To cleat, or not to cleat?

[Citius]

I don't think I was, he was a fit guy, and a fast rider. What I am, though, is what I believe is known as a "puncheur"; I can blat up the likes of Box Hill at a pretty high cadence and maintain speed.

A "grimpeur" would hand me my arse on proper climbs, and I'd like to improve there.

Having said that, coming back down the hill the fact that he had an 11t at his disposal as opposed to my 12t may have helped, hee hee

'Puncheur' / 'grimpeur' / 'tosseur' - those terms are all a bit poncy. The fact was you were going up the hill quicker than he was, and there's no reason why your choice of footwear should be a limiter.

 

[Dec66]

I don't recall much of a hill out of Beckenham
(grew up in the Bromley area, lived in Beckenham previously, spent many of my school years yomping up Summer Hill in Chislehurst, that would count as a bit of a hill in the SE)


Get SPD system or stick with the flats (my friend steamed past 5 male roadies in her trainers the other day, she was amused, they less so)

Southend Road/Beckenham Hill Road, out from the Town Centre past Beckenham Place Park and down to what was The Green Man. You're right, it's not much of a hill, but it's enough to initiate a slowdown in most people's cadence.

It's more of a hill going in the opposite direction, someone got most upset with me one day as I passed him on his Specialized Roubaix on my ancient Apollo TDF, having taken 150m out of him in the space of 400m

 

[Dec66]

'Puncheur' / 'grimpeur' / 'tosseur' - those terms are all a bit poncy. The fact was you were going up the hill quicker than he was, and there's no reason why your choice of footwear should be a limiter.

"Tosseur"... Me likey

I just used it to convey the fact that I'm decent at going up short, sharp rises, without the ability of a proper climber.

The fella wasn't being rude, he thought he was giving me some advice to improve further. I took it as a compliment, though I'm a bit of a softy like that.

I'm crap going down steep hills, my cojones don't work if I don't think my brakes can

 

[Globalti]

Shimano make an SPD pedal that is two-sided, one side being a plain flattie and the other having an SPD cleat. I tried some on a hire bike and against my expectation I liked them very much indeed.

(Edited from "SPD shoe"!)

 

[Dec66]

Shimano make an SPD shoe that is two-sided, one side being a plain flattie and the other having an SPD cleat. I tried some on a hire bike and against my expectation I liked them very much indeed.

Ooh, that sounds interesting, any idea of the model number?

 

[ianrauk]

Ooh, that sounds interesting, any idea of the model number?

Shimano A530

 

[vickster]

That's a pedal not a shoe though @Globalti ! Shimano M324 another option, proper rectangular pedal

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-m324-combination-pedals/

I prefer the pedals with cleat holes on both sides, M520 the cheapest option pretty much. Saves the faffy flipping, I've come a cropper before while looking at my foot because I couldn't clip in!

 

[Paul139]

Wear what you feel comfortable and safe in. I have a single speed bike which I have toeclips on and ride in trainers mainly around town,but I have ridden so far up to 40 odd miles in them and felt comfortable. My road bike is clip less (spd sl) which I find best for distance riding. As you say clipping in and out around town is a bit of a faff although I understand spd' s are better for town riding.

 

[Mike_P]

May depend on your shoe size but I only clip in my right shoe on roads I know well, given the frequency of pot holes etc I normally only clip my left shoe . Shimano make two types of SPD cleats - one that will release relatively easily and the other requiring a specific twist of the foot to release - use the latter on my left shoe and the former on the right.

 

[Leaway2]

I use the (Shimano) touring shoes with recessed cleats. You will not end up on your @rse when walking from the bike to place of work (or sound like the Coop milk horse).

 

[Dec66]

Thanks for the advice, all, lots to consider. Hopefully the same fate won't befall me as it did the fella I occasionally ride with; he got the clips put on, we went out, we got to a crossroads near Biggin Hill, he forgot he had clips and not flats... You know the rest.

The sight of him lying on his back with the bike between his legs, doing the "dying fly" as he struggled to unclip himself, brightened the day up immensely...

 

[xxDarkRiderxx]

Definitely go with the cleats and as others have said you don't have to match the crank set cleats and shoes to a specific make. I was the same using standard pedals or straps for years then change to SPD system commuting into Liverpool Street from North London on my hybrid for 5 years plus and like @ianrauk said my shoes wore out before the cleats. Try to inspire my wife to wear them soon.

Good luck.

 

[vickster]

Just look out for uneven road surfaces, holes and dodgy cambers when you go to put your foot down, I almost came a cropper earlier again at lights! Thank God for long legs!

 

[TheJDog]

I use SPDs for riding to work and Speedplays when I'm dressed in lycra. You don't have to limit things.

I'd definitely recommend SPDs as a learner system.

 

[kiriyama]

Agree with the spd/flat combo pedal jobby (whatever their called) I borrowed a friends bike who had these and they were great when I just needed to jump on the bike quickly (going to the shops etc. No need to change shoes)

I find riding in cleats makes me feel a lot more confident and I personally find I can transfer more power efficiently through the pedals than with flats, (in certain conditions) e.g. sprinting or grinding up 30% climbs...