Finally gone clipless

[iendicott]

OMG

Clipless pedals rock, I can't believe I have not gone to them sooner, only issue is I must remember to twist my foot sideways to unclip the shoes from the pedals.

Aparently my local cycle shop said if is possible to get another 40% power out of the bike using them, I have tried to cycle with my feet in a circle and not just up and down and I can feel the difference not only on speed but I am using muscles that I have never used before.

A massive tick if anyone is thinking of going clipless..

Ivan

 

[AdamBlade]

Me too. Fitted spd's at the weekend and now done 3 days in them. Can't believe the difference going up hills.

 

[iendicott]

Yep I opted for SPD's as well, much easier to walk in that SPD-SL's in my opinion.

 

[BrumJim]

OMG

Clipless pedals rock, I can't believe I have not gone to them sooner, only issue is I must remember to twist my foot sideways to unclip the shoes from the pedals.

Aparently my local cycle shop said if is possible to get another 40% power out of the bike using them, I have tried to cycle with my feet in a circle and not just up and down and I can feel the difference not only on speed but I am using muscles that I have never used before.

A massive tick if anyone is thinking of going clipless..

Ivan

With you on that one. Its great feeling a new set of muscles complaining, knowing that they had been doing nothing before you went clipless.

 

[fossyant]

You'll be able to sprint for gaps properly now....

 

[scouserinlondon]

maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I'm not that thrilled by them.

 

[buddha]

maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I'm not that thrilled by them.

Same here. Apart from the fact that your feet don't slip when it's raining.
I prefer flats with pins. Although finding a grippy shoe that doesn't have laces is a problem

 

[scouserinlondon]

Same here. Apart from the fact that your feet don't slip when it's raining.
I prefer flats with pins. Although finding a grippy shoe that doesn't have laces is a problem

I'm glad I'm not alone. I think I just need to train my muscles to pull as well as push if that makes sense.

 

[gaz]

You will find that most people BS about pulling and pushing at the same time. it's very hard to make one leg push and the other one pull with a decent enough force to make a difference, you can do it for a bit, but i doubt any old joe could do it for more than 5 miles.

I only pull up whilst accelerating heavily whilst out of the saddle or whilst going up a hill and i cba to get out of the saddle. so will just sit there and spin, your body position has to change slightly to make it effective.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

hmhmhm...

http://www.rivbike.com/article/clothing/the_shoes_ruse

bahh bahhh..lol

 

[BrumJim]

You will find that most people BS about pulling and pushing at the same time. it's very hard to make one leg push and the other one pull with a decent enough force to make a difference, you can do it for a bit, but i doubt any old joe could do it for more than 5 miles.

I only pull up whilst accelerating heavily whilst out of the saddle or whilst going up a hill and i cba to get out of the saddle. so will just sit there and spin, your body position has to change slightly to make it effective.

Don't need to do it for 5 miles - just enough to get away from the lights/onto roundabouts quicker and get up short hills without dropping too much speed. Also gives me confidence that my feet won't slip off the pedals, and that my feet are always in the right position.

 

[gaz]

hmhmhm...

http://www.rivbike.com/article/clothing/the_shoes_ruse

bahh bahhh..lol

That link has been posted before, and i agree with the point i posted below

during normal pedaling at normal cadences, nobody pulls UP on the backstroke
the elite/efficient pedalers push down less on the upward moving pedal than the rookies do.

 

[adscrim]

I'm glad I'm not alone. I think I just need to train my muscles to pull as well as push if that makes sense.

I think it's more related to personal opinions. Some people just don't like them.

I'm with gaz on the BSing. I think the 360 degree pedal stroke is more about pulling through the bottom and pushing over the top to eliminate the flat point in the pedal stroke and not about working each leg through the full circle.

 

[ttcycle]

I don't know Gaz, if done correctly (not always about brute force mind) it can be easier to do then just pushing down on the pedals.

Got reprimanded by a track coach (not my coach) one time as he was saying that it's easier to get yourself used to pushing and pulling as it can be more efficient to do that and me saying I was too lazy to do it whilst commuting wasn't the best for my sport.

So it can actually make things easier.

I like clipless and find it easier on the bike but some have said it really doesn't work for them.

 

[ttcycle]

I think it's more related to personal opinions. Some people just don't like them.

I'm with gaz on the BSing. I think the 360 degree pedal stroke is more about pulling through the bottom and pushing over the top to eliminate the flat point in the pedal stroke and not about working each leg through the full circle.

yep that sounds right- I have a brilliant description of a full 'souplesse' rotation in a book somewhere may post it if I can get off my arse to find the book!