Clips/Clipless etc.

setanta159

Normally cycle in and out of town (Dublin) on my comfy hybrid which I am well used to. Last two weeks have had a loan of a nice high end road bike, very light etc. and have been cranking out a fair few miles on the thing; however I have one huge gripe with the pedals and these shoes that clip into them. I understand the arguments for sporty types and the cycling being more efficient etc. but I have found them very difficult. I'm sure it's also a question of getting used to them but in all honesty their use seems to go against the grain, counter-intuitive almost and I feel they are potential death traps...... every red light I see feels me with dread; same for heavy traffic. Anyone on here have similar experiences or what are the alternatives on a nice road bike as far as pedals go?

DirkVoodoo

You get used to them.

Honestly they are the safest option out there. Flats on a road bike is dangerous, your feet can slip off them and given that you are probably going faster than on a hybrid, the potential for falling at speed is higher. Toe clips are even worse, you are not always guaranteed to get your foot out, snag a lace, etc.

I don't think I could ever leave clipless pedals, they are safer, more stable and if you use SPDs around town (the mountain bike system) they have more points of engagement and more walkability.

Being a road bike these probably have massive wedge type cleats on the shoes? A 3 bolt pattern? You can dial down the pedal tension to make it easier to clip out.

seamus

setanta159 wrote: »

Normally cycle in and out of town (Dublin) on my comfy hybrid which I am well used to. Last two weeks have had a loan of a nice high end road bike, very light etc. and have been cranking out a fair few miles on the thing; however I have one huge gripe with the pedals and these shoes that clip into them. I understand the arguments for sporty types and the cycling being more efficient etc. but I have found them very difficult. I'm sure it's also a question of getting used to them but in all honesty their use seems to go against the grain, counter-intuitive almost and I feel they are potential death traps...... every red light I see feels me with dread; same for heavy traffic. Anyone on here have similar experiences or what are the alternatives on a nice road bike as far as pedals go?

They take some getting used to, particularly if you're battling with traffic. Everyone can attest to the time when they were learning to use clipless pedals, couldn't clip out in time and ended up flopping onto the tarmac like a pleb.

The key to using them in traffic is planning. If you see a situation where you may potentially have to put a foot down, clip out. When you're approaching a red light, clip out as soon as you start braking/slowing down, don't leave it until you're almost stopped.

Over time it'll be come a habit that you barely think about. I've had a couple of emergency situations where afterwards I was thinking, "How the hell did my foot get unclipped?", but because it's become such a habit now that I will unconsciously do it at the first sign of trouble.

Just give it time. Takes around a month for you to become completely confident in them and probably 3 - 6 months for it to become second nature.

DirkVoodoo

seamus wrote: »

Over time it'll be come a habit that you barely think about. I've had a couple of emergency situations where afterwards I was thinking, "How the hell did my foot get unclipped?", but because it's become such a habit now that I will unconsciously do it at the first sign of trouble.

The 3 times I have been on dublin bikes so far, I keep twisting my left foot. It does indeed become a total reaction, like riding a bike you just don't have to think about falling over.

abcdggs

+1, with clipless pedals it's really just a case of htfu. within the first month or so of going clipless i had the infamous slow-mo fall a couple of times (once was witness to a couple of my friends, which i still get slagged about) but after getting used to it i can't understand how people dont use them...

kinetic

I have just started cycling also on a road bike and absotlutley hate the strap in pedals it came with.Should i switch to clip in thingies or bear with the straps?
im trying to get a couple oy cycles in a week of about 40k each time at the moment.

ednwireland

setanta159 wrote: »

Anyone on here have similar experiences or what are the alternatives on a nice road bike as far as pedals go?

No but i have been riding clipless since the early 90's possibly the late 80's cant remember when i bought them.

been through many pairs since

if they are spds have you tried lowering the release tension ?

Russman

kinetic wrote: »

I have just started cycling also on a road bike and absotlutley hate the strap in pedals it came with.Should i switch to clip in thingies or bear with the straps?
im trying to get a couple oy cycles in a week of about 40k each time at the moment.

Definitely get rid of the toe clips and straps IMO. I was in the same situation a few months ago, got a bike with toe clips and found them lethal (never having used them before )! Switched to clip in pedals and shoes and, while they take a little getting used to, I think they're much better than the straps.

kinetic

Fell of it today......cars had come to a crawl and i was cycyling slowly inside a couple of cars ,when a car i was about to pass just moved in ,,i braked and couldnt release my feet....so guess what happened next?

So defo gonna buy the clip ins now.

Highway_To_Hell

kinetic wrote: »

Fell of it today......cars had come to a crawl and i was cycyling slowly inside a couple of cars ,when a car i was about to pass just moved in ,,i braked and couldnt release my feet....so guess what happened next?

So defo gonna buy the clip ins now.

You might take a few tumbles with clipless pedals as well, but as others have said once you get use to them you will not regret it.

**Timbuk2**

I was the same as you at first, OP.

However, I got used to them and really liked them. They aren't dangerous at all, as if there is an emergency, it takes less than a second to clip out.

At first it feels weird, but after a while it becomes second nature and you don't even think about it. I used to think of it like driving a car. Everytime you stop, you push in the clutch just before you stop otherwise you'll cut out, but you don't think about it, you just do it!

setanta159

Thanks for replies. Am gradually getting used to the shoes and pedals however had a right one yesterday when after struggling to unclip near the lights leading to cycle track fairview/Clontarf I slipped as the shoes with the clip just started sliding on the ground when i put my foot down. Needless to say I ended up on my arse. Must have looked quite funny tbh...but anyway new variation of question....shoes. Are there any are a little bit less clunky for the clipless pedals i.e things you can 'comfortably' walk on without feeling like you're on ice skates? And any shoes which allow you to unclip more easily?

seamus

What type of clipless pedal do you have? SPDS (MTB clipless pedals) have a smaller profile and you can get shoes where the cleats are recessed so that you can walk.

Recessed cleats on road shoes are much harder to come by.

setanta159

Not a real techie so don't know what they are exactly but have 3 bolts on them.

blorg

I am presuming you have a road bike system?

Mountain bike systems are easier to clip into, maybe out of if you let the tension off but you can do this as easily on most road systems.

The shoes are also a lot easier to walk in.

ednwireland

if you have look (or time or shimano) look for cleat covers (or cafe covers) doesnt make walking any easier but at least your not sliding around

blorg

setanta159 wrote: »

Not a real techie so don't know what they are exactly but have 3 bolts on them.

That is a road system. I suggest you switch to a MTB system if you want walkability, the shoes are far better for that. If you are going to be off the bike at all a MTB system is the way to go, plenty of people use them on road bikes too, I do myself on all my bikes not used for racing.

seamus

blorg wrote: »

That is a road system. I suggest you switch to a MTB system if you want walkability, the shoes are far better for that. If you are going to be off the bike at all a MTB system is the way to go, plenty of people use them on road bikes too, I do myself on all my bikes not used for racing.

Pedals also come on and off a bike in a jiffy, so if you're using the bike for commuting (for example), you could fit MTB pedals and then swap them out for road pedals when going out for longer spins.

These MTB shoes will let you walk, but won't look entirely silly on a road bike:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=46577