Sad pedals and shoes

kenyanscott
kenyanscott Posts: 26
edited January 2016 in MTB buying advice
I'm not new to mtb as such.

But this is my first decent bike and I'm wondering if I should just take the jump and get myself a set of shimano mtb shoes and pedals and get kleats.

I'm seeing

Bike shoes
Walking boots
510s
DC shoes

But I'm thinking should I invest the time now to get spd and learn to cycle with them?

Comments

  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    Go for the SPD's now. People will tell you flats teach you better technique but as soon as you change to clips it all becomes irrelevant.
    I wouldn't go back to flats except for big jumps or freeride sessions.
    If you have to go for flats DC shoes aren't really designed to take all weather, muddy conditions and 5.10s are like sponges so I prefer Shimano AM41's
  • BigAl
    BigAl Posts: 3,122
    The pedals are certainly a good buy and a good inexpensive way to try SPDs

    Can't comment on the shoes
  • jamski
    jamski Posts: 737
    Personally I'm starting out with flats. Never tried clipless but just being able to jump on the bike without needing anything appeals to me. I'm sure clipless isn't as daunting as it seems to me but I'm feeling secure enough on flats for the time being, and happy knowing I can bail if needed! ;)
    Daddy, Husband, Designer, Biker, Gamer, Geek
    Bird Aeris 120 | Boardman Team 650b | Boardman Pro FS | Calibre Two.two
  • I started with flats and still have flats.

    Never tried clipless too, but shimano Saints and adidas trainers always works well. Plus adidas have some new cross conutry MTB shoes atm (they own 510).

    Personal choice I guess, but I don't like the idea of being clipped in.

    But other people will say the opposite. It is a personal preference IMO.
  • FishFish
    FishFish Posts: 2,152
    Well, no-one can contradict your personal preference they can just say what theirs is. I too use Saints and trainers and removed the washers from the screws for better grip. I'd be terrified to be clipped in but most people who are prefer to be.
    I don't think it is an evolution.
    ...take your pickelf on your holibobs.... :D

    jeez :roll:
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    The M520's can be found cheaper on Amazon and at Merlincycles.....

    My M520's are now 6 years old and have done over 6000miles, maintenance has been the occasionally drop of oil on the pivots and......er, well that's it. Not the lightest SPD pedal but for the money and near bomb proof reliability they are impossible to beat for value.
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • codfather
    codfather Posts: 359
    As stated, flats will teach you the "proper" technique, but it's of little use if you end up sticking with clipless.
    I'm a long time flat rider moving to SPDs on the polo bike and while I don't like them yet, I appreciate their advantages.

    5 10s are super comfortable (IME) but you'll spend the rest of your life drying them if you ride them at this time of year.
    But no one can really tell you how comfortable shoes will be, you may have weird shaped feet, or they might, so it's all completely subjective.
    Current fleet
    2015 Transition Scout
    2012 Nukeproof Scalp
    2016 Genesis Latitude
    2012 Transition Double
    2012 Transition Trail or Park

    2006 Trek SL1000
    2017 Fly Proton
    ???? Create Polo Bike
  • kinioo
    kinioo Posts: 776
    I started with flats and still have flats.

    Never tried clipless too, but shimano Saints and adidas trainers always works well. Plus adidas have some new cross conutry MTB shoes atm (they own 510).

    Personal choice I guess, but I don't like the idea of being clipped in.

    But other people will say the opposite. It is a personal preference IMO.

    Same with me here.

    Flat pedals since beginning.

    Currently with cheap Karimor walking boors from SPortsDirect
  • Started with SPDs and moved to flats a couple of years ago. SPDs where great but was finding the confidence just wasn't there on techy bits. Moved to flats with 5 10s and was stunned at how grippy they were. May have lost a bit of efficiency and hard to think a lot more about foot placement to start with but instantly more confident on steeper bits.

