What Pedals?

Nathan

Nathan

Nathan

Soldato
Joined
4 Feb 2003
Posts
5,376
Location
West Midlands
Giant XTC 3 2009

Cycle to work ~1 mile each way :D

Weekend cycling - XC over large hills, through forests etc ~8 miles

My top clips are knackered and my chain broke last week, so going to book her in for some TLC. Does my milage really justify SPD? I like my toe clips but feel they are a bit noob. Will V8's suffice?

cheers
 
I just bought my first pair of clipless pedals, M520's froM CRC for £18, they were delivered today. My shoes arrive Tuesday and then its time to fall off! Oh yeah! :D
 
So I was in a local shop last night having just purchased a new bike and one of the employees asked in passing when I was going to get rid of the pedals on it and swap to SPDs. He seemed to think they make a massive difference and once you've ridden with them for a bit you wouldn't want to go back.

Are they a lot better? Is it worth getting some? I guess I'm in a similar situation to the OP.
 
Yabsley said:
So I was in a local shop last night having just purchased a new bike and one of the employees asked in passing when I was going to get rid of the pedals on it and swap to SPDs. He seemed to think they make a massive difference and once you've ridden with them for a bit you wouldn't want to go back.

Are they a lot better? Is it worth getting some? I guess I'm in a similar situation to the OP.
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Absolutely. Using clipless essentially turns the pedals and cranks into extensions of your legs; it allows you to transmit power to the wheels all the way through the cycle rather than just when pushing down. Unless you're doing downhill or freeride, clipless is the way forward.

You'll probably fall over a few times when you first start using them but it's worth it :)
 
Inquisitor said:
Unless you're doing downhill or freeride, clipless is the way forward....
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Plenty of pro downhillers ride clipless pedals, infact far more than those who ride flats.

As has already been said, you get a much more stable and solid pedalling platform, and you can apply power by pulling your trailing foot at the same time as pushing your leading foot.

Not everyone gets on with them, but if you do then you won't look back.
 
Seems to be a consensus on them being good. Next question is what about when you don't want to wear the shoes? Are the ones with non SPD bits on one side any good?
 
Well I have a good set of Shimano pedals that have a wide brim around the outside of the clip-in spring, and enable you to ride comfortably with normal shoes.
 
My 540's came with a plastic clip in platform, you wouldn't want to take the bike off-road with them but they'd be fine for nipping to the shop on.
 
I find my SPD shoes pretty comfy tbh!

I actually find riding without SPDs pretty terrifying now, there's nothing like feeling properly connected to a bike - though I've yet to work out how to bunny-hop...

I have mine very loose, tight enough that my feet don't come out when doing a bit of pulling-up (which is generally not a hard pull anyway, it's not like suddenly you start cranking hard on the upstroke, initially it just means you use no effort to keep yourself on the pedal), but loose enough that a moment of panic lets my foot come out before tipping over (though I have done that once too).

SPDs are lovely :)
 
Actually sometimes I twist my foot the wrong way and crack my ankle bone on the pedal cranks. That irritates me, mainly because I'm a fool for doing it.
 
I have a set of the single sided ones, never had an issue with them to be honest. You soon get a good feel for which way up the pedal is.
 
sara said:
I find my SPD shoes pretty comfy tbh!

I actually find riding without SPDs pretty terrifying now, there's nothing like feeling properly connected to a bike - though I've yet to work out how to bunny-hop...

I have mine very loose, tight enough that my feet don't come out when doing a bit of pulling-up (which is generally not a hard pull anyway, it's not like suddenly you start cranking hard on the upstroke, initially it just means you use no effort to keep yourself on the pedal), but loose enough that a moment of panic lets my foot come out before tipping over (though I have done that once too).

SPDs are lovely :)
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Have you tried the multi-release SPD cleats? I find they let me have them much tighter without it being any more difficult to unclip in a hurry :)
 
Inquisitor said:
Have you tried the multi-release SPD cleats? I find they let me have them much tighter without it being any more difficult to unclip in a hurry :)
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Nope, but I like things the way they are :)

Not having them too tight means a further degree of freedom in foot rotation too without springing out.
 
My new pedals arrived today, set of Time Z Freerides.
Had good reviews on MTBR and big enough platform to ride with normal shoes.
 
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