well ive bit the dust and just fitted spd's roll on broken ribs and skinned face monday morning

[Angry Blonde]

well as the title says i have moved to the world of spds, just fitted the pedals. i reckon at least a fracture and a huge gaping cut awaits me when i test them for the first time on my way to work monday

 

[Sharky]

Make sure you are wearing gloves!

But best upgrade you can do to a bike.
A couple of rides and you'll be an expert.

 

[Angry Blonde]

can see me losing teeth and everything

 

[I like Skol]

It's the future. You will soon wonder why you waited. I have them on all 3 bikes

 

[winjim]

Maybe try 'em out before Monday, so you're not having to worry about getting to work on time and such? Your cleat positioning will undoubtedly need fiddling with.

But I agree with Sharky and Skol: you'll soon wonder how you ever managed without them.

 

[LutherB]

Find a quiet stretch you can cycle up & down and practice clipping in & out before Monday

 

[Angry Blonde]

ive had the shoes for over a year, and thought this is the week ill get the pedals, i carry tools so i can adjust at work or onway if needbe, i cant really get out as i have the bairns all weekend while my wifey works.

is the difference enormous ?

 

[Angry Blonde]

could have a sly go up and down the street.... been clipping in and out against te wall

 

[Sharky]

It is. Not just the obvious, but once clipped, you are absolutely secure and connected with the bike. You have the pulling up on the pedals to help with hills and sprinting away from TL's. No danger of feet slipping off pedals.

Also helps on fast descents, again security and allows you to take some of the weight off the sit bones and your feet & legs start acting like suspension and the road becomes smoother and helps prevent saddle soreness.

If you ever rode with toe clips and straps, it gave you the same feeling of security, but if you tightened them too much you got poor circulation in you feet and used to hurt. Also to stop with these, you had to bend down and release the strap with your hands. With the click in pedals, you just have to twist your feet to get them out so a lot safer.

Good luck, keith

 

[Angry Blonde]

cheers @Sharky never knew it would help peddling uphill..... hopefully itll help me doing the coast to coast in may then.

 

[young Ed]

just balance with one arm on a chair or wall or so and just sit their stationary on the bike or use a turbo trainer if you have one just clipping in and out in and out
then find a quit piece of road and clip in one foot and ride a few metres on the one foot then try to clip in the next foot and always clip out wayyyyy before you need to stop, better too early than too late with this one!

one pedals and shoes you gone for? what bike is it on?
Cheers Ed

 

[Sharky]

There have been volumes written about pedal technique.

http://www.bicycling.com/training-nutrition/training-fitness/perfect-pedal-stroke

Probably too much, but Greg lemond's quote is probably all you need to think about.

Cheers keith

 

[Angry Blonde]

@young Ed its a voodoo bokor mtb, with shimano m520 pedals and just a pair of £50 hbh mtb shoes what i bought last year and have just came out the box today

 

[Easytigers]

Every time you slow down repeat the mantra...unclip,unclip, unclip!
Also don't clip in straight away if there's even a small chance you might have to stop straight away
There speaks the voice of experience (and a few clipless moments!)

 

[Angry Blonde]

oh i think i will have quite a few clipless moments, hopefully i grasp it straight away