Toeclips

[Trevrev]

I was given a set of clippy peddles for my birthday, But i can't bring myself to buy those shoes and walk around like a penguin, so they've never been put on. It's bad enough being labelled a cyclist coz i commute by bike......I really don't want to start looking like one !!! The twat hat is for my safety though.
As for the rain.......I love it !!!

 

[betty swollocks]

I was given a set of clippy peddles for my birthday, But i can't bring myself to buy those shoes and walk around like a penguin, so they've never been put on. It's bad enough being labelled a cyclist coz i commute by bike......I really don't want to start looking like one !!! The twat hat is for my safety though.
As for the rain.......I love it !!!

You don't have to walk like a penguin. Get some shoes where the cleats are recessed and walk normally.
Tahoes for instance, are so comfortable that you can wear them all day.

 

[wafflycat]

You don't have to walk like a penguin. Get some shoes where the cleats are recessed and walk normally.
Tahoes for instance, are so comfortable that you can wear them all day.

I even have Look footwear with recessed cleats. Joy

 

[Jim_Noir]

Started using SPDs last week, what a diffrence in climbds and head winds... using one foot to climb is good to show off. One clipless moment... came to a stop and forgot I had to get out the pedal first... DOH! The stopping quickly is a worry, but I am sure I'll get the hang of it... but the are worth the learning curve for what you get out them

 

[Trevrev]

Right, i've done it. I've had the pedals for a while and after some careful thought and the purchase of some halfprice cycle shoes from Lidl...( £7.50 ) Not sure what they're like !! They look OK to me....And the lucky purchase of some mis-priced shimano cleats from Halfords which should have been £19.99 but only marked up at £9.99. I'm now clipless !!!
Tried it all out today...Seems OK. I get in and out alright, but i'm not looking forward to my first commute on Monday. I'm going to have to think about getting my feet free for a while!!!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I am with MacB, I have been on toeclips for about 25 years, in 2007 I had clipless on my best bike for about six months, and hated them, I also got no benefit from using them, it was no easier, I was no faster and didn't climb any better,after six months I went back to toeclips.

 

[Velorum]

Same here, tried them and dont like. Toeclips or just bare pedals for me.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

I cant be doing with clipless so Toeclips here as well

 

[snorri]

Toeclips for me too. I'm not concerned about performance and the convenience of wearing any footwear, including rubber boots in wet weather, is a big factor.

 

[Tony B]

another one here for toeclips

 

[Trevrev]

Well, i'll see how it goes with clipless. I've still got my trusty toeclips to go back to.

 

[jay clock]

No 1 benefit for me is stiffness of the shoes, avoiding pressure pain through softer ones.

I never have problems clipping in. I either have the "full" SPD pedals where both sides clip in, or on some bikes the ones that are normal one side, SPD the other. On these, only on odd occasions do I no clip in first time, but just keep pedalling. I had far more problems getting toes into toeclips

 

[Arch]

Toeclips for me too. I'm not concerned about performance and the convenience of wearing any footwear, including rubber boots in wet weather, is a big factor.

Me too.

I do have clipless on my trike, but that's a safety thing to stop my feet dropping off the pedals and getting dragged under the cross piece - the pedals being vertical on a recumbent....

 

[jonny jeez]

I was given a set of clippy peddles for my birthday, But i can't bring myself to buy those shoes and walk around like a penguin, so they've never been put on. It's bad enough being labelled a cyclist coz i commute by bike......I really don't want to start looking like one !!! The twat hat is for my safety though.
As for the rain.......I love it !!!

Hi trev...personally I would recommend that you adjust the clips to their "minimum" setting. This means that you can pull your foot out really easily when needed and also get them in swifter. the down side is, if you off road or do anything a little acrobatic, then they can come unclipped pretty easily....(I often unclip by pulling vertically really sharply, without a twist...works for me)

if you are just commuting (I assume you are as you posted here) then a loosely adjusted clip may work well)

I went from "rat traps" to SPD when I found my toes suffering from cramp from being so confined. SPD feel much more open.

Also be sure to align them properly, its amazing the weird angles we put our feet at when cycling, so don't just set them to face parallel to the bike, move them about and find a setting that is right for you or you or
may suffer cramps (I did initially), you can move more (from side to side)in toeclips so often dont consider this.

Jonny

 

[swee'pea99]

+1 for SPDs (after years of toeclips) and would never go back.

+1 also to don't forget to adjust the tension till they're right for you. (And don't assume loosest is best - having your foot suddenly detach itself under pressure when you weren't expecting it can be a real pants-filler.)