Cycling shoes and pedals

Four of a kind

I'm looking down the line to getting some cleats and shoes sorted, as I can see how the normal pedals with the clips that cover the front part of the foot don't help much in the long run. The reason why I haven't gotten them yet is due to the fact that if I even had a slight fall with them on I might cause my already annoying lower disc problem to flair up.

In saying that, I definitely want to look up a few styles etc. Can any steer me in the right direction?

Regarding pedals, I presume the cleats come with the pedals? I think ones with the cleats on one side and none on the other might be the best for me starting off?

Regarding shoes, I see that you can get ones that have recessed cleats which allow one to walk normally off the bike...what would be the general consensus on those type of shoes? Or should I just go and get the standard type shoes?

thanks for any help.

smacl

Four of a kind wrote: »

In saying that, I definitely want to look up a few styles etc. Can any steer me in the right direction?

I use double sided SPD pedals, specifically M520 on my road bike, and M424 on my hybrid. Both of these are adjustable to enable you to get out easier. I also use them with SH56 cleats which are that bit easier to get out of than SH51s, i.e. a twist in any direction will work.

Regarding pedals, I presume the cleats come with the pedals? I think ones with the cleats on one side and none on the other might be the best for me starting off?

SPD pedals come with cleats, typically a set of SH51s, apart from the M324 which comes with SH56s. I started with the M324 single sided for the same reason as you, and now find the single sided a pain in the ass. Double sided pedals, such as the M424 are fine for pedalling without cleats, but much easier to get into due to being double sided.

Regarding shoes, I see that you can get ones that have recessed cleats which allow one to walk normally off the bike...what would be the general consensus on those type of shoes? Or should I just go and get the standard type shoes?

thanks for any help.

I went for DHB MTB shoes which are recessed, comfy, and ok to walk in. Also pretty cheap, and held up well over the last year.

Look KEOs also do a an 'easy' road pedal system but I haven't tried them, maybe someone else can comment on these.

Lumen

There are four types of shoe (sole), from the perspective of pedal compatibility.

- Two-bolt MTB shoes.
- Three-bolt road shoes.
- Shoes with both two and three bolts (e.g. DHB R1).
- Four bolt shoes for Speedplay road pedals only.

If you're never going to be walking more than a few metres from your bike, buy road shoes and pedals. Otherwise, buy MTB shoes/pedals.

Clipless (cleated) pedals are definitely safer than clips/toe straps as they will release in a crash.

There is an argument that any pedals with foot retention support poor cycling technique compared to flats ("When studied, the best peddlers are not pulling up and producing power on the upstroke. They are instead getting the trail leg un-weighted and out of the way for the far more powerful down stroke of the lead leg. They can finish the pedal stroke off with their hips, which makes the pulling motion unnecessary. Less skilled peddlers use the clipless interface as a crutch to bypass the hips and place extra stress on the already chronically tight hip flexors") although I'm not sure I trust the opinion of someone who uses the word "peddlers".

The first comment on that article is interesting. Although top BMXers tend to race with cleats, they can still put out well over 1500 watts on flats, and I know from personal experience that an average BMXer has much, much greater bike control and physical co-ordination than the average roadie.

That said, anyone turning up to a road race with flat pedals is braver than I am.

seven stars

I have the A530 SPD pedals. Some people find them to be a bit fiddly, but I think they're great. They seem to naturally fall with the clip/cleat-part upwards, so they're easy to clip in and out of with cycling shoes. On shorter journeys (to the shops or football training or whatever), you need to flip them round to the flat side if you're in normal shoes, but it's not really that much of a deal and I don't use the bike all that often in normal shoes anyway.

MTB shoes sound like your best bet, although I went for Shimano RT51 shoes. I think they're touring shoes more than road shoes, and the cleats are recessed so they're easier to walk in. I got them very cheap on ebay. A word of warning: if you're buying online, Shimano sizing is very strange. I did some research, went up a size, and they fit perfectly.

wendell borton

I'm a road newbie and got the M520 pedals with Shimano M077 shoes which had single release cleats included with them, i have had no problems using them.

Rew

I recently went to SPD's from toe clips. Made a huge difference and there much easier to get out of than toe clips. You can adjust the release strength very easily.

iregk

Actually as a footnote to this (pardon the pun) someone once recently mentioned a brand that was more suited to wide feet. Can anyone recall or tell through experience what this is? I've a wide foot so not all shoes fit well.

