My shins hurt just looking at pedals like that.
To clip or not to clip ?
- Thread starter noddy63
- Start date
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I am very clumsy, and I am always bashing my shins and calves in my pedals when moving the bike about. Don't want to think what those pedals would do to my legs.
Supersuperleeds
Legendary Member
- Location
- Leicester
SuperHans123
Formerly known as snertos999
SuperHans123
Formerly known as snertos999
Here's mine
mjr
Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
- Location
- mostly Norfolk, sometimes Somerset
The clear advantages are only if you're racing and need all the effectiveness in a sprint and to heck with efficiency. The other claimed advantages are very unclear.
Not racing? Get big grippy comfy flats and leave the racers to their bondage.
slowmotion
Quite dreadful
- Location
- lost somewhere
I use MTB-style SPD pedals and have got totally used to them. Yes, I ended up horizontal on the tarmac firmly glued to the bike half a dozen times when I started, but I didn't get hurt.
I can ride on SPD pedals with normal shoes and often do for short trips. For me, it's nothing to do with being competitive. Having the ball of your foot in the right place when you want to push a bit, particularly in the rain, is just easier. I certainly wouldn't want to use them on gravel or through rocks and stumps. For commuting and longer rides, they suit me.
I can ride on SPD pedals with normal shoes and often do for short trips. For me, it's nothing to do with being competitive. Having the ball of your foot in the right place when you want to push a bit, particularly in the rain, is just easier. I certainly wouldn't want to use them on gravel or through rocks and stumps. For commuting and longer rides, they suit me.
I can see why people don't use them off road and not being clipped in must be a positive in this situation, I should give it another go, but the last time I tried flats on the MTB (after years of SPD use) I couldn't stop my foot bouncing or slipping off the pedals, so had to go back to SPDs.
I think if I give it another go I will have to get some grippy shoes.
Has anybody else tried flats on the MTB after years of SPD use and had to go back.
I struggled at first when going back to flats, but found a grippy pair of pedals combined with a pair of fivetens stick really well, to the point that its difficult to adjust your foot position on the pedal
SuperHans123
Formerly known as snertos999
For me as well, another key consideration is that I have BLOBBO FOOT.
I tried clipped in for a bit and found my legs ached after rides.
I like to have the middle of my foot on the middle of the pedal rather than the ball of the foot.
No matter how far back I could put the clips, it was never far enough for me.
Also, the inability to make those little micro adjustments on clipless pedals is another reason I prefer flats.
The falling off risk didn't ever concern me.
I tried clipped in for a bit and found my legs ached after rides.
I like to have the middle of my foot on the middle of the pedal rather than the ball of the foot.
No matter how far back I could put the clips, it was never far enough for me.
Also, the inability to make those little micro adjustments on clipless pedals is another reason I prefer flats.
The falling off risk didn't ever concern me.
I struggled at first when going back to flats, but found a grippy pair of pedals combined with a pair of fivetens stick really well, to the point that its difficult to adjust your foot position on the pedal
I put flats on a bike to use for going to the shops and other local short journeys. Fine going downhill to the shops, but on the way back up the hill I kept losing contact with the pedals on the upstroke and losing my rhythm. I think this was because I was so used to unweighting the foot on the upstroke.
Mr Celine
Discordian
- Location
- Waxing my moustache
No one else notices though, because you go so fast they can't see them.
And the sexiest thing about SPD-SLs is the fantastic noise they make when you clip in. Everyone can hear that.
SPDs are much quieter and make the same noise whether or not they are properly engaged. I have to take a few turns on the pedals to confirm they are OK.
