confusedcyclist
Veteran
5 crashes on SPDs is a bit excessive, it probably a confidence thing. Some people take longer to learn than others, but I implore you not to give up, it will click eventually!
Keep coming off my road bike!
- Thread starter Doobiesis
- Start date
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- Location
- Somewhere wet & hilly in NW England.
So mountain bike 2 bolt cleats?
Learn something new, didn't know one could get carbon soled spd shoes as opposed to road spd-sl 3 bolt shoes
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-m20c-carbon-mountain-bike-cycling-shoe/
Attachments
- Location
- Somewhere wet & hilly in NW England.
Which cleats are you using?
slowmotion
Quite dreadful
- Location
- lost somewhere
I got back on a bike five and a half years ago after a lifetime of relative sloth. I rode a quite lightweight hybrid for a couple of years and loved it. Then some kind of MAMIL/OMIL vanity overtook me and I bought a road bike. It wasn't outrageously expensive and it had SPDs. I went down like a sack of potatoes within six minutes of trying them out, and a few times after that too, but strangely, I just giggled and bounced luckily. There was always that "Oh sh#t! Here we go" second and a half between when the adrenaline kicked in and hitting the tarmac laterally. What I found really hard was the riding position and the steering. I was all stretched out, my neck hurt, and I didn't have the confidence to nip about in traffic. The steering just felt hopelessly twitchy, even at very low speeds. Six months after buying it, I really did consider going back to a hybrid but I got a bit more flexible and confident and gradually learned to love it. A lot.
Good luck.
Good luck.
MacB
Lover of things that come in 3's
- Location
- Farnborough, Hampshire
I'm always puzzled by the remarks around clipless making it easier to get your foot in the right place and keep it there. Not only is this not a problem I've experienced with flats but I also enjoy being able to move my foot on longer rides, I tend to move my foot forward a bit on long hills.
Some of the MTB videos I've watched seem to show people having no trouble with their feet on their flat pedals....maybe they just practiced until it was second nature, like riding a bike
Some of the MTB videos I've watched seem to show people having no trouble with their feet on their flat pedals....maybe they just practiced until it was second nature, like riding a bike
outlash
also available in orange
- Location
- ice station zebra
Indeed, I'm thinking the OP paid RRP and then some if they're £180 shoes that'll take a SPD cleat. I deliberately bought shoes that could take both 2 & 3 bolt cleat systems as I wasn't sure which ones to go for at the time and they're very few and far between (Shimano mainly).
To the OP, stick with it, it'll come with time and confidence. Having that essential ability to see what's going to happen (or at least try to guess) 1-2 seconds ahead will only come with experience being on the road and riding. Having the pedal mechanism as loose as possible and picking out some nice quiet roads will help you a lot.
Tony.
Mugshot
Cracking a solo.
I think the problem is that everything has clicked just fine, it's the unclicking that seems to be the issue.
OP
OP
Doobiesis
Über Member
- Location
- Poole Dorset
I can assure you they cost me £180
OP
OP
Doobiesis
Über Member
- Location
- Poole Dorset
OP
OP
Doobiesis
Über Member
- Location
- Poole Dorset
Went out tonight had a great ride with my toe clips. Meant I could concentrate more on getting used to my bike than worrying about clipping in or not!
vickster
Legendary Member
So a road shoe, SPD-SL,3 bolt...so the sh56 cleats aren't a solution unfortunately
outlash
also available in orange
- Location
- ice station zebra
If they're SPD-SL, I guess the way forward is to loosen the cleat mechanism on the pedal as much as possible and get the cleats that give you the most amount of float (movement), the yellow ones IIRC.
Tony.
Tony.
And there's your answer. Problem solved. You enjoyed the ride so stick with them and keep cycling.