Pedal Medalling

So I took the plunge and bought SPD-SLs. After hearing about people spectacularly falling over when clipped in, is there anything I need to know that I'd prefer not to experience myself (like falling over)? Looking to try them out for a spin tomorrow.

niceonetom

try to land on your arse not your wrist. and get used to the sound of motorists laughing.

MadHatter

Practice unclipping while stationary e.g. holding onto wall. For your first few rides, practice clipping & unclipping at regular mins intervals. Any time you have to slow down your first thought should be "un-clip" even if you don't actually unclip at that point. After a period of time (about 12 months in my case ) this will become second nature.

If you fall, or rather when you fall, resist the temptation to put your hand out to break the fall as you're more likely to injure your hand or arm (and I think collar bone) this way. Try to let your shoulder & side of body take the brunt.

Leave your pride at home, accept the fact that you will fall over at some point, and hope to minimize the damage to you and the bike. And remember, if you have a cleat-induced induced fall but there's nobody there to see it, it didn't happen

Mickb

Set them as loose as possible, so they are easy to get out of.

Before you start off practice getting in and out of the SPD, remember it's a twisting motion to get out. In a 'panic' to un-clip you don't want to instinctively, pull up.

MiCk B. :-)

Dónal wrote: »

So I took the plunge and bought SPD-SLs. After hearing about people spectacularly falling over when clipped in, is there anything I need to know that I'd prefer not to experience myself (like falling over)? Looking to try them out for a spin tomorrow.

blorg

I was cycling for five years in SPDs before it happened One day... better get it over with early on.

Raam

They don't take long to get used to. A couple of rides and you will hardly notice them anymore.

MadHatter

Raam wrote: »

They don't take long to get used to. A couple of rides and you will hardly notice them anymore.

That was my problem. First day with them on, commute in to work, by half way in I'd forgotten I was wearing them. Until I slowed down to stop at some lights...and very slowly keeled over in front of a bus

scottreynolds

You will fall -- took me 4 months to fall but I did and the family in the car behind me wounds down their windows laughing asking if I was alright.

Raam

MadHatter wrote: »

That was my problem. First day with them on, commute in to work, by half way in I'd forgotten I was wearing them. Until I slowed down to stop at some lights...and very slowly keeled over in front of a bus

Touché!

Addendum to my earlier message: soon you won't notice them but will still remember to unclip

short circuit

can't really advice on how to avoid the dreaded 0kmph spill .. but have tried different versions of what to do afterwards

1. Try to pick somewhere with heavy traffic ... or no traffic. In the 1st case you can get on the bike and get ahead of those who see you fall .. in the 2nd ... you might avoid being seen

2. Show no pain ... no wincing ... no brushing yourself ... no eye contact with anyone else ... put the pedal to the metal

Greyspoke

If you're used to riding with clips and straps tne natural instinct is to pull your foot back - you have to retrain your brain to flick your heel out sideways. It's by no means certain that you'll inevitably fall though getting stuck in the pedals whilst mountain biking is another matter as mud and small stones often clog pedals and cleats and in the split second you sometimes have to unclip to get a foot down and avoid a fall you'll find they won't come out and down you go - all part of the fun!

blorg

Greyspoke wrote: »

If you're used to riding with clips and straps tne natural instinct is to pull your foot back - you have to retrain your brain to flick your heel out sideways.

This is very true, it's all muscle memory. I almost fell off a rented bike in Spain with toeclips and straps, was flicking my heel sideways but it wasn't working!

72hundred

short circuit wrote: »

2. Show no pain ... no wincing ... no brushing yourself ... no eye contact with anyone else ... put the pedal to the metal

+1.

Bought myself some M520's (SPD's), and will be taking them out soon for a spin! Hopefully all falls will be painless enough!

Forgot to say, thanks for the replies. Didn't manage to fall today but there was definitely one hairy moment.

Andy-Pandy

Just remember that when you do fall over on them you probably wont be moving at the time and when/if you do go off at speed there like ski boots, they just pop out. You will never go back.

NeilMcEoigheann

un clip both sides, unclip one side before you stop, don't go to the alps after riding spds for 7days

DirkVoodoo

Make sure you clip in properly when starting off again also. I have had one or two instances of my cleat slotting onto the pedal but not engaging, this can simply lead to your foot slipping out again further down the road.

Or, if you decide to put some power down out of the saddle it can be a lot more painful.

It soon becomes second nature, twisting your heel before stopping comes as naturally as any practiced movement. Unless of course someone in front of you does somethin sudden and you jam on the brakes.

kincsem

NeilMcEoigheann wrote: »

un clip both sides, unclip one side before you stop, don't go to the alps after riding spds for 7days

Do unclip both sides. You will think that is not necessary, I'll unclip one and put that on the ground, and leave the other clipped in, ready to power away from the traffic lights.

Then when stopped you adjust your position, or turn to check something, or catch a gust of wind, and you start to fall slowly towards the clipped in side. You can't get the clipped in shoe out as you fall towards it. Over you go.

