Cycling shoes and pedals/cleats

Inspector Coptoor

Hi, gonna make the move to getting proper cycling shoes and pedals.
Will be getting them as a Christmas present.

Any recommendations for a decent pair for around the €120 mark for shoes, pedals and cleats?

Wishbone Ash

To avoid any confusion you should clarify if you're going for SPD's or SPD SL's.

SPD - cleat is recessed in the shoe allowing easier walking (and often favoured by first timers).

SPD SL - cleat is not recessed making walking more difficult and caused wear to the cleats.

Inspector Coptoor

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

To avoid any confusion you should clarify if you're going for SPD's or SPD SL's.

SPD - cleat is recessed in the shoe allowing easier walking (and often favoured by first timers).

SPD SL - cleat is not recessed making walking more difficult and caused wear to the cleats.

Cool.
I'll go for the SPD ones then.
I know very little about them.

Darkglasses

Assuming you're road cycling for leisure rather than commuting/mountain biking I'd get -

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/shimano-r540-spd-sl-road-pedals/rp-prod5369

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/northwave-fighter-sbs-2013/rp-prod78826

Inspector Coptoor

Thanks for the recommendation.
I commute on my road bike, 10km each way Mon-Fri and do a long spin most weekends.
Averaging 150-200km per week.

Darkglasses

Okey dokey, ignore what I suggested then! Instead I'd go for something like this.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/shimano-m520-clipless-spd-mtb-pedals/rp-prod3759

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/northwave-drifter-gtx-2013/rp-prod58523

SPDs are better for commuting, easier to clip in and out and easier to walk around with.

Carbon soles are fantastic, very comfy for riding clipped in. Also gore-tex upper, so in theory it should be warmer and drier on bad days. Whatever you do, don't buy white

Wishbone Ash

If you occasionally use your bike with ordinary footwear, you can also get SPD pedals which are flat on one side with SPD on the other.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/shimano-m324-clipless-spd-flat-mtb-pedals/rp-prod5937

Inspector Coptoor

great.

Thanks for your help.

Ive ordered the shoes and the pedals.
Is that all I need?
Very new to this so sorry for all the questions

Wishbone Ash

That was quick!

Make sure you grease the threads of the new pedals before attaching (makes it much easier to remove them again).

Are you familiar with pedal threads and the fact that they don't screw on/screw off like normal threads?

Inspector Coptoor

No, I'm not much of a bike mechanic.

I've watched two videos on youtube of greasing the pedals now so I'll be sure to do it when they arrive.

ford2600

Inspector Coptoor wrote: »

No, I'm not much of a bike mechanic.

I've watched two videos on youtube of greasing the pedals now so I'll be sure to do it when they arrive.

Right pedal is normal, tightens clockwise.
Left tightens anti clockwise.

Copper grease, but any grease will help when they have to come off.

Wishbone Ash

Removing Pedals:

Turn both pedal nuts backwards towards the rear of the bike (assuming the bike is the right way up). Old pedals can be very difficult to remove (hence need for greasing when initially attaching them). Usually require a 15mm spanner and may require extra leverage and a dose of expletives!

Attaching Pedals:

Turn both pedal nuts forwards towards front of bike (assuming bike is right way up). Make sure they are greased. No need to tighten them much.

FORWARD - ON
BACKWARDS - OFF

Unknown Soldier

Inspector Coptoor wrote: »

great.

Thanks for your help.

Ive ordered the shoes and the pedals.
Is that all I need?
Very new to this so sorry for all the questions

You're worse that me for "pulling the trigger", so to speak.

Did you try on a set of shoes in any shop to make sure you have the size correct? Depending on the manufacturer the sizing can vary or so I have found.

I have a similar set of those dual pedals. I'd highly recommend them.

I am currently building up the bravery to actually clip into them

So three weeks ago I set about training myself. This is kind of embarrassing but I am currently pretending that I am clipped in and following the normal clipped in procedure when stopping, as in twisting my left foot out to "unclip"

I really don't fancy keeling over in error, which I am assured by everyone who cycles, is inevitable.

Darkglasses

Unknown Soldier wrote: »

You're worse that me for "pulling the trigger", so to speak.

Did you try on a set of shoes in any shop to make sure you have the size correct? Depending on the manufacturer the sizing can vary or so I have found.

I have a similar set of those dual pedals. I'd highly recommend them.

I am currently building up the bravery to actually clip into them

So three weeks ago I set about training myself. This is kind of embarrassing but I am currently pretending that I am clipped in and following the normal clipped in procedure when stopping, as in twisting my left foot out to "unclip"

I really don't fancy keeling over in error, which I am assured by everyone who cycles, is inevitable.

Make the leap! You'll never go back, it's much more comfortable.

Btw I've been riding clipless for about 2 years now, never keeled over on the road, mountain-biking incidents don't count :cool:

Wishbone Ash

Unknown Soldier wrote: »

......I am currently building up the bravery to actually clip into them

So three weeks ago I set about training myself. This is kind of embarrassing but I am currently pretending that I am clipped in and following the normal clipped in procedure when stopping, as in twisting my left foot out to "unclip"

I really don't fancy keeling over in error, which I am assured by everyone who cycles, is inevitable.

Nothing to be afraid of. SPD's are quite easy. Try SPD SL's in heavy stop/start city traffic with errant pedestrians!!

To make it easier for you you should loosen the springs with an Allen key (2 or 3mm) until they release very easily. You can then gradually tighten them as you get more confident. You won't look back.

godtabh

Darkglasses wrote: »

Assuming you're road cycling for leisure rather than commuting/mountain biking I'd get -

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/shimano-r540-spd-sl-road-pedals/rp-prod5369

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/northwave-fighter-sbs-2013/rp-prod78826

Started off with those cleats. Very easy to get used to. Have to 105 version now. Next summer hoping to get the vector via the States.

gerrowadat

Unknown Soldier wrote: »

You're worse that me for "pulling the trigger", so to speak.

Did you try on a set of shoes in any shop to make sure you have the size correct? Depending on the manufacturer the sizing can vary or so I have found.

I have a similar set of those dual pedals. I'd highly recommend them.

I am currently building up the bravery to actually clip into them

So three weeks ago I set about training myself. This is kind of embarrassing but I am currently pretending that I am clipped in and following the normal clipped in procedure when stopping, as in twisting my left foot out to "unclip"

I really don't fancy keeling over in error, which I am assured by everyone who cycles, is inevitable.

Yeah, I've trained myself to unclip one foot and switch to the flat side of the pedal in traffic, so unplanned stops can go well.

Had a work colleage break both his elbows in the first week of SPD use (gliding casually to a stop at lights, then falling over elbow-first, not fun). Cautionary tales help :-)

joxerjohn

You will need a bit of practice. Take your bike to a park and practice on the grass that way if you fall over you will have a softer landing.

It is very common to fall off when using clip ins for the first time. It happens when you are coming to a stop and you either forget to clip out in time and fall over or you can't clip out because pedal mechanism is too tight and need to be loosened or you clip out out on one side and then fall over on the side you are clipped in on.

So you need to be very clear about how you will come to a stop and always do it that way. e.g. always clip out on your left side and as you come to a stop put your your left foot down to support youself. In this case you right foot remains clipped in until you are stopped then it can then be safely unclipped. If you prefer to always clip out on the right then that is fine also but you need to be consistent.

Once you get your stopping procedure clear you shouldn't have any further issues. So take 10 or 15 minute in the park to get the hang of it and you'll be grand.

Inspector Coptoor

Great advice.
Cheers