Cleats - again.

[Globalti]

I used SPDs for mountain biking for almost 21 years then Keos for road riding until I lost patience with their terrible build quality and went over, a couple of months ago, to Shimano SPD SLs, which are a revelation; they are superbly built and much more stable in use and while walking than Keos. I returmed two pairs of Keos to Wiggle and got refunds and sold all the other duff ones for a few quid on Ebay.

When you are putting in a big last effort at the top of that hill, it really helps to be well attached to the pedals.

 

[Profpointy]

I doubt there's no performance advantage either. Just knowing your feet are on properly so if you need to grunt up a hill you have a bit more confidence. Similarly you have to at least a little bit of thought / effort even to position your feet, so that can be translated to pedalling if your feet are secure. I find it "easier" clipped in and surmise that gives me a bit more performance

 

[Brandane]

The alternative is to buy the pedals with flats on one side and clips on the other and a pair of touring shoes with recessed spds. You can then mix and match however the fancy takes you.

That is the type of pedals and shoes I am using - and have been using, on and off, for years. It's just that up until now I preferred using flats, as having experimented with SPD's I didn't find that they offered any "advantage" to me, personally (just to be clear then, they might offer advantages of some description to others ). That was until I began to have problems with achilles pain which would appear to be the result of too much flexing of the foot/ankle.

 

[S-Express]

I'm.pretty sure that track cyclists when putting 2500watts through the cranks, get a huge performance advantage from using clipless pedals and straps......trying doing that with flat pedals and trainers

A lot of that is necessarily related to being on a fixed wheel - if your foot comes off the pedal at speed, it ain't going back on again.

 

[Pale Rider]

The fashion for high cadence among racing cyclists has been a big driver of clipless.

If you want to spin at 100+rpm, your feet will fly off the pedals if you are not clipped in.

But if you can spin at your preferred cadence on flats, there is no performance benefit to clipless.

However, some cyclists prefer the feel of being clipped in.

Simply liking clipless is a good enough reason to use them, and certainly trumps all the physics.

Queen didn't sing: "I like to ride my bike how I like," but if they did I would agree with them.

 

[steveindenmark]

I think clipless is a big advantage when spinning up hills or when it wet. But I have bikes with flats as well and they suit me if Im just taking it easy.

 

[S-Express]

Queen didn't sing: "I like to ride my bike how I like," but if they did I would agree with them.

I'm pretty sure Freddie sang the words, "I like to ride my bike while clipped in using Time RXS at an average cadence of 85rpm". I'd need to listen to the song again to be sure..

 

[Dogtrousers]

I'm pretty sure Freddie sang the words, "I like to ride my bike while clipped in using Time RXS at an average cadence of 85rpm". I'd need to listen to the song again to be sure..

There was that famous dialogue between Freddie and his pedals, just prior to a clipless moment: "Let me go!" "We will not let you go" "Let me go!" "We will not let you go"

 

[Profpointy]

There was that famous dialogue between Freddie and his pedals, just prior to a clipless moment: "Let me go!" "We will not let you go" "Let me go!" "We will not let you go"

We don't need no clip-less pedals
We don't need no foot control

 

[jowwy]

We don't need no clip-less pedals
We don't need no foot control

That wasnt freddie though.........that was pink floyd

 

[Profpointy]

That wasnt freddie though.........that was pink floyd

Duh, got carried away there,

 

[Dogtrousers]

That wasnt freddie though.........that was pink floyd

Didn't they do "I've got a bike, you can ride it if you like, it's got a basket and a bell that rings and SPD-SL road cleats ..."

 

[bigjim]

Yes I agree. But try finding stiff soled shoes these days, other than cycle specific ones! I don't really fancy cycling in leather soled efforts as worn by my Grandad.

Sports Direct sell them. Slip on or laced. Very stiff sole and leather uppers. Nice and comfy. I've done a 700mile tour on them. Trainers were too soft and giving me achillies problems. I bought two pair as I was quite impressed. About £20 a pair.

 

[Smokin Joe]

"I met a gin soaked bar room queen in Memphis,

She tried to get me clipped in just like Froome"

 

[London_Vulcan]

OK, I may have posted previously ridiculing the use of cleats and clipless pedals.
I stand by my belief that they offer SFA performance advantage to your average cyclist, and I have never suffered from feet flying off pedals, or even slipping off flats.

However, I was suffering from very painful achilles tendons after lengthy (over 50 miles) rides. It was suggested to me that clipless with stiff soled shoes would help. It did. No more pain. I am converted, but hasten to add that I am no faster as a result!

It is not about speed it is about comfort at least to me....when i used toe clips...they hurt...pinched my toes....with clipless i don't get that.