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Cycling shoes and cleat pedals

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    #32
    Tigerandahalf
    Registered Users Posts: 7,811 ✭✭✭Tigerandahalf


    Fian wrote: »
    If you are finding it easy to put your foot down with your toe clips I presume you are not tightening the strap over your feet to lock them into the pedals. In that case you are not really "locked in" to the pedals as you will be when using cleats so you can't pull up on the pedals or pedal the whole way around. If you used them strapped in you need to lean down with your hand and loosen the strap before you can remove your foot.

    I took the straps off of the toe clips. They were just hassle and dangerous for a newbie to have the feet strapped in. The toe clips were quite good. My feet never slipped off the pedals. I was even able to stand on the pedals. However, I wouldn't have been pedaling in a standing position for more than a few seconds. I will get the cleat system though. Whether it will make a huge difference to my cycling spins I will have to wait and see.


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    #33
    ted1
    Registered Users Posts: 23,259 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    First day wearing cleats today. Using the keo look. Very easy to get in and out of. Recommend them as entry level clip in pedals


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    #34
    Velotogo
    Registered Users Posts: 15 ✭Velotogo


    ted1 wrote: »
    First day wearing cleats today. Using the keo look. Very easy to get in and out of. Recommend them as entry level clip in pedals

    Have you any links for your shoe and pedal combo, Ted ?


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    #35
    ted1
    Registered Users Posts: 23,259 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    Velotogo wrote: »
    Have you any links for your shoe and pedal combo, Ted ?

    I got these pedals http://mobile.cyclesurgery.com/look-keo-easy-pedal/pedals-road/bikes-components-bikewear/fcp-product/28518

    And the shoes are just normal road shoes I got in cyclesuoperstore.


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    #36
    Lardy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 981 ✭✭✭Lardy


    I have a quick question for the more knowledgable than I...

    I have these pedals on my road bike: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-pd-r540-spd-sl-sport-pedals/

    Would I be wrong to put the same pedals on my MTB? I only ask because I don't really want 2 pairs of shoes and I don't want to be swapping cleats when I'm taking out one bike or the other.

    Thanks


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    #37
    nak
    Registered Users Posts: 1,538 ✭✭✭nak


    Lardy wrote: »
    I have a quick question for the more knowledgable than I...

    I have these pedals on my road bike: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-pd-r540-spd-sl-sport-pedals/

    Would I be wrong to put the same pedals on my MTB? I only ask because I don't really want 2 pairs of shoes and I don't want to be swapping cleats when I'm taking out one bike or the other.

    Thanks

    Yep, they are road pedals.


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    #38
    SuperSean
    Registered Users Posts: 142 ✭✭SuperSean


    I also have just a quick question :)

    Is there much of a performance difference from going from SPD MTB pedals to the SPD road pedals ?

    I have the SPD MTB pedals and shoes for the latest year or so and they're grand but I'm after getting a pair of SPD road pedals off one of my mates and was just wondering if its worth the money to go buy the road shoes/cleats?

    Thanks!


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    #39
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 3,621 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    SuperSean wrote: »
    I also have just a quick question :)

    Is there much of a performance difference from going from SPD MTB pedals to the SPD road pedals ?

    I have the SPD MTB pedals and shoes for the latest year or so and they're grand but I'm after getting a pair of SPD road pedals off one of my mates and was just wondering if its worth the money to go buy the road shoes/cleats?

    Thanks!

    Just to be aware, You can put SPD cleats on some road shoes too.


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    #40
    mjsc1970
    Registered Users Posts: 642 ✭✭✭mjsc1970


    Had my mandatory 1st fall today. Stopped to talk to a neighbour, bollo, didn't unclip in time, kealed over in slow motion, quite comical really.


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    #41
    Tigerandahalf
    Registered Users Posts: 7,811 ✭✭✭Tigerandahalf


    How exactly do you unclip?
    Is it like Dorothy from Wizard of Oz and just click your heels?ðŸ˜


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    #42
    crosstownk
    Registered Users Posts: 12,863 ✭✭✭✭crosstownk


    Tigerandahalf wrote: »
    How exactly do you unclip?
    Is it like Dorothy from Wizard of Oz and just click your heels?ðŸ˜

    Just twist your ankle out (away from the bike) and you're unclipped. It's easy. I always unclip my left foot as it's the one closest to the kerb where I can rest my foot while waiting at traffic light etc.
    Untitled Image




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    #43
    Tigerandahalf
    Registered Users Posts: 7,811 ✭✭✭Tigerandahalf


    So I got my pedals and road shoes. Funny enough the cleats and bolts came with the shoes and the nuts came with the pedals - strange.
    Anyway I managed to attach the pedals. Had difficulty taking off the old pedals until I googled here and realised that the left pedal unscrews in the other direction to normal way. I had to loosen the allen screws to loosen the tension of the cleats. The screws are loose at this stage but did not fall out after a good cycle.
    Only difficulty is I find it much more difficult to corner with my feet clipped in. Is this normal?
    Also there appears to be a set of 2 stickers that you attach over the cleat holes inside the shoe, hardly to waterproof is it? I didn't put them on anyway.