    Might go back to SPDS at some point but havin lots of fun on flats so am in no rush.
    2015 Nukeproof Mega TR 275 in raw
  • jamski
    jamski Posts: 737
    As stated above I ride flats. Nukeproof Electron Evo's, I find them amazing, so grippy. Shoe wise I have £10 walking shoes from Decathlon! They grip fine, not exactly waterproof, but that doesn't bother me, they dry quickly enough.
    Daddy, Husband, Designer, Biker, Gamer, Geek
    Bird Aeris 120 | Boardman Team 650b | Boardman Pro FS | Calibre Two.two
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    Codfather wrote:
    5 10s are super comfortable (IME) but you'll spend the rest of your life drying them if you ride them at this time of year.
    Not sure if it will help on 510's but I've now got drying my Shimano's off down to less than a day, get home, hose off mud, squeeze out what water I can, in the spin (not tumble) dryer with the insoles out of the shoes (all in a laundry bag) for a 20 mins spin cycle, and into the airing cupboard and they are dry by the next evening. The spin dryer is about a days worth of normal drying out.
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • poah
    poah Posts: 3,369
    been using time atac pedals for 20 years with various SPD shoes. I currently have two pairs one for summer and one for the rest of the year that are goretex lined (northwave). Once you get used to SPD's its second nature but not everyone gets on with them or indeed the various types of clipless pedals out there. have a look at bike-discount.de for a set of time atac; for shoes I would try a few pairs from CRC to find ones that fit.
  • codfather
    codfather Posts: 359
    The Rookie wrote:
    Codfather wrote:
    5 10s are super comfortable (IME) but you'll spend the rest of your life drying them if you ride them at this time of year.
    Not sure if it will help on 510's but I've now got drying my Shimano's off down to less than a day, get home, hose off mud, squeeze out what water I can, in the spin (not tumble) dryer with the insoles out of the shoes (all in a laundry bag) for a 20 mins spin cycle, and into the airing cupboard and they are dry by the next evening. The spin dryer is about a days worth of normal drying out.

    Any recommendations gratefully received. My current approach is cramming them full of newspaper, putting up with the dampness on the next ride and trying to forget what a pleasant shade of blue they used to be. But there's only so many free local papers one can lift from Tesco before eyebrows begin raising.
    Current fleet
    2015 Transition Scout
    2012 Nukeproof Scalp
    2016 Genesis Latitude
    2012 Transition Double
    2012 Transition Trail or Park

    2006 Trek SL1000
    2017 Fly Proton
    ???? Create Polo Bike
  • As we all agree it's personal, having read some of the comments I've got a few questions.

    Flats are and will be my bag as I like the freedom and the sense of security. But what is the "proper way" you learn on flats? And for people using SPDs do you really gain in efficiency?

    Currently looking at these bad boys adidas-terrex-trail-cross-mountain-bike-shoe.jpg
  • JGTR
    JGTR Posts: 1,404
    Yep love SPDs, great for long XC and does help on the hills, also good for descents as they keep your feet on the pedals with no chance of bouncing off.

    Saying that I've been using flats more as I felt SPDs were holding me back as I would only ever go so fast.
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    SPD's aren't just about efficiency, I'm not convinced they are more efficient. For me it's about the security of keeping my feet in place on the pedals and never getting bounced off them but also the ability to pedals across extremely rough ground, places where I couldn't pedal on flats.
    Especially when riding downhill I feel very insecure on flats.
    As for drying out Shimano AM41 / AM45 shoes,I just hose them off, put them on a radiator and they're dry by the morning.
  • SPD's aren't just about efficiency, I'm not convinced they are more efficient. For me it's about the security of keeping my feet in place on the pedals and never getting bounced off them but also the ability to pedals across extremely rough ground, places where I couldn't pedal on flats.
    Especially when riding downhill I feel very insecure on flats.
    As for drying out Shimano AM41 / AM45 shoes,I just hose them off, put them on a radiator and they're dry by the morning.

    Ok, I guess that is a plus point of SPDs, riding through the mud and the upstroke works.

    Maybe I don't ride hard enough, but never have I bounced of flats.

    I don't like the idea of being clipped in as I think in a certain situations you can't correct it fast enough.. Just my thoughts.
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    Once you've used to them you can unclip instantly without thinking about it.
    Putting a foot out while drifting around corners is poor technique, never take a foot off unless a crash is inevitable.
  • codfather
    codfather Posts: 359
    I've only had them for a few days now, but unclipping with SPDs is incredibly easy, not like roadie pedals. The retentive force is much smaller and it becomes second nature incredibly quickly. My current issue is with being unable to clip in smoothly, but I'm going to chalk that up to badly worn cleats and stupid pedal design.
    Putting a foot out while drifting around corners is poor technique, never take a foot off unless a crash is inevitable.

    Damn fun though. On the handful of runs I've used them, despite the ease of clipping and unclipping, I find SPDs oblige you to use a better cornering technique under circumstances like this.
    Current fleet
    2015 Transition Scout
    2012 Nukeproof Scalp
    2016 Genesis Latitude
    2012 Transition Double
    2012 Transition Trail or Park

    2006 Trek SL1000
    2017 Fly Proton
    ???? Create Polo Bike
  • jamski
    jamski Posts: 737
    After my most extreme test so far yesterday, I can see the appeal of clipless! I may just give it a go.
    Daddy, Husband, Designer, Biker, Gamer, Geek
    Bird Aeris 120 | Boardman Team 650b | Boardman Pro FS | Calibre Two.two