Clipless shoes for Kids???

defender110
defender110 Posts: 66
edited January 2016 in Road buying advice
Bought my 12 year old daughter her first proper road bike for christmas. I want to introduce her to clipless shoes as she is only using it on a turbo at the moment and thought it would be good for her to get the feel of them without risk of falling off. Does anyone have any experience in kids using proper shoes and if so what type of system did they find was best?

Comments

  • Lookyhere
    Lookyhere Posts: 987
    If you think your daughter is going to be safe enough on the road, then mtb double sided spd's with plenty of practice first,
    My own daughter started out on a mtb using spd's @11 or 12yo and i guess gained full confidence of LOOK pedals on the rollers and the track within a year - i was nt confident of her ability to be safe on the road at 12yo.
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    I thought I'd read somewhere about not using clipless for kids due to the strain on knees from unclipping.
    This might be total borlicks.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • defender110
    defender110 Posts: 66
    Yeah i wouldnt trust mine on the road with them. I will do some more googling regarding kids not using clipless due to knee strain.
  • Lookyhere
    Lookyhere Posts: 987
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19771377#p19771377]defender110[/url] wrote:
    Yeah i wouldnt trust mine on the road with them. I will do some more googling regarding kids not using clipless due to knee strain.

    Never heard that from any number of BC coaches or Physio's, spd multi release cleats and keo easy pedals are very light on the knees, once propery set up - far less strain from twisting than say footie, xc running, netball, ballet etc, though more than sitting in a bedroom playing x box or on the iphone :)
    cycle racing is a tough sport, numerous crashes happen in mtb, cct and track youth racing/training and if your not racing any of these, then going clipless is moot tbh.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,601
    Loads of 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 year olds use SPD-SLs perfectly well. My 11 yo has had no more than the usual number of clipless moments you'd expect from a novice clipless rider (ie 2 falls, one for forgetting to unclip and one unclipping the wrong side).
    12 yo is a senior school age kid - she'll adapt and learn quickly.
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,601
    Use whichever brand of pedal you use so you can test her bike if needed, or she can pinch your bike when she's big enough! :?
  • defender110
    defender110 Posts: 66
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19771829#p19771829]Dorset Boy[/url] wrote:
    Use whichever brand of pedal you use so you can test her bike if needed, or she can pinch your bike when she's big enough! :?

    No way, she isnt geting near my baby lol

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