Pedals?

Con41

I'm in the process of buying my first road bike (on the cycle to work scheme). I've done a lot of research on what I need but one thing I can't make up my mind on is the type of pedals, should I go for the lock in ones (e.g.LOOK) or the ones where your put your foot in the "cage" on the pedal. I won't be road racing, its purely leisure this year and then next year looking at a few 100km cycles. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Seaneh

go clipless, but make sure the pedal can be used with normal trainers too if you're just popping to the shop or into town or what have you.

seamus

Very quickly:

You've got two types of pedals:

1. Your usual bog standard pedals with a cage that you use with any kind of footwear
2. "Clipless" pedals, where you have a pair of cycling specific shoes with a cleat on the sole which attaches you to the pedals.

Clipless pedals are very popular because they're comfortable and allow for the most efficient cycling. If your plan is to do any kind of regular spin (leisure or racing) over 30km, then the recommendation would be clipless pedals and shoes.

Clipless pedals are further very loosely divided into two groups - Road or MTB. Road clipless pedals are more secure, but don't allow you to walk gracefully. MTB pedals are slightly less secure, but designed to allow you put your foot on the ground easily.

(strictly speaking the shoes determine whether you can walk, but you get the idea)

If you're going to spend a lot of time stopping to admire scenery or dropping into pubs/shops, then the MTB pedal might be the way to go. On the other hand, if your general plan is to go from point A to point B with minimal stopping then road pedals are more suitable.

Con41

Thanks guys. Its looking like clipless road pedals are the way to go. I assume it'll take a while to get used to them, hopefully my first slow fall won't be a bad one, with no witnesses!

davenewt

It'll take you about 30 seconds to get used to them, don't stress it. You just twist your heel out a bit... no drama.

Just ride up and down a secluded road, clipping and unclipping your feet, one at a time. You can clip out one foot as you slow down (before you stop) just in case it proves tricky (although in my experience - I just got a new road bike with clip pedals for the first time - this hasn't happened).

Edit: it's actually a small bit trickier to get used to clipping *in* from a standing start... one foot will be clipped in, but pushing off and then 'flipping' the other pedal around with your toe if necessary and getting your other foot in the right place to clip in quickly so you don't have to stop and start again will take you a bit longer to get used to.

Mycroft H

davenewt wrote: »

Edit: it's actually a small bit trickier to get used to clipping *in* from a standing start... one foot will be clipped in, but pushing off and then 'flipping' the other pedal around with your toe if necessary and getting your other foot in the right place to clip in quickly so you don't have to stop and start again will take you a bit longer to get used to.

This is where many MTB pedals have the advantage, with dual or even 4 sided clip in. Though in saying that, flipping pedals is second nature for anyone that used toe clips for years.


Also I find it easier in having one foot that I will always unclip from first, saves that ohhhh f*** moment when trying to clip out.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Definitely get clipless pedals. You'll get used to them very easily. It took me around ten minutes cycling the back yard at home clipping in and out and that was all it took. I started using look keos but then changed to shimano 105s which are wider and simple to clip in and out of. Because of he wider platform you can easily pedal with just a pair of runners on if you wanted to nip to the shop or a short run.