To clip or not to clip ?

[raleighnut]

Being an all weather rider I like the security of being able to lay down the power regardless of conditions and not have to worry about foot positioning before doing so. But it is very much a taste thing and for every manly studmuffin like me there's another hunk that likes to be able to mover around and fine tune the contact points to suit the bikes attitude at any given moment. Cycling is a broad church in sooo many different ways.

Gawd sake man, you're sounding a bit 'Guru' there, have you been on the mushrooms or summat.

 

[Mike_P]

I use 51s on left shoes and 56s on right shoes so always stop with my right foot on the ground. Having size 10 feet I find that I can pedal okay without clipping my right foot in if necessary as well, don't use 51s on the right foot as it always seemed to result in those clipless moments for some reason.

 

[Drago]

Gawd sake man, you're sounding a bit 'Guru' there, have you been on the mushrooms or summat.

Sorry. Although I do periodically teach the skills to students I much prefer to sound like a slavering loon. I'm clearly letting the facade slip.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Some interesting stuff for the pedal-nerd on the Speedplay site http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.history
Who'd have thought clipless pedals were the new thing in 1895?

 

[Dogtrousers]

Track stands were something everybody learned back in the day. No real reason, we just did.

Trackstands weren't a thing when and where I grew up. Well, I'm sure they were a thing for the track cyclists of the time, but me and my mates were unaware that track cycling even existed, or really that cycling could actually be a sport. We'd heard of some French bloke called Eddie Merricks but that was it.

Wheelies were a thing. I couldn't do them either. Trackstands, bunny hops and so forth not so much. I suspect they were unleashed on the general public by BMX, which was after my time.

 

[pjd57]

After reading this I ordered a pair.
They arrived this afternoon after I'd been out.
Fitted them in two minutes and had a quick run round the block.

First impressions are good.
Updates to follow if that changes.

A few more miles and still pleased with my purchase

 

[HLaB]

My shins hurt just looking at pedals like that.

As a kid my shins would have been torn apart too. I've only used flat pedals once in the last 8 years however, (a hire mtb in Sherwood Pines) and when I got off the bike there wasn't a scrape on my shins. Then my mate pointed out my calves were bleeding profusely. Bizarrely they weren't bruised or sore but the pedal had perforated them several times

 

[mjr]

Unlike stunt riding, track stands have a real use, enabling you to hold the line at lights and junctions with feet on pedals for a swift and safe getaway. You will need enhanced slow riding skills with clipless pedals, even if it is not the full monty track stand.

Why not just slow down before you reach the stop line? I rarely track stand but also rarely put a foot down at junctions. It's all about anticipation. Oh and not caring about your Strava moving average speed.

 

[mjr]

As a kid my shins would have been torn apart too. I've only used flat pedals once in the last 8 years however, (a hire mtb in Sherwood Pines) and when I got off the bike there wasn't a scrape on my shins. Then my mate pointed out my calves were bleeding profusely. Bizarrely they weren't bruised or sore but the pedal had perforated them several times

Should have paid extra for the pedals without nails in!

 

[MichaelW2]

Why not just slow down before you reach the stop line? I rarely track stand but also rarely put a foot down at junctions. It's all about anticipation. Oh and not caring about your Strava moving average speed.

In my mind, inching forward very slowly and the textbook static track stand are functionally the same thing. Both keep you where you have to be, but prepared to go as soon as possible.

 

[matticus]

... but they are quite different skills.

 

[MntnMan62]

Start with MTB double sided and never use anything different, they are all you need, with the added bonus you can walk in the shoes, someone will come along and tell you the shoes are not stiff enough, that's bullshit you can get exactly the same stiffness shoes as road shoes.

I agree with this 100%. I started with moutain bike riding and put Time ATAC Aliums on it. It really didn't take me long to get used to them. Then when I bought a road bike I didn't want to have to buy different pair of shoes for essentially the same purpose. So I put the same Time ATAC Aliums on my road bike, color matched of course. I've never had anyone say anything about it or my shoes. And I can confirm they are plenty stiff for my intended purpose. I suppose if you were racing competitively on a team and all that, then you'd want to invest in all road gear. But I'm a casual rider. I ride for fitness and fun. I am trying to get to a level where I can do group rides but I won't be racing anyone. Mountain bike pedals for both bikes and one set of shoes is all you need.