Going Clipless

[mr_cellophane]

After suffering from a slipping foot on Sunday, I have finally decided that going clipless is the way forward. I have tried to find information about the various types of pedal available without success. Not even Sheldon Brown has anything.
I don't want egg beaters, they look too small to give me confidence to begin with. What are the various types and what are the respective advantages of each sort.

Thanks

 

[guitarpete247]

Kestevan posted this guide to clipless last year. It's worth checking out.
I went for SPD's to start with. These two-way on the MTB and M520's on the road bike. I've now gone for SPD-SL R540's in place of the 520's. I'm considering swapping the two-way for the 520's soon.

 

[derrick]

Look Keo work well as long as you don't do to much walking in them, feel good on the bike, but i have never used anything else.

 

[WychwoodTrev]

+1 for look keo

 

[lejogger]

I'm a big fan of Look Keo also. I use the Keo 2 Max in both the carbon and composite varieties on my different bikes. I find they have a nice wide sole plate that if set up properly tend to be very comfortable over long rides.

They do take a bit of getting used to though and can be quite expensive - Fortunately I started with an old pair of Look Deltas that were donated to me and I've certainly had a few comedy slow motion topples at traffic lights.
If you're unsure then SPDs are the way to go. The biggest difficulty is getting clipped in and away from junctions so the fact that they're double sided makes it that much easier. Obviously as with anything the more you practice the more it becomes second nature, and they're well worth it in the long run - just be ready for an incident or two unless you're very very careful.

 

[VamP]

After suffering from a slipping foot on Sunday, I have finally decided that going clipless is the way forward. I have tried to find information about the various types of pedal available without success. Not even Sheldon Brown has anything.
I don't want egg beaters, they look too small to give me confidence to begin with. What are the various types and what are the respective advantages of each sort.

Thanks

What are you going to use them for, what type bike, what type riding? What other bikes do you have? It helps if you have a unified shoe platform so that you don't end up with different systems on different bikes.

Different pedals are good for different things. The CB eggbeaters that you mention are outstanding off-road pedals, CB also make the Candy and the Mallet, which use same cleats but provide a broader footprint.

 

[guitarpete247]

Before going clipless I had some of these

on my MTB and clips and straps on the road bike, for over 30 years, so clipless was actually easier to get out of.

 

[jjc89]

I use the shimano spd pedals, mentioned above I think, on my road bike. We've all had "clipless moments" when you forget you're clipped in and topple over, but hey, you just need to get on with it. Myself, I don't see me going back to anything other than clipless, they're safer as there's no chance of your feet slipping out and there's more of a synergy between you and the bike. Can't recommend enough.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Same as you cellophane my feet have been slipping as well so I've bit the bullet and ordered these just to see if I like going clipless.

http://www.bikesyoulike.co.uk/product/8968/Shimano_MO64PDM520_Shoe_And_SPD_Pedal_Combo_

Btw where in Essex do you come from?