New Cyclist

RexHamilton

I've been reading this forum for about the past two months, since I decided to take up cycling. I've got loads of advise so far just from reading other people's threads and it's all been a great help.

The last time I would have been on a bike regularly would have been in my early teens and that would have been on a mountain bike. I'm 27 now and pretty fit as I play a bit of football for my local club and in reasonable shape (I could do with losing a few lbs I suppose, but nothing major)

I'm starting to cycle to give myself a variety in my workouts really. I train with my local gaelic football team, I go to the gym and I run. I reckon I would enjoy cycling more than running or at least I hope I would.

The main question in my post is about pedals. Seeing as I'm not a regular cyclist yet. I haven't even got my bike yet. I've ordered a Giant Defy 3 on the Cycle to Work scheme. But I'm wondering should I dive in and go straight for cleats and clipless pedals or should i go with the straps on the pedals as come as standard until I become more accustomed to cycling a racing bike?

Any other advice you'd like to give to a newbie cyclist would also be appreciated.

delynet

I was similar to yourself a few years ago and went with clipless pedals. Glad that I did as they have their advantages.

On the day I got them I went cycling around the back of the house, stopped and forgot to unclip which meant I fell onto the lawn. Did not do this again!

Go for clipless is my advice

Dermot Illogical

You're probably going to go clipless fairly soon anyway, so you may as well do it straight off.
You probably will topple over a couple of times though. Unclip early until you get used to it.

t'bear

I practised clipping and unclipping before attaching them to the bike itself, I was fearful initially but it feels unnatural to cycle now without being clipped in.

HivemindXX

RexHamilton wrote: »

Any other advice you'd like to give to a newbie cyclist would also be appreciated.

Get a bike computer or an app for your smartphone. Knowing how far and how fast you are going and how it improves over time is a great motivator.

dark_jedi_ire

Get a bike computer or an app for your smartphone. Knowing how far and how fast you are going and how it improves over time is a great motivator.

Recommend RunKeeper,, have been using it now for about 8 months, great app and you can upload to the site and keep track of your workouts,,

have been cycling now for about 10 months and using normal Pedals, am About to go clipless,. and looking forward to it,, Thanks again to the folks here

t'bear

Strava is great too , can be used with iPhone, Android and Garmin. + you get to abuse and be abused by your fellow cyclists

petethedrummer

RexHamilton wrote: »

But I'm wondering should I dive in and go straight for cleats and clipless pedals or should i go with the straps on the pedals as come as standard until I become more accustomed to cycling a racing bike?

Go with clipless pedals or go with flats without the straps. Those straps are an absolute pain in the backside.

I'm convinced toe-straps put people off going clipless because they think clipless will be even more hassle. They are not (after a small period of adjustment). Toe-straps never stop being hassle.

Inquitus

If you unclip everytime you need to stop you will never fall over. If you decide to try and stay clipped it at every intersection or set of lights you encounter, you are bound to have the odd slow fall!

RexHamilton

Thanks for all the replies. I've decided to go clipless. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it and hopefully won't have too many slow falls.

paulgalway

RexHamilton wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies. I've decided to go clipless. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it and hopefully won't have too many slow falls.

Looking at this myself, what shoes/pedals were you looking at?

wexandproud

have been following these threads for ages and while there is some good advice here,but there are a lot of people totally caught up in technecality about wheels, tyres, handlebars, etc, what coulour frames are best and chasing figures on screens.i started racing in 1980 and still compete although at a low level now.the best advice is go to local bike shop buy a nice little bike as advised there and get out and enjoy it,after all as sean kelly once said the only way you can complicate riding a bibe is by taking the pedals of it

RexHamilton

wexandproud wrote: »

have been following these threads for ages and while there is some good advice here,but there are a lot of people totally caught up in technecality about wheels, tyres, handlebars, etc, what coulour frames are best and chasing figures on screens.i started racing in 1980 and still compete although at a low level now.the best advice is go to local bike shop buy a nice little bike as advised there and get out and enjoy it,after all as sean kelly once said the only way you can complicate riding a bibe is by taking the pedals of it

True, but all the advise seems to lean towards clipless pedals being the most efficient and best pedals so if people reckon I'll go that way eventually, maybe it's better I just go for it from the off.

paulgalway wrote: »

Looking at this myself, what shoes/pedals were you looking at?

I went for pretty cheap ones on Wiggle.
dhb R1.0 Road Cycling Shoe
Shimano PD-R540 SPD SL Sport Pedals

RoboRat

I started last year and went for clipless and got a set of Shimano mtb cleats - they are easier to walk around in versus some of the spd and quite easy to clip in and clip out as you can go in both sides of the pedals - I have never worn the spd but for some reason I recall someone telling me they are only single sided?

Raam

RoboRat wrote: »

I started last year and went for clipless and got a set of Shimano mtb cleats - they are easier to walk around in versus some of the spd and quite easy to clip in and clip out as you can go in both sides of the pedals - I have never worn the spd but for some reason I recall someone telling me they are only single sided?

SPD are the MTB style cleats.
SPD-SL are the road style

BTW, SPD = Shimano Pedaling Dynamics.

So many TLA!

dark_jedi_ire

RexHamilton, Whast size did you go for? Im looking at those exact ones also, And Im a size 10

Cheers

RexHamilton

I'm a size 9 and went for 44's. I had read the Q&A's on wiggle and some people were saying that you need to go a size up and some were saying you need to go a size down. Others were saying the sizing is correct so I just went with my own size and I'm hoping for the best. It's not ideal to have to return them but I've read Wiggle's return policy is ok so if they don't fit I'll just have to do that.

I'll let you know how they fit when I get them. Only ordered them last night so It'll be a week or so before I get them.

dark_jedi_ire

Perfect thannks, Please do,, As Im about to order them myself, but dont mind hanging on for a Week to See how you get on,, Since losing 4 1/2 stone in the Last 7-8 months (thanks Cycling amoung other things), most of my shoes have now gone done to a 9 1/2 so Im thinking the 45`s Would be a perfect fit,, fingers crossed, please do let me know how you get on,,

Cheers

RexHamilton

dark_jedi_ire wrote: »

Perfect thannks, Please do,, As Im about to order them myself, but dont mind hanging on for a Week to See how you get on,, Since losing 4 1/2 stone in the Last 7-8 months (thanks Cycling amoung other things), most of my shoes have now gone done to a 9 1/2 so Im thinking the 45`s Would be a perfect fit,, fingers crossed, please do let me know how you get on,,

Cheers

Wow, congrats and fair play on that. Some achievement. Yeah, I'll keep you posted.

dark_jedi_ire

thanks,, on both Counts

Cheers

wexandproud

my point was not actually about pedals it was about keeping it simple and enjoy a great sport/passtime , but having said that clipless is the only way to go

dark_jedi_ire

Rex any luck on that gear?

RexHamilton

Yep. Got the shoes and pedals. Shoes are a very good fit. Unfortunately, still waiting on the payment from my employer to go through and so am waiting on my bike.

dark_jedi_ire

Thanks, going to order my now, and see how I get on, Cheers for getting back to me, will let you know how I get on

R

dark_jedi_ire

And how Many times I forget to unclip lol