Lumen

iregk wrote: »

Actually as a footnote to this (pardon the pun) someone once recently mentioned a brand that was more suited to wide feet. Can anyone recall or tell through experience what this is? I've a wide foot so not all shoes fit well.

Shimano tend to be good for wide feet. Avoid Sidi.

iregk

Yeah, I've never tried on a pair of sidi's that felt good. Will take a look at shimmy, anyone know about NW?

Wishbone Ash

smacl wrote: »

I started with the M324 single sided for the same reason as you, and now find the single sided a pain in the ass. Double sided pedals, such as the M424 are fine for pedalling without cleats, but much easier to get into due to being double sided

Personally I prefer the dual pedals as I can flip over to the flat side in heavy traffic or other hazardous areas without the cleat engaging. Although the double sided pedals are useful for ordinary shoes, with bike shoes the cleat will engage when one doesn't particularly want it.

puppetmaster

Im at a similar point op, Been trying to figure wether to go with spd or spd-sl.
Not 100% that the non walkability of the Spd-sl (road) clips would suit me. also have had a bit of knee pain (not much) and felt maybe the movement in the spd clips might suit. Im looking at These as pedals as the cage allows a little more contact, and maybe i could pop to the shop in normal shoes but not sure about that.

smacl

You can certainly use the SPDs with cage pretty much the same as a flat pedal for most intents and purposes. I regularly do a ~10k commute on the M424s in soft soled trainers and find them fine. I actually prefer the caged version when clipped in as well, not entirely sure why.

puppetmaster

smacl wrote: »

You can certainly use the SPDs with cage pretty much the same as a flat pedal for most intents and purposes. I regularly do a ~10k commute on the M424s in soft soled trainers and find them fine. I actually prefer the caged version when clipped in as well, not entirely sure why.

I wonder would that go for the m530's i linked to above too? the only issue i see is the cage looks a little lower than the catch..

Four of a kind

I think I'll order these spds pedals that were mentioned above:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=7808

And am I better off physically going into a shop to buy the shoes as I don't fancy buying shoes if there's a chance they either don't fit properly or aren't comfortable.

With those pedals above, I presume I can get either the normal or recessed shoes and they both will work fine?

Zen0

Just remember, when you start using cleats, to twist and unclip before you stop. I forgot one time and found myself on a stationary bike outside the house, slowly keeling over. I am not the only one who has done this. Nothing hurt but my pride. Part of the problem may have been the cleats which came with the pedals, as I found them a bit difficult to unclip on occasions. I got multi-release cleats (Shimano SH56 cleats as someone mentioned above) after that, they have never given me a problem.

Lumen

Four of a kind wrote: »

With those pedals above, I presume I can get either the normal or recessed shoes and they both will work fine?

No! They're MTB pedals.

kavanagh_h

Hi

Please note, everyone interersted in this thread, that i am selling both shoes, pedals and cleats in the cycling adds if anyone wants road shoes and takes a size 6 in normal shoes.;)
H.

smacl

Zen0 wrote: »

Just remember, when you start using cleats, to twist and unclip before you stop. I forgot one time and found myself on a stationary bike outside the house, slowly keeling over. I am not the only one who has done this. Nothing hurt but my pride. Part of the problem may have been the cleats which came with the pedals, as I found them a bit difficult to unclip on occasions. I got multi-release cleats (Shimano SH56 cleats as someone mentioned above) after that, they have never given me a problem.

Heh, you're not alone there. It typically happens when there's a bunch of onlookers. Outside a small pub/petrol station in rural Wexford for me, where I think they may have shot the banjo scene from deliverance.

puppetmaster

smacl wrote: »

Heh, you're not alone there. It typically happens when there's a bunch of onlookers. Outside a small pub/petrol station in rural Wexford for me, where I think they may have shot the banjo scene from deliverance.

Wellington bridge comes to mind :pac:

Four of a kind

Went to LBS where and got a pair of north wave mtb recessed ones, and they fitted the cleats/pedals for me. So had my first spin on them a while ago and they feel great.

Now for some shoe covers......as my toes nearly fell off with the the cold.

Wishbone Ash

Four of a kind wrote: »

they fitted the cleats/pedals for me

Don't be afraid to adust the cleats (with an allen key) on the shoe to your preferred position. You've usually got about an inch or so to play with. Retailers tend to fit them at the rearmost setting whereas I prefer them as far forward as possible.

smacl

puppetmaster wrote: »

Wellington bridge comes to mind :pac:

Very close! Wellington bridge would be the local big smoke, I hit the tarmac in Ballycullane en route to Ramsgrange from the village of Dublin