Clipless for Commuting

Julesie

Hi guys, hoping for a little bit of advice from people wiser than myself in these matters.

I've been thinking about upgrading the pedals on my road bike to the clipless variety (currently using straps). I know there is virtually no debate as to whether clipless have performance benefits on proper spins however I'm less clear if they are beneficial on a short and traffic/junction filled commute.

My current riding style would be to pedal with my right leg secured in the toe strap at all times and keep my left leg out of the straps as required. To be honest I'm probably only in both staps simultaneously for a small part of the commute. This is mainly because of the effort of flipping over the pedal and hooshing my foot into the strap while trying to pick up speed.

I would tend to go for longer recreational/training spins on the weekend and in this case would use both straps when out of the city and free of traffic jams.

If I do go for a clipless systems I think it would be a MTB set up to allow me to walk in the shoes occasionally without falling on my ass looking like a fool.
I've also heard mentioned that some/all (?) MTB pedals have double sided release which I think means you can turn your foot either way to release. Just how easy is it to release from the pedals? Could I continue my style of right foot always secured and just release my left foot?

And I guess the crux of the matter is whether it is safe/advisable/practical to use clipless in very heavy traffic (central London) or whether I should just stick with a system i'm comfortable with?

Thanks for your help.

kenmc

I use clipless commuting in dublin with no issues. find it hard NOT to use clipless to be honest.

petethedrummer

I commute in clipless in road shoes but gonna get some MTB style soon. I unclip as little as possible by either hanging on to the nearest lampost/railing or track standing. You'll probably feel unsafe the first few commutes but it will become second nature. Actually, I'd probably feel much safer in clipless pedals than toe straps.

The one thing that would annoy me with clipless when commuting is if you're unclipping at traffic lights, and not moving off as quick as other people, and ending up stuck behind someone. That's if, like me, you can't trackstand and are generally slow kicking off. Oh and if you don't break red lights too.

DirkVoodoo

Put my flats back on my felt at the weekend to try them out after having used clipless exclusively for commuting for the last year.

Never again.

I was working harder, my feet were slipping and I found it hard to keep them in a comfortable position.

Double sided MTB pedals have a cleat engagement on either side of the pedal, so you never need to worry about flipping them around. I use shimano M520s and the small weight penalty for carrying a pair of shoes with me is a small price to pay. It also means if you are cycling in the rain you don't have to walk around in damp shoes, which is nice.

DirkVoodoo

Dónal wrote: »

The one thing that would annoy me with clipless when commuting is if you're unclipping at traffic lights, and not moving off as quick as other people, and ending up stuck behind someone. That's if, like me, you can't trackstand and are generally slow kicking off. Oh and if you don't break red lights too.

Double sided help with this, there is rarely any fumbling at all.

Julesie

petethedrummer wrote: »

I unclip as little as possible by either hanging on to the nearest lampost/railing or track standing.

That would be the bit that concerns me... I wouldn't feel comfortable having to trackstand or support myself off something because its such a hassle to unclip.

Is it because it is a hassle or is that just your personal preference.

davidsatelle100

i do this from time to time if my main commuting bike is out of action.

the only hassle really is the starting at lights, trying to clip back in and move at the same time, i found myself cycling most of the time out of the clips but i would have a LOT of lights on the commute

petethedrummer

Julesie wrote: »

That would be the bit that concerns me... I wouldn't feel comfortable having to trackstand or support myself off something because its such a hassle to unclip.

Is it because it is a hassle or is that just your personal preference.

I hang on to things as a personal preference, usually for a quick get away. I don't know why but I like powering away from junctions. I often unclip too but it all depends on the junction I'm at. I track-stand just for amusement. I'm trying to develop my track-sit at the moment.

You can always cycle one legged if you don't get clipped in straight away.

Lumen

I have no issues commuting on clipless pedals.

It is not difficult.

72hundred

Dónal wrote: »

The one thing that would annoy me with clipless when commuting is if you're unclipping at traffic lights, and not moving off as quick as other people, and ending up stuck behind someone. That's if, like me, you can't trackstand and are generally slow kicking off. Oh and if you don't break red lights too.

