Going clipless

[Accelebrate]

I'm contemplating buying my first set of clipless pedals and shoes. They'll be fitted to my commuting bike, my ride to work is quite short (just over 3 miles, all on road) but on the way back there's a rather almighty hill which I like to try and scale briskly to make up for sitting behind a desk all day. The idea of being able to pull as well as push my way up the hill appeals.

Anyway, I know next to nothing about clipless systems. I don't want to spend a fortune, partly incase I don't take to them and partly because I try not to have anything too pricey on a bike that gets left around town. I also want a pair of shoes that I could get away with wearing at work most days as it'd be nice to not have to carry a change of footwear in unless I was meeting with a client.

After a quick browse of CRC I'm strangely drawn towards a cheap set of egg beaters...

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

From a quick trawl of the internet it seems to be the general consensus that the 'MXR' models are a waste of time and the 'C' models are just about passable. I also realise that egg beaters have no platform around them, which might make things a bit tricky for a beginner, would this be a horrendous mistake? I was planning to wait until a weekend to fit them so I'd got some practice time.

These shoes also fit the bill from a price point of view, I reckon they wouldn't look too funny under a pair of jeans at work...

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

Am I right in thinking that clipless pedals usually come with the appropriate cleats and fixing kits? Or would I need to buy them separately?

But I'm open to suggestions, so please suggest away!

[big_peaches]

First timers i suggest trying Shimano' SPD's i personally found them easier to clip out of then my palls egg beaters AND my other pals mallets... Shimano XT are very light weight, you pay for what you get aswell... shoe's are personal preference... if you feel good and think you look good, thats all that matters.... but what ever you do, wind the tension right off to begin with, so you can clip out...


I had the same thought on pulling up, but i can't seem to do it second nature, i have to think about it, i have found the benefits come on rough ground.

But think about this, i have used clipless for the last 3 months, having never used them before. I will never go back to flats... EVER !!!

my set up

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

and

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/scott/pro-carb...

Edited by big_peaches on Sunday 3rd January 11:12

[John D9395]

I have only had mine for about 6 months, and have been very pleased with them, especially when powering up hills. The extra power you can deliver to the wheels with the push & pull is very noticable.

In my case, the shoes came with nothing, the clips came with the pedals. Guess this is becaus different makes of pedals have different designs of clips?

I bought a pair that looked liked like trainers, so that when I got off the bike, they would look like 'normal' footware.

That said, I wouldn't want to walk round in them all day, as the clip is slightly (or feels it) proud of the sole, so grip is somewhat reduced as you are walking on a metal plate.

I would recomend leaving a pair of shoes / trainers at work.

[big_peaches]

John D9395 said:

I have only had mine for about 6 months, and have been very pleased with them, especially when powering up hills. The extra power you can deliver to the wheels with the push & pull is very noticable.

In my case, the shoes came with nothing, the clips came with the pedals. Guess this is becaus different makes of pedals have different designs of clips?

I bought a pair that looked liked like trainers, so that when I got off the bike, they would look like 'normal' footware.

That said, I wouldn't want to walk round in them all day, as the clip is slightly (or feels it) proud of the sole, so grip is somewhat reduced as you are walking on a metal plate.

I would recomend leaving a pair of shoes / trainers at work.

Sorry i should have also said Clips come with pedals

[Rico]

Why not start with a pair of these and some shoes like you posted.

Pedals - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod... which are flat one side.

Then once happy, I'd go straight to something like the XT ones posted above. Heck, any Shimano one. They're the most popular for a reason

[anonymous-user]

I use these Shimano M647 DX spd pedals, they're great. With the resin cage you can cycle in either SPDs shoes or normal ones.



http://www.bikemagic.com/bike-reviews/shimano-m647...

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/...

[Accelebrate]

Thanks for the advice

Looks like Shimano is the way to go, the half clipless half flat option would probably be the most sensible for a beginner on a bike I use daily. Any other suggestions for shoes that look like everyday casual shoes?

[Ash-man]

think clipless is so much better,each pedal seems so much more powerfull when you are pulling through the up stroke.they supprisingly easy to get used too..i think keep your tensioner setting quite low when first using then increase the tension as you get more confident..i hardly ever unclip on my rides ..i do live in a quiet rural area though..

[anonymous-user]

Does anyone else come on these threads and end up clicking on the links and buying stuff they don't really need?

[Rico]

Accelebrate said:

Looks like Shimano is the way to go, the half clipless half flat option would probably be the most sensible for a beginner on a bike I use daily. Any other suggestions for shoes that look like everyday casual shoes?

