looking for advice

For mountain biking, I have to recommend the stainless Egg Beaters by Crank Bros. I went through a cheap set from Nashbar ($20) and the Crank Bros Mallet ($80), before deciding on the Egg Beaters. They're small and you wonder how in the world you can effectively pedal, but they work great and the 4 sided entry is a complete no-brainer. I also have them on my road bike so I can wear the same shoes, but I admit I'm not an official "roadie".

As for the shoes, it's very much a personal thing. I would suggest trying some on at your local bike shop. I have Lake MX80's that treat my feet just fine.

I use Egg Beaters and recommend them. I use them on my slow bike and my fast bike. They use an SPD (really common pattern) screw pattern, so I can use either my mountain bike shoes when I am commuting or my road shoes when I am going fast. They don't get clogged with mud which is important for me. Sometimes my road shoes slip when I try to clip in so I've gotten some scrapes that way. Crank Bro's sells a "road shoe" adapter to make the shoes not slip, but I haven't tried it. Before these pedals I used some generic SPD pattern pedals that seemed to work fine, but got mud in them sometimes.

This is a truly preferential thing I think. I'm a road cyclist and I swear by LOOK pedal systems and SIDI shoes and, while open to change, its unlikely I will given the years of experience with each and the comfort level I've developed with both. This is not to say they are better by any stretch. I have tried Shimano shoes and pedals. Didnt like either enough to switch, but the quality was indeed good.

The LOOKs have adjustable float ot fixed; the Shimano's have more float than the LOOKs and feel looser to me, but they hold you well. I understand that's a normal feeling for someone going from LOOK to Shimano. The LOOK cleats are harder to walk in, but I have the CX6s and dont yet have the new Keo's so cant comment on those cleats. That Keo is a really nice pedal, but I think I am biased. 🙄

SIDI shoes just work for some people, and for others, not. They tend to make people with narrower feet happier than people with wider feet, on average. I understand they just run narrow, but they fit me great and make me happy. 😄 The Shimano's I had were a bit wider. I'm quite fond of the SIDI buckling system on their higher end shoes, as well as their design. Shimano's I've seen just use the three velcro straps, as do the lower end SIDI's. This works just as well and you'll have no issues with this. I find it a bit easier to tinker with your buckle tension during the ride with the SIDI's, but I dont do it that often, and you're not all to likely to need to either. A minor thing: I cant remember if you get SIDI's if you'll get the Shimano cleat adapter free or if you have to buy it. Just a tiny thing you'll need to check out whatever shoes you get.

Lucky thing is with pedals and shoes you can probably try out the main three or four brands of each at an LBS you have a good relationship with - or at least try on and look at the different shoes, and the shop may have a couple sets of pedals and cleats you can swap on/off a test bike. I recommend that. Like with a saddle, you'll just like what you do, sort of irrespective of advice.

You'll have some clip in and out issues to start with on any brand if this is your first time, so try not to let that be the guiding factor in the brand(s) you choose.

graf zeppelin said:

You'll have some clip in and out issues to start with on any brand if this is your first time, so try not to let that be the guiding factor in the brand(s) you choose.

Tell me about it... I just started riding with a clipless system (speedplay zero) on Monday. Before that I hadn't fallen on my bike. Today and yesterday I must have fallen about 5 times. :eek: None of that highspeed stuff. I was getting ready to stop with one clip already unclipped but when I tried to get off I forgot that i was still attached with my right foot. I fell drivetrain side. Everything was fine but my shifter took a beating.

I can't really suggest speedplays since they are the very first clipless system I've ever purchased. I'm very glad with my purchase over all. As for shoes I have Diadora Ergo's.

I use Cannondale shoes. They look normal and the uppers are a less breathable leather instead of the highly ventilated race shoes. I prefer that over race shoes in all but the hieght of the race season, since in winter that can be a bad thing. Never buy nike. They feel good and look good but I have never had one last more than 4 months. The cannondales, for the same price, last a full duty year or more. That includes summer landscaping and full time garage mechanics in addition to racing.

Pedals, I prefer anything similar to a Shimano 454 SPD. The SPD mechanism has proven good and dependable for several race seasons which included mud and muck. The 454 design has a platform set around the SPD pedal, allowing non-SPD shoes or not clipped in riding. The non-clipped in is good for rock gardens, traffic, tricks, name it. I like the peace of mind that I don't have to hunt for the clip when Im in the middle of a traffic sprint.
As was stated, it is preferencial, so that was my side of the coin. Try a few types if you can.

[font=Times New Roman]thanks for the replys, im going to my lbs this weekend to try some shoes, i will ask there advice on pedals aswell. i will report back on how i got on and how many times ive came off the bike sonce getting these products, cant wait 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 [/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]cheers [/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]martin [/font]

martinxc04 said:

[font=Times New Roman]i am looking to get myself some clipless pedals and some cycling shoes, this is the first time of buying any of these products. looking for some suggestions from you guys?????[/font]

[font=Times New Roman]cheers [/font]

[font=Times New Roman]martin [/font]

[font=Times New Roman]On my road bike I use Look A5.1 pedals and Sidi shoes.[/font]

[font=Times New Roman]On my mountain bike and tandem I use SPD pedals and my Specialized Rockhopper shoes.[/font]

I just got my first pair of shoes and pedals yesterday. I went with the Shimano R098 shoes and the Speedplay X-5 pedals. I am very pleased and would recommend these to anyone. They are light, easy to use and the float is great for my bad knees. Do alot of research before you make a decision and go to the LBS and try them all on if possible.