Yeah I can't trackstand either and find that I'm not fast to engage my left foot in the SPD's, comes with practice I guess. Result is that I've the dual suspension MTB blocking all up along the cycle lane. But I guess that's what spinning at 120 cadence for a short spirit is for!

blanco

I've been using clipless (SPD's) for years and never had any problems with them in traffic.
Just practice twisting your left heel out a few times and then it becomes second nature.

When coming to a traffic light or through a tricky bit where I might have to put my foot on the ground, I half unclip so I can either place the foot down or peddle away.

dave.obrien

i use spd's commuting, having used flats-and-straps before, and have to say the benefits far outweigh the negatives. the clipping in and out does take a bit of getting used to, but once you are used to them, it feels very normal to clip in and out. for me, i was more concerned about making sure i could clip out with ease, as i felt that i could take off slow if i had to, and make my time up by cycling faster. clipping out was no problem at all. clipping in is almost second nature now too, rarely even have to look now, but the odd miss costs me far less time than i make up by the increased comfort and efficiency.

bobtjustice

I have a set of Crank brothers SL Candy's(Mtb pedals) on my hybrid and my full sus. Pop the spring tension down low and your foot will pop out of the pedal quite easily. But be prepared for a "domino" fall once or twice while you get used to them.
I'd doubt you'd ever go back to flats/straps after some exposure to clipless.
Maybe have some practice clipping in and out before blazing to work though! :eek:

**Timbuk2**

I have no issues using clipless pedals commuting.

I would recommend MTB pedals, especially the Shimano SPD M520 pedals (double sided so you don't even need to look down!)

Any falls you have at first when getting used to clipless pedals will be worth it - I didn't fall when I started but many people do, it's nothing to be embarassed about. It's just a matter of forgetting that you are clipped in - it becomes second nature soon enough (if you ever use flat pedals after, you get the mental urge to twist out before stopping!)

kenmc

i also use M520s, and mtb shoes, on the very occasional miss your foot is still on the pedal, you are moving and you can clip in when you feel like it. It's not like you're not allowed to start moving until you're clipped in...

Canis Lupus

Julesie wrote: »

Hi guys, hoping for a little bit of advice from people wiser than myself in these matters.

I've been thinking about upgrading the pedals on my road bike to the clipless variety (currently using straps). I know there is virtually no debate as to whether clipless have performance benefits on proper spins however I'm less clear if they are beneficial on a short and traffic/junction filled commute.

My current riding style would be to pedal with my right leg secured in the toe strap at all times and keep my left leg out of the straps as required. To be honest I'm probably only in both staps simultaneously for a small part of the commute. This is mainly because of the effort of flipping over the pedal and hooshing my foot into the strap while trying to pick up speed.

I would tend to go for longer recreational/training spins on the weekend and in this case would use both straps when out of the city and free of traffic jams.

If I do go for a clipless systems I think it would be a MTB set up to allow me to walk in the shoes occasionally without falling on my ass looking like a fool.
I've also heard mentioned that some/all (?) MTB pedals have double sided release which I think means you can turn your foot either way to release. Just how easy is it to release from the pedals? Could I continue my style of right foot always secured and just release my left foot?

And I guess the crux of the matter is whether it is safe/advisable/practical to use clipless in very heavy traffic (central London) or whether I should just stick with a system i'm comfortable with?

Thanks for your help.

I cycle Hammersmith/N Acton.

Clipless is easy peasy lemon squeezy. Look about, most people are clipless.

paulmcd1973

I also have the Shimano SPDs. Best investment I ever made. I'd been just wearing runners before them and it's made a world of difference to my cycling. I'd recommend cycling round the park a bit first to get used to clipping in and (more importantly) clipping out. I fell off once when stopping at traffic lights, I came to a hard stop and forgot that I was clipped in. It was a tad embarrassing to say the least. The guy in the bike shop told me I'd fall off once and then never again, he was right! It's second nature at this stage to twist my foot out when slowing down.