Someone mentioned it above, but however much a shoe 'looks' like a real shoe, the cleat will clout the floor. If you ride to work, just leave a pair of normal shoes at work and get a proper mountain bike shoe.

Also, SPD shoes should be stiffer to give more power through the pedal stroke, but will be too stiff to walk in comfortably.

[Parsnip]

Rico said:

Someone mentioned it above, but however much a shoe 'looks' like a real shoe, the cleat will clout the floor. If you ride to work, just leave a pair of normal shoes at work and get a proper mountain bike shoe.

Couldn't agree more - anyone who tells you their spd shoe looks and feels like a proper shoe is having a laugh.

A pair of shoes at work is the way to go - you wont care about your spd shoes getting minging and smelly (which they will) and you will have proper shoes at work, rather than spending all day in the aforementioned smelly, manky cycling ones.

[Buzzkill]

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

[big_peaches]

el stovey said:

I use these Shimano M647 DX spd pedals, they're great. With the resin cage you can cycle in either SPDs shoes or normal ones.



http://www.bikemagic.com/bike-reviews/shimano-m647...

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/...

Sorry fella i found these harder to clip out of mind you i do have XC shoes, plus these are just as hard to use with normal shoe's....lump in the middle ( as much as they say it rotates back in the cage.) plus these would look terrible, DH/BMX use etc but they are a good idea for the like of the MP66 shoe's http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Shimano_MP66W_Cy... but again they are huge and only n a DH bike all my opinion of course

Edited by big_peaches on Sunday 3rd January 16:40

Edited by big_peaches on Sunday 3rd January 16:40

[mchammer89]

If you're not planning on walking around in them, go for Look Keos, i've got them and they're fantastic, never had a single accidental unclipping. However, the cleat is pretty big so walking around in them for more than a few metres is pretty difficult and wears the cleat down unless you get a pair of cleat covers.

[cliff123]

I also have the same Shimano SPD pedals. They came with a small plate which you can clip in to one side of the pedals so that you can use normal shoes and SPD shoes too. This then means, when your ready you can be free of the extra plate and have a dedicated good SPD pedal with no extra plastic surround which will just get in the way and to collect mud and dirt when you don't want it. As you are new to clip in's, IMHO, do not get the egg whisk style pedals.

[BOR]

Accelebrate said:

Looks like Shimano is the way to go, the half clipless half flat option would probably be the most sensible for a beginner on a bike I use daily.

I use that half clipless pedal in Rico's link to commute on. Practical for those times you want to wear a normal boot.

I really like my Shimano SPD shoes, just be aware that you need 1 size bigger than you normally take.

As the posts above, set the release force as low as possible, then lean against a wall, and clip/unclip as many times as you can, to get your muscle memory used to the feel of unclipping, and to run-in the pedals.

[Rolls]

I use Time pedals myself - bit more float than shimano pedals, similar price too!

[breamster]

When bought my new bike had some Shimano SPDs and I simply couldn't get on with them. Constantly clogging up with mud when offroad - spent too long unclogging them in the cold when I should have been riding. Also found they were unforgiving regardless of how well I adjusted them causing me pain in both knees.

Changed backed to platforms and couldn't stand them either.

Changed to the cheap egg beaters from Crank Bros. They are a little weighty but apart from that they are superb. No clogging. Easier to clip into. Easier to get out of and still stay secure.

If you have never tried clipless and you are anything like me you will forget to unclip and fall of in an embarrassing heap. Make sure you get a bit of practice in before venturing amongst the traffic.

Not sure it's already been mentioned but cleats that are recessed into the shoe means you can actually walk normally (ish).

[TwistingMyMelon]

i was in same pos as the OP, doing lots of urban riding and biig hills.

I went with Egg beaters, cheap and simple. Plus they have more angles to clip in than traditional SPDS which is worth bearing in mind incity conditions......

I had the latest cheapo model, seemed sturdy yet after 3 months I manged to snap a pedal in half!!! this is on a road bike! Shop sent them off and I got them refurbed, but duing this time I bought an old model pair of egg beaters off ebay for a tenner and have used them ever since, they seem alot sturdier than the newer models.....

[dubbs]

el stovey said:

I use these Shimano M647 DX spd pedals, they're great. With the resin cage you can cycle in either SPDs shoes or normal ones.



http://www.bikemagic.com/bike-reviews/shimano-m647...

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/...

I've used these on my commuter since 2005 - really easy to clip in and out (you can alter float/tension to make them easy to start off with) and even if you don't quite clip in you're not in danger as you can still push off on the platform therefore no awkward traffic light start situations.

I'd highly recommend these with a pair of the basic specialized MTB pro shoes around £50-60 (velcro fasteners, plastic/resin sole) for commuting.