I won't use flats for anything but proper DH now. Feel much more in control and can hop the bike about and power transfer is much better. I've had 2 offs due to no unclipping, but otherwise I've got used to them pretty quick. I've got xt trails and a pair of m530's and I have noticed the platform over the non-caged shimano pedals on my road bike. Always got a pain in my foot and the smaller pedals but don't on the "trail" pedals. They also feel easier to clip into as te pedal is likely to roll under your foot. For the small weight penalty I'd rather have it than not tbh.

Greer_

The cage does make it a lot easier to clip in, you just don't get as much rock clearance, and I manage to bash my M520's enough! Helps when you don't need to worry about your feet leaving the pedals when your going down steep, rocky trails at speed! I still have clip in moments after over a year of use, can't help but laugh! Hardest thing is setting up the cleat position, but that's not just as important with shimano as there's a lot of float.

projectsome

I've had spd's on the bike for over a year but haven't really been out on the bike that much, it's when you hit an unexpected corner and can't unclip quick enough and hit a rock.

One of my cleats has worn out so won't clip in, and the flats feel completely weird. I'll probably fall off more now

DanDax1990

Well I did a bit of sessioning in the local woods, They feel ace! Not fallen yet which I don't know is good or bad. Was hoping to get the first fall over and done with today haha. Didn't even have any little moments.

Loads better on the climbs and descents. Genuinely reckon they will improve my riding.

Can throw the bike about easier now, Hops are easy as chuff with SPDs!

MTB13

Interesting stuff, glad you're enjoying it and thanks for sharing. Think I'll have to make the change myself in the near future.

ilovedirt

I've been riding clipped in for a couple of years now, I'm only just starting to use them for proper downhill, but I wouldn't go back! Unclipping/clipping is totally instinctive now, and as other said, the cage on the new shimano M530 trail pedals (as well as having some decent shoes, I've got some five ten hellcats) makes a huge difference. Loving being clipped in. I'm feeling confident enough to ride clipped in in the alps this summer now I think.

raldat

Love my SPDs. Been a clipped in for a year now. Done a thousand comedy falls! Mostly happens when racing and trying to push that last pedal stroke up a step climb. I find I tend to bug out on the tough climbs a second or two earlier when not racing giving myself time to clip out and put a foot down.

I have mine on 520s on the lightest setting and seldom have an unwanted clip out issue.

bennett_346

I love how two years ago, i posted something very similar to this saying i liked how my new clipless pedals helped me hop the bike and keep my feet planted climbing and descending rough, and was met with fierce resistance from many members saying clipless should not ever be used to aid hopping or moving the bike around and keeping your feet planted on rough.

Thank god people can see the light now and actually understand this is the real use for clipless.

DanDax1990

Haha, I almost had my first comedy off. Brother stopped in front of me and asked which way we were going and while I replied I clipped out with my left foot but tried to put my right foot down. Good save though And I blamed it on him lol.

Greer_

bennett_346 wrote:

I love how two years ago, i posted something very similar to this saying i liked how my new clipless pedals helped me hop the bike and keep my feet planted climbing and descending rough, and was met with fierce resistance from many members saying clipless should not ever be used to aid hopping or moving the bike around and keeping your feet planted on rough.

Thank god people can see the light now and actually understand this is the real use for clipless.

It just hides bad technique :P

(and for that I'm glad!)

bennett_346

Precisely