Julesie

Thanks guys for the replys.... I'll be getting myself set up with a clipless system this weekend.

I have been paying more (probably too much) attention to other cyclists pedals on the morning commute and it seems like everyone overtaking me is using clipless!

I figure i'm halfway there in terms of being comfortable having my feet strapped to the pedals at the moment so clipless is really just a change in how to free my feet. If I had been using flats it may have been a bigger deal.

In terms of double sided MTB style pedals are the M520's ok? I guess the shoes are more of a personal preference area.

blanco

When you've had them for a (little) while you can pull your legs up also, instead of just pushing down on the peddles. This will help you fly along!:D

fenris

M520's are the business, they just work!

You can get multi angle release cleats to make it easier to get out
http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=121&idproduct=4248

or you can just slacken the tension on the pedal to make it easier to get out, basically you just have to remember that almost any direction apart from straight up should release you. If you find that you are pulling free while cycling then you just need to tighten up a bit.

Cleats are always a little bit stiffer when you put them on first, and they are absolutely perfect for about a week before you explode a pedal off of a rock!

The single sided pedals give peace of mind for about 15 minutes then become a PITA as you end up trying to flip them over to clip in halfway across a junction with dublin busses finest and our untested taximen competing to splatter you!

fenris

You could of course go completely minimalist!

http://www.cycleways.com/store/product/26428/C-Bro-Ped-Eggbeater-C-Blk/

neilled

Julesie wrote: »

Hi guys, hoping for a little bit of advice from people wiser than myself in these matters.

I've been thinking about upgrading the pedals on my road bike to the clipless variety (currently using straps). I know there is virtually no debate as to whether clipless have performance benefits on proper spins however I'm less clear if they are beneficial on a short and traffic/junction filled commute.

My current riding style would be to pedal with my right leg secured in the toe strap at all times and keep my left leg out of the straps as required. To be honest I'm probably only in both staps simultaneously for a small part of the commute. This is mainly because of the effort of flipping over the pedal and hooshing my foot into the strap while trying to pick up speed.

I would tend to go for longer recreational/training spins on the weekend and in this case would use both straps when out of the city and free of traffic jams.

If I do go for a clipless systems I think it would be a MTB set up to allow me to walk in the shoes occasionally without falling on my ass looking like a fool.
I've also heard mentioned that some/all (?) MTB pedals have double sided release which I think means you can turn your foot either way to release. Just how easy is it to release from the pedals? Could I continue my style of right foot always secured and just release my left foot?

And I guess the crux of the matter is whether it is safe/advisable/practical to use clipless in very heavy traffic (central London) or whether I should just stick with a system i'm comfortable with?

Thanks for your help.

Only time I had an accident was with toe clips because to get any measure of performance out of them they have to be fairly tight. In said incident, traffic stopped in front of me and I couldn't get out. Fell in slow motion onto the pavement much to my embarrassment. No problem with SPD's though - just twist left or right and out you go. You can also walk around in them all day if you need to - that's what i used to do before i got campus accommodation in college.

Julesie

I've ordered a pair of M520s and SH-51 cleats on ebay, so they should arrive in a couple of days.

There's an Evans Cycles near work where I should be able to get the shoes. I think I'd prefer to try them on for comfort rather than buy blind on the net.

I'll be sure to report back with my rite of passage, comical slow motion fall!!

blanco

Julesie wrote: »

I've ordered a pair of M520s and SH-51 cleats on ebay, so they should arrive in a couple of days.

There's an Evans Cycles near work where I should be able to get the shoes. I think I'd prefer to try them on for comfort rather than buy blind on the net.

I'll be sure to report back with my rite of passage, comical slow motion fall!!

It is best to buy your first shoes in a shop because they can also fit the cleats for you. If you put then in wrong, you can wreck your knees.
Mine were obviously put in right as I've never had a problem with mine (Knees).
Just get the shop guys to talk you through the process and you can do your next pair yourself.