Cycling shoes.

[Tim Hall]

No we haven't. Not everyone has a clipless moment'.

It's OK, I've had two, so one of them must have been on your behalf.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Your brother in law may consider you to be ungrateful. It could escalate. I know, I watch loads of those murder reconstruction programmes.

 

[Smokin Joe]

No we haven't. Not everyone has a clipless moment'.

Me neither and I've been using them for thirty years. Before clipless we rode with a slotted shoe plate on the sole which located over the back plate of the pedal and after pushing off we'd lean down and pull the toe strap tight so your foot could not move off the pedal. Coming to a stop meant reaching down and flicking the quick release on the strap before your foot would come out. Everyone managed without incident and the move to clipless was a doddle, just a twist of the foot and you were out.

 

[bikeman66]

I abandoned the increased power con yonks ago and I barely use my bike shoes now because I don't like being clipped in. It does become "second nature" but still I would rather have my feet free in a vast majority of scenarios, and I've only to watch sweaty lycra-clad idiots on club rides haphazardly twisting in and out to remind me that I am just fine without.

So anyone who uses cycling shoes and clipless pedals is an idiot?

 

[ianrauk]

Me neither and I've been using them for thirty years. Before clipless we rode with a slotted shoe plate on the sole which located over the back plate of the pedal and after pushing off we'd lean down and pull the toe strap tight so your foot could not move off the pedal. Coming to a stop meant reaching down and flicking the quick release on the strap before your foot would come out. Everyone managed without incident and the move to clipless was a doddle, just a twist of the foot and you were out.

Just one of those silly urban myths

 

[Johnno260]

No we haven't. Not everyone has a clipless moment'.

most people I know who ride have had this happen to them, if someone doesn't props to them.

 

[bonsaibilly]

So anyone who uses cycling shoes and clipless pedals is an idiot?

If you want to take it that way.

 

[oldroadman]

Just one of those silly urban myths

You therefore cannot be as ancient as Joe and ORM. Clipless had not long been around in my comp days, and plenty of the "experienced" (older!) riders used clips and straps their whole career. Back then the "urban myth" hadn't been invented - neither had "hipsters" and "fixies" and "campy" and other transatlantic based phrases. The world moves on, sometimes for the better, sometimes not.

 

[Soltydog]

It's OK, I've had two, so one of them must have been on your behalf.

Thank you , kind sir. You must have had mine although I don't want to temp fate, so maybe mine isn't far away

 

[Soltydog]

Anyway ... In case you have ever wondered - cycling shoes do not enhance power transfer when trying to push a car. Not even recessed cleat SPD ones.

That's where you went wrong. Instead of pushing the car, you should have towed it with your bike, then you would have noticed the enhanced power transfer

 

[Roadhump]

I am glad I found this thread while having a browse of CC. I have never used cleats, always using toe straps instead. I was always happy with this on my first road bike which I bought in 1985, and then on my MTB and hybrid, but I bought a new road bike last week and I feel as though I am not fully into it just using straps.

The first thing one of my mates said when I bought my bike was, "get rid of those pedals and get clipped in". I have been wondering which ones to get and was quite confused until reading this, so I will now go for the SPD SL, but I will give it a few weeks yet until I'm fully adapted to a road bike, and until I have saved up a bit as well - it's not cheap this cycling lark

One thing a few people have said is to make sure you lean against a wall and practice clipping in and out before you start using them, so that you can be some way used to them and reduce the chance of falling off your bike when you stop at lights or somewhere. But, as most people here say, it seems that at some point the chances are that you WILL fall off.

 

[Blue Hills]

I

One thing a few people have said is to make sure you lean against a wall and practice clipping in and out before you start using them, so that you can be some way used to them and reduce the chance of falling off your bike when you stop at lights or somewhere. .

Yes, very wise advice. Although pretty experienced with clipless I made the mistake of not doing this when I fitted a new set of pedals to a new bike. I ended up leaning against an accommodating London taxi when I came to an unexpected halt

 

[ianrauk]

it seems that at some point the chances are that you WILL fall off.

May....not will.

 

[GuyBoden]

Me neither and I've been using them for thirty years. Before clipless we rode with a slotted shoe plate on the sole which located over the back plate of the pedal and after pushing off we'd lean down and pull the toe strap tight so your foot could not move off the pedal. Coming to a stop meant reaching down and flicking the quick release on the strap before your foot would come out. Everyone managed without incident and the move to clipless was a doddle, just a twist of the foot and you were out.

Yes, during the 1980's, I wore those slotted type too, I did some very long rides in them, without any problems........

 

[Blue Hills]

You do surprise me oh blue one.

I've fallen out of clipless once or twice, though admittedly under slightly odd circumstances - the one time I remember is when leading a ride, slowed to a stop to look back to check the welfare of a rider at the back, forgot I was clipped in and fell over sideways. I would have also fallen over on a new bike with newly fitted pedals I hadn't checked properly if I hadn't found a handy Taxi Peckham way to lean against.

But agree that generally they are fine - fell over twice yesterday riding back a new bike with the dodgy combination of toe clips and toe straps.