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    #44
    Wishbone Ash
    Registered Users Posts: 24,952 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    Tigerandahalf wrote: »
    Only difficulty is I find it much more difficult to corner with my feet clipped in. Is this normal?.....
    No it's not normal. It shouldn't make any difference. Unless you're on a fixie, your inside pedal should be raised when cornering. Depending on the float of the cleat, your inside foot may turn slightly as you drop your knee.

    PS - did you grease the pedals threads before attaching them. If not, remove them and do so as they can be very difficult to remove in the future otherwise.


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    #45
    Tigerandahalf
    Registered Users Posts: 7,811 ✭✭✭Tigerandahalf


    I didn't have grease but I sprayed on bike oil.
    When I normally corner I let my knee out to the side. This means my foot would naturally go onto its side. But it is not possible to do this with the shoe clipped in. Maybe my technique is poor but I am finding myself slowing down at corners in order to be safe and I feel my centre of gravity is higher as I can't get my knee down low enough.


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    #46
    Wishbone Ash
    Registered Users Posts: 24,952 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    Tigerandahalf wrote: »
    ...When I normally corner I let my knee out to the side. This means my foot would naturally go onto its side. But it is not possible to do this with the shoe clipped in...
    That seems odd. I'll have to wait until I'm on the bike again to check myself as I've never had an issue with it.

    (If I was wearing non-cleat shoes on a bike (which is almost never), my foot wouldn't go to the side on the pedal when cornering).


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    #47
    MB Lacey
    Registered Users Posts: 1,277 ✭✭✭MB Lacey


    Tigerandahalf wrote: »
    I didn't have grease but I sprayed on bike oil.
    When I normally corner I let my knee out to the side. This means my foot would naturally go onto its side. But it is not possible to do this with the shoe clipped in. Maybe my technique is poor but I am finding myself slowing down at corners in order to be safe and I feel my centre of gravity is higher as I can't get my knee down low enough.



    Given the rain today - here's a vid on cornering in the rain - maybe check your technique is similar.
    Also, when I bought my pedals/ cleats I had a lbs fit them and check me on the bike wearing them.
    Some bike shops may charge for this service (€20/30), but worth it.

    If you're experienced in fitting cleats you wont need this, but I think it's really important to have everything set up correctly to avoid any potential injuries from incorrectly fitted cleats.


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    #48
    fiacha
    Registered Users Posts: 779 ✭✭✭fiacha


    I made the move to road shoes and cleats yesterday. I've been using double sided SPDs for years, so I wasn't too worried about clipping out. Clipping in when moving away from lights is proving to be a pain. I think I have the pedal the right way up so push the foot in only for the slippery underside of the shoe to send my foot rocketing forward before the pedal comes around and whacks the back of the heel. Judging by the laughter coming from a few cars on my test spin, I cheered up a few people on their way home last night :D. Hopefully it gets easier with practice.

    On the plus side, I'm really liking the lightness and stiffness of the new shoes.
    Tigerandahalf wrote: »
    I didn't have grease but I sprayed on bike oil.

    Well worth buying a small tube of good quality grease for use on bolts. Not just for ease of removal, it is much better than oil at stopping those annoying creaks that can develop when oil dries out.
    Tigerandahalf wrote: »
    When I normally corner I let my knee out to the side. This means my foot would naturally go onto its side. But it is not possible to do this with the shoe clipped in.

    I think I do the same thing, but I was never aware of the foot movement being so severe. I may just be a matter of getting used to the new foot position and your "lean" will adjust naturally.


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    #49
    Tigerandahalf
    Registered Users Posts: 7,811 ✭✭✭Tigerandahalf


    The pedals I bought are double sided spd mtb ones. They are ideal for someone starting off or commuting as you can clip in on either side plus the platform of the pedal is wide enough to use trainers for a spin to the shops.
    http://www.wiggle.com/shimano-m424-spd-pedals/

    Here are the shoes I bought. I got a size up as I have wide feet and they fit well.
    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-rt32-spd-touring-shoes/[url][/url]


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    #50
    Wishbone Ash
    Registered Users Posts: 24,952 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    Is it possible that the plastic platform part of the pedal is restricting movement when leaning? I'd imagine that SPD's such as the M520 would probably allow more flex?
    M520 - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/shimano-m520-clipless-spd-mtb-pedals/rp-prod3759


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