Soldato
I wouldn't be too worried about clip-less.. but I'd go 2 sided if you plan to use the bike for anything else.
just a couple of tips from a guy that moved less than a month ago -;
loosen the tension of the spring on the pedal you unclip when you stop.
unclip earlier that you brain tells you to..
when you slow down and hit the traffic be unclipped on one foot and just pedal around like that.
mtb pedals + shoes = easier to walk in.
I haven't had an off yet but had a few close calls due to traffic in central london.
just a couple of tips from a guy that moved less than a month ago -;
loosen the tension of the spring on the pedal you unclip when you stop.
unclip earlier that you brain tells you to..
when you slow down and hit the traffic be unclipped on one foot and just pedal around like that.
mtb pedals + shoes = easier to walk in.
I haven't had an off yet but had a few close calls due to traffic in central london.
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I'm using crappy platform pedals on my bike which happens to be a CX bike to.
I'm told I could probably up my average speed by 2 mph if I went clipless but I'm happy enough with platform pedals
are you sure you want that giant bike?
you could get a shimano 105 cyclocross bike for £999 that would be 2kg lighter
which is surely better than
I'm told I could probably up my average speed by 2 mph if I went clipless but I'm happy enough with platform pedals
are you sure you want that giant bike?
you could get a shimano 105 cyclocross bike for £999 that would be 2kg lighter
which is surely better than
aren't they like tiagra and sora grade components ? :S
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I'm entirely sold on the benefits of clipless pedals and as long as you go for mtb style pedals you'll have no problem walking in the shoes. Double sided pedals are generally easier to use and I've never not managed to unclip, even when crashing mountain biking.
I fell over for the first time today, even after unclipping! Unclipped my left foot as usual, but for some reason I leaned to the right, and toppled over.
It was outside work, on an industrial estate, on a Sunday but yet someone was still witness to my fail.
I was thinking this a few weeks ago and decided to go for the Shimano A530's. I haven't bought the shoes yet, but it's good to know I have the option to and once I get into it, i'll upgrade so non double sided pedals. Just nice to know can hop on whenever and go for a spin without the shoes 
. Will probably get the shoes and get used to them clipping in/out on the trainer though..!
. Will probably get the shoes and get used to them clipping in/out on the trainer though..!Shimano M520 (£14) pedals and a MTB type shoe (I have M162)
No bother to walk in, start with the pedals on a fairly loose tension setting to make it dead easy to get your foot out. Gradually tighten them up as you get confident in them.
I came from flats to these pedals and took a few rides to get used to them but now struggle with flats as the diffence in power transfer etc is amazing.
No bother to walk in, start with the pedals on a fairly loose tension setting to make it dead easy to get your foot out. Gradually tighten them up as you get confident in them.
I came from flats to these pedals and took a few rides to get used to them but now struggle with flats as the diffence in power transfer etc is amazing.
Soldato
I agree.. you can get a better bike for the money than the giant.
you'll be paying a lot for the name.
I crashed too.. both pedals unclipped - not sure how but w/e it worked lol.
but you can just wear tennis style trainers which have a pretty hard rubber bottom or skate boarder shoes like my newly acquired adidas zx750s which are ridiculously comfortable and a pretty solid shoe designed to take some abuse.
I'd have thought the major difference between clipless and platform is that you can pedal in proper circles instead of just pushing down with each leg without being very smooth.
I guess they make it a lot easier to maintain cadence on hills?
Man of Honour
Sounds like the right choice for the pedals.
One thing about the bike and the cost. You could use the same scheme to order a Rose or PX bike to get the same savings but a better bike. Worth considering.
One thing about the bike and the cost. You could use the same scheme to order a Rose or PX bike to get the same savings but a better bike. Worth considering.
Caporegime
Yeah, a530s are good pedals. I have them on my second bike.
Associate
I made the move to clipless a couple of months back and they are brilliant. Haven't had an off yet though!
M785's so there is a bit of a platform if you get to a technical part of the ride and brick it.
M785's so there is a bit of a platform if you get to a technical part of the ride and brick it.
Man of Honour
I can't imagine riding without clips after 2 years.
Because of my arthritis I sometimes pull the pedals up and not the normal push down which I would have to do 100% with platforms.
And of course the better riders are pushing & pulling constantly making pedaling very efficient.
I also come to bits of my commute where both feet are unclipped and because I have MTB shoes it is easy to ride without being clipped.
Also when you first have clips go out and experiment with which foot you are going to remove first.
For instance I'm a right foot remover so you should always lean to the right but like others I have leaned to the left a couple of times when I first started.
Oh how those motorists and pedestrians laughed.
Because of my arthritis I sometimes pull the pedals up and not the normal push down which I would have to do 100% with platforms.
And of course the better riders are pushing & pulling constantly making pedaling very efficient.
I also come to bits of my commute where both feet are unclipped and because I have MTB shoes it is easy to ride without being clipped.
Also when you first have clips go out and experiment with which foot you are going to remove first.
For instance I'm a right foot remover so you should always lean to the right but like others I have leaned to the left a couple of times when I first started.
Oh how those motorists and pedestrians laughed.
Soldato
- Joined
- 11 Jun 2013
- Posts
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Another vote for Shimano A530 - they're great I've got SPD-SLs on my good bike but those on my winter / about town one. SPDs are dead easy to walk in - would be an ideal starter set (and like someone else said, you probably don't want to be clipped in with the little one on the back unitl you're confident with them).
I've got SPD-SLs on my good bike but those on my winter / about town one. SPDs are dead easy to walk in - would be an ideal starter set (and like someone else said, you probably don't want to be clipped in with the little one on the back unitl you're confident with them).
Soldato
I fell of twice doing this when I first went clipped.
I'm right handed and footed, so I unclipped my right foot. The problem being I always put my left foot down when I stop on a bike, so crash down I went lol.. then did it again!
I couldn't ride without them now though, so used to it. I did try the single sided road pedals but couldn't get on with them, but double sided SPD's are perfect, I don't even need to look at them and even if I don't clip in instantly, can just pedal on until it goes in.
Man of Honour
Thank God for cleats.
1 mile into my commute my left pedal crank arm came off
I put it in my bag, clipped into my right one and rode off like Norman Wisdom but there was a couple of places I had to walk with it
I found some pliers at work but couldn't get the tightness I needed so 3 times on my commute home it fell off again.
1 mile into my commute my left pedal crank arm came off
I put it in my bag, clipped into my right one and rode off like Norman Wisdom but there was a couple of places I had to walk with it
I found some pliers at work but couldn't get the tightness I needed so 3 times on my commute home it fell off again.
Caporegime
Thank God for cleats.
1 mile into my commute my left pedal crank arm came off
I put it in my bag, clipped into my right one and rode off like Norman Wisdom but there was a couple of places I had to walk with it
I found some pliers at work but couldn't get the tightness I needed so 3 times on my commute home it fell off again.
Came off as in unscrewed, not broke? I've seen people walking through town carrying broken crank arms and wheeling bikes on occasion!