Finally gone clipless

[gaz]

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.

if done correctly is the key words there!
i bet half the people i see using cleats on my commute have never tried pulling up.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

That link has been posted before, the guy is a fool. he doesn't like cleats so comes up with elaborate reasons why you shouldn't use them. i'll do what he does and i'll use what i want.

really? seems to talk sense. do a bit of googling regarding pull / push down of professionals never mind joe public. he does say use em if they work for you. he just talks common sense to most people and dislikes the way big companies seem to change people perceptions. after all, people who ride round the world don't use clipless and clock more miles than any other section of cycling. plus he makes a good living out of cycling. knows more than me.

i bet you picked up your cycling shoe and went "aaahhhh nice, stiff". then paid too much for a shoe. if it was not cycling specific would you have paid that much??

 

[gaz]

i bet you picked up your cycling shoe and went "aaahhhh nice, stiff". then paid too much for a shoe. if it was not cycling specific would you have paid that much??

My shoes are 5 year old specilaized, £50, plastic sole and there not that stiff.

this is written for non-racers, and for riders who don't ride race-like. In other words, for recreational riders, tourists, commuters, general fitness riders...but not for racers or racer-likes.

As he continues to say, his opinion is his opinion, and my opinion of him is mine.

He does talk a lot of sense, and as you can see i did edit my post whilst you replying with a quote of his which i agree with. but 99% of the people i see wearing there own shoes are pedaling in the wrong way (knees out or in to much) or there set up is compleatly wrong, saddle to high and legs overstretched or saddle to low.

 

[fossyant]

Stick with them... they make a huge difference when sprinting and accellerating - no need to worry about feet coming adrift, and they are great on fixed for extra control.

I never ride a bike with standrd pedals, don't have any. You'll get there !

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

i know, i just like posting the links just to get debate going in both directions. it is true that we do fall for some stupid things. he is a bit of an anarchist i think, but that doesn't mean i can't learn from his extensive experience. i have got some winter spd's and struggled keeping warm this winter. shoved on some brasher walking boots and was warm as toast for half the price of my spd shimano winter boots. felt a bit safer on ice as well, tho that was only in my head

 

[iendicott]

If I think about it a do push down less with Clipless pedals on when I am bringing the pedal up which I have tried with normal shoes and it for me doesn't work. Clipless give me more confidence and also across bumpy ground I can still apply the same power as if I was on the flat so for me I find them better than normal track pedals.

 

[BentMikey]

This reminds me of why I went from SPDs to Looks on my previous recumbent. The SPDs make unplanned releases on the odd occasion, usually when I was accelerating hard from the traffic lights. The result was to fire my heel into the seat edge, agonising!

 

[I am Spartacus]

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

Road SPD SL... Look... Keo etc etc are definitely NOT meant to be walked in... just ridden.
hard

horses for courses
'cept you aint gonna be on a horse

 

[Debian]

I could never get on with clipless (excuse the pun). Never quite got the hang of releasing at traffic lights and then getting quickly back in, I'm actually quicker away with platform pinned pedals.

Plus the fact that Most of my leisure riding is cross country and for this I prefer to wear ankle high waterproof walking boots for when I have to trudge through muddy sections. Clipless are a waste of space for off-road.

If clipless suits you then fine. It doesn't suit me.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Still getting used to clipless myself.

I don't use it them on the MTB, I'm so used to toeclips, but put them on the new commuter/General Purpose bike.

Only thing I'm not keen on is flipping the pedal - as I will have occasions not to have my bike shoes, I do need a platform side. Strange, as toeclips involve flipping the pedal too, but with the weight of clips, you know where you are with them.

Same as Debian, sometimes I find a bit of delay at traffic lights but I am getting used to positioning my foot on the platform side so the cleat isn't on any metal and worrying about clipping in after the initial pull away.

 

[iendicott]

This reminds me of why I went from SPDs to Looks on my previous recumbent. The SPDs make unplanned releases on the odd occasion, usually when I was accelerating hard from the traffic lights. The result was to fire my heel into the seat edge, agonising!

Never had any unplanned releases myself and the only way that could happen is if they are poorly maintained (maybe dirty ?), tension is not correct or they are not cliped in properly in the first place as they hook in from the front and not the back then they lock in place by the back clip.

Road SPD SL... Look... Keo etc etc are definitely NOT meant to be walked in... just ridden.
hard

horses for courses
'cept you aint gonna be on a horse

But on the occasions I have to walk to my bike they are easier to IMHO

 

[BentMikey]

Never had any unplanned releases myself and the only way that could happen is if they are poorly maintained (maybe dirty ?), tension is not correct or they are not cliped in properly in the first place as they hook in from the front and not the back then they lock in place by the back clip.

Sorry, but this is simply wrong.

 

[Browser]

i bet you picked up your cycling shoe and went "aaahhhh nice, stiff". then paid too much for a shoe. if it was not cycling specific would you have paid that much??

Probably not, but the cost takes into account the development that went (or shoulda went) into the production of said shoe. And it's the same in any hobby. How much would you pay for a decent pair of running shoes or football boots? When I was rowing I looked into the cost of buying my own pair of RoShoos for the scull I used, as all of the clubs' hulls had some attached but they were knackered and didn't hold your feet in. When I saw that they were £70 I decided to put up with the loose shoes but had I kept rowing up I'd probably have got a set as it would have helped me no end. Yer peys yer money and all that...........

 

[Shorinjidude]

I love the clipless power and feel, especially uphill and excelerating with pulling up. Just wish I could clip in straight away... five months and still miss most of the time!

 

[adscrim]

five months and still miss most of the time!

17 years and I still miss some of the time!