Hilarious. :pac:

Lumen

Unclipping both sides when stopped is completely unnecessary (unless you're dismounting, obviously).

You must be familiar enough with the operation of your pedals that you can unclip instantly whenever you need to. If necessary, adjust the release tension to make this easier.

You're never going to learn to trackstand if you unclip at every opportunity.

In any case, I've not found a situation in which blind panic doesn't get me out of the pedals.

liamo

Another thing to consider is the amount of float. OP: In case you didn't already know, "float" is the amount of movement that the cleats will permit before disengaging.

My first shoes and cleats were recommended for me in my LBS because I didn't have a clue what I needed. The cleats were the grey Look ones - 4.5 degrees of float. A couple of months ago when I got my next pair of shoes I mistakenly ordered the black cleats (Fixed. No float) and loved them. My shoe disengages instantly when I want it to. I almost had a spill taking a corner recently and, without knowing how I did it, my right foot was suddenly on the ground stopping the fall. I don't think that would have happened with the grey cleats.

I haven't fallen yet myself but as already pointed out, it may only be a matter of time. I have, however, had some verrrrry close calls.

jebidiah

im looking into new pedals for my bike, currently has spd cleats on one side and a standard pedal on the other, im not using it for comuting anymore so i want to get some new pedals.

was looking at these

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Shimano_PD-R540_SPD_SL_Sport_Pedals/5360011753/

with http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Shimano_SPD_SL_Cleats/5360008129/

my shoes can take the 3 bolt cleats

http://www.bicyclestore.com.au/Shimano-SH-R075P-Road-Cycling-Shoe-pr-23399.html

is the only link to them i can find.

are spd sl better by far than spd?

MadHatter

First off, those pedals come with cleats so you don't need to buy cleats separately.

SPD-SL has a wider contact area so better power transfer through pedals. Also, some people experience "hot-spots" in the sole of the foot when using SPD pedals on long rides, due to the smaller contact area. So yes, SPD-SL are better than SPDs for road biking, but hard to tell exactly how much better.

The link you provided says the shoes are SPD-SL compatible, so you should have no problems fitting the cleats.

jebidiah

sorry to bring this up again.

im going to go to cycle superstore at the weekend and get the spd sl pedals

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=102&idproduct=13578

its as cheap to get them there as online i think( plus i dont have to wait for delivery :P)

is there anything else in that price range worth looking at, like look keo classics
http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=102&idproduct=23390

or are they all the same at that price level?

We

Over Christmas I fixed up my brothers old bike a bit because I wanted to start cycling.. not much prior experience and definitely no experience with cleats... anyway, bought a pair of cleats because the pedals were SPD-SL ..

Only went on 2-4 rides.. falling 3 times in those rides put me off tbh, it's a shame too because I was liking the cycling itself..
Wish I just some country road or something because I'd be far too scared to try on busy roads with the things on, also because I'm not too confident with road rules..

Raam

We wrote: »

Wish I just some country road or something because I'd be far too scared to try on busy roads with the things on, also because I'm not too confident with road rules..

You just need confidence. Keep practicing, it doesn't take long.

We

Your probably right Raam, I'm gonna try again tonight.. will probably loosen the pedals as well so that they're a bit easier to get out of

Thanks

DirkVoodoo

Its a practiced movement.

First time I tried mine I was clutching a support column and couldn't clip out. I thought about either (a) ringing for help or (b) sliding down the column onto the ground and removing my shoes. The cycle home was terrifying!

Now I find that even if I ride a bike with flats I tend to twist my foot out when coming to a stop.

Keep at it!

lafors

Well after getting mine the other week I eventually fitted them this morning when i got home from work. I set the clip to the weakest setting first.
I sat on the bike while holding onto the dining table and it took me ages to get the clips in. Then I tried to get them out, using the heel turning movement, one popped out but the other wouldn't, I forgot why I was holding onto the table and fell towards the side with the clip still in. Nailed myself of the radiator, put a big scratch on the wooden floor (hopefully the boss doesn't see it....yeah right!), and laughed myself silly.

Eh I think I'll do a bit of practicing before I got out on the roads

lafors

lafors wrote: »

Well after getting mine the other week I eventually fitted them this morning when i got home from work. I set the clip to the weakest setting first.
I sat on the bike while holding onto the dining table and it took me ages to get the clips in. Then I tried to get them out, using the heel turning movement, one popped out but the other wouldn't, I forgot why I was holding onto the table and fell towards the side with the clip still in. Nailed myself of the radiator, put a big scratch on the wooden floor (hopefully the boss doesn't see it....yeah right!), and laughed myself silly.

Eh I think I'll do a bit of practicing before I got out on the roads

Yeah for me tomorrow will be my third outing in them, but I noticed during the week what DirkVoodoo said about the 'clipping out' manoeuvre starting to kick in (I use toe clips for commuting). Still a bit nervous on them, particularly on hills when I'm going slow, and I'm still unclipping and reclipping on some straight bits to get used to doing it when moving.