advice for a beginner on a Trek 1500

rastakaram <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I just bought an '04 Trek 1500 and have not yet purchased pedals or
shoes. I am a beginner in a most literal sense. Can anyone recommend a
particular setup that I should try? Also, if anyone has any type of
advice about this model or getting started in general, it is more than
welcome. Thanks.

-D.K.

I'd recommend ATB pedals and mountain shoes. I've used Shimano M-515s
and M-520s, they're double-sided and use SPD cleats. They make sense
even with a road bike, since the shoes are generally easier to walk in
than road-specific shoes (mountain shoes have more tread), and
dual-sided pedals are pretty easy to get into (important if you've
never used clipless pedals before).

Jason

[email hidden] wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

rastakaram <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I just bought an '04 Trek 1500 and have not yet purchased pedals or
shoes. I am a beginner in a most literal sense. Can anyone recommend
a particular setup that I should try? Also, if anyone has any type of
advice about this model or getting started in general, it is more
than welcome. Thanks.

-D.K.

I'd recommend ATB pedals and mountain shoes. I've used Shimano M-515s
and M-520s, they're double-sided and use SPD cleats. They make sense
even with a road bike, since the shoes are generally easier to walk in
than road-specific shoes (mountain shoes have more tread), and
dual-sided pedals are pretty easy to get into (important if you've
never used clipless pedals before).

I don't like my M-515s very much; it's hard to get the spring tension
*just perfect*. My new EggBeater Cs came a couple of days ago; I'm trying
to find another pair of shoes I like before I put them on, but I've heard
suggestions that parallel-bar systems (like Time or Crank Brothers) are
easier to adjust and get out of than the classic SPD design (which uses a
couple of funny-shaped pieces of metal).

-A

rastakaram said:

I just bought an '04 Trek 1500 and have not yet purchased pedals or
shoes. I am a beginner in a most literal sense. Can anyone recommend a
particular setup that I should try? Also, if anyone has any type of
advice about this model or getting started in general, it is more than
welcome. Thanks.

-D.K.

Hi, after you become comfortable with the new bike, so that you can
ride without having to concentrate on shifting, braking, starting, and
stopping. Then it would be a good time to get some specific bicycling
shoes and a set of clipless pedals.
You could go with toe clips, but I think overall the clipless pedal
systems offer better overall performance.
How are you using the bike, training, leisure, commuting, or ? Is
cost a major consideration?

Here is a pedal, that I think is ideal for anyone, to learn on, and
for overall flexibility. It offers the benefits of clipless on one
side and platform on the other. When learning, you don't have to clip
in when at intersections or other times, when you would rather not be
locked in. I still use a set on my older bike.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=13207&subcategory_ID=5240

I linked to Performance, but if you shop around you can find them
cheaper. Often in the mid $50 range.

With these you can use any shoe that is SPD compatible. With a few
exceptions, the mtb style shoes are designed so that they are easy to
walk in. Road shoes and cleats, are not recessed, so walking is
limited. They make you waddle like a duck, but they are great for the
use they were designed for, which is the road bike enthusiast, who has
no need to get off the bike. They generally offer a wider platform. I
use a set of SPD-SL road pedals on my main bike.
Each type of pedal has its place and use.

Life is Good!
Jeff

rastakaram said...

Quoted message said:

I just bought an '04 Trek 1500 and have not yet purchased pedals or
shoes. I am a beginner in a most literal sense. Can anyone recommend a
particular setup that I should try? Also, if anyone has any type of
advice about this model or getting started in general, it is more than
welcome. Thanks.

-D.K.

--
rastakaram

Speedplay Frogs with Shimano SH-M120 shoes. If you are a beginner as in
just learning to ride or haven't ridden in years, then use platforms for
a while while you develop bike handling skills.

I have Shimano M540 pedals (MTB-style, double sided) and I am very happy
with these pedals. They were my very first set of clip-less pedals and I
found them to be very smooth and easy to use. I have Shimano MTB-hybrid-type
shoes to go with these pedals. I heard T091 Shimano shoes are good. I have a
cheap MO38 shoes which are quite heavy but otherwise good.

"rastakaram" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I just bought an '04 Trek 1500 and have not yet purchased pedals or
shoes. I am a beginner in a most literal sense. Can anyone recommend a
particular setup that I should try? Also, if anyone has any type of
advice about this model or getting started in general, it is more than
welcome. Thanks.

-D.K.

--
rastakaram