Should I go clipless?

On Wed, 25 May 2005 12:53:47 -0400, dgk
<[email hidden]> wrote in message
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

Another thread got me thinking about this again. I just have standard
pedals on my bike (commuter hybrid Trek 7100) but keep thinking about
going clipless. My feet never slip off the pedals so I guess that the
whole idea is just so that I can pull up as well as push down? That
involves a whole new set of muscles I would think.

Yes you should - try it at least. Don't pull up, though, but it does
help you to a much smoother pedalling style because you can power
through more of the crank rotation, and it helps you maintain good
cadence without risk of slipping off.

Not everyone gets on with clipless, but most do.

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

85% of helmet statistics are made up, 69% of them at CHS, Puget Sound

I understand the notion. I went to clipless years ago and would feel
odd being "unattached" to the bike these days. I put old fashioned toe
clip pedals on in the winter so I can ride without freezing my feet but
they come off as soon as the temperature gets back into the 40's.

I think the question really is a stop and go issue. If you are stopping
in traffic frequently, the comfort and efficiency is diminished quite a
bit. Another thing to consider is theft. A clipless bike always looks
more expensive. In NYC that might be a bother. I lived there and used a
heat gun to remove decals, strategic duct taping, added klutzy, rusty
fenders to hide the wheels. In short, a stealth bike. Worked.

Will

dgk wrote:
:: Another thread got me thinking about this again. I just have standard
:: pedals on my bike (commuter hybrid Trek 7100) but keep thinking about
:: going clipless. My feet never slip off the pedals so I guess that the
:: whole idea is just so that I can pull up as well as push down? That
:: involves a whole new set of muscles I would think.

Yeah....more efficient transfer of power to pedals.

:: Is this a good idea when much of my biking is in Manhattan?

Seems scary to me....

I suppose
:: I'll practice in a deserted parking lot for a while first.

Yes. Good luck.

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

Quoted message said:

Another thread got me thinking about this again. I just have standard
pedals on my bike (commuter hybrid Trek 7100) but keep thinking about
going clipless. My feet never slip off the pedals so I guess that the
whole idea is just so that I can pull up as well as push down? That
involves a whole new set of muscles I would think.

Is this a good idea when much of my biking is in Manhattan? I suppose
I'll practice in a deserted parking lot for a while first.

I've never regretted going clipless, even though I had the obligatory spill
by forgetting to unclip before stoppng ;-)

Once I got used to clipping in and out, which happened quicker than I
thought it would, it beame second nature. I have no problem clipping in and
out as necessary in traffic. The advantages? Well I too never used to slip
off pedals when I used ordinary platform pedals, but clipless gives the same
speed for less effort - as you are effectively pulling on the upstroke as
well as pushing on the down stroke - and my knees were much appreciative of
the change to clipless. Aching knees disappeared overnight for me.

I find clipless make it easier to cycle up any sort of incline - it's just
more efficient & effective pedalling.

I would not willingly go back to platform pedals.

I use Look pedals, by the way.

Cheers, helen s

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

Quoted message said:

Another thread got me thinking about this again. I just have standard
pedals on my bike (commuter hybrid Trek 7100) but keep thinking about
going clipless. My feet never slip off the pedals so I guess that the
whole idea is just so that I can pull up as well as push down? That
involves a whole new set of muscles I would think.

Is this a good idea when much of my biking is in Manhattan? I suppose
I'll practice in a deserted parking lot for a while first.

Just so you know ... it's not about pushing down and/or pulling up. It's
about spinning circles (or as close to it as possible). That's the most
efficient way to pedal. Remember the old locomotive engines that had a
large wheel turned by the steam engine and the large wheel was attached by
steel rods that drove smaller wheels out in front of it. Well, think of
your hip as the large driving wheel. A good, efficient spin comes from the
hip.

Pedaling through Manhattan. Hmmm. There are some strap devices that
mountain bikers who didn't want to be clipped in have used. You might
consider something like this that would attach to your existing pedal. That
way you could get a feel for being attached to the pedals without the larger
investment. I don't recall who made them, but they attached diagonally
across the pedal.
--
Bob C.

"Of course it hurts. The trick is not minding that it hurts."
T. E. Lawrence (of Arabia)

dgk said:

Another thread got me thinking about this again. I just have standard
pedals on my bike (commuter hybrid Trek 7100) but keep thinking about
going clipless. My feet never slip off the pedals so I guess that the
whole idea is just so that I can pull up as well as push down? That
involves a whole new set of muscles I would think.

Not the source of efficiency with clipless pedals, you don't want to
"pull up", it doesn't help anything, it just puts you at greater risk of
a pull out.

The beauty of clipless pedals is that you don't have to expend any
energy or concentration to keep your feet on, and aligned to, the
pedals. That's not a lot of effort for low speed cycling, so the benefit
really increases with intensity. If you pedal hard and fast you should
have some sort of foot retention, clipless is, for most people, easier
and more comfortable than clips and straps.

Quoted message said:

Is this a good idea when much of my biking is in Manhattan? I suppose
I'll practice in a deserted parking lot for a while first.

Practice is a good idea, and some types of pedals are better for stop &
go urban riding and the inevitable walking. SPD (Shimano or clone) is a
good start.

You can always go "clipless" the Rivendell-way:

http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/pedals_clips_straps/14020.html

bfd said:

You can always go "clipless" the Rivendell-way:

http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/pedals_clips_straps/14020.html

How do those work?

On 25 May 2005 10:25:49 -0700, "Will" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I understand the notion. I went to clipless years ago and would feel
odd being "unattached" to the bike these days. I put old fashioned toe
clip pedals on in the winter so I can ride without freezing my feet but
they come off as soon as the temperature gets back into the 40's.

I think the question really is a stop and go issue. If you are stopping
in traffic frequently, the comfort and efficiency is diminished quite a
bit. Another thing to consider is theft. A clipless bike always looks
more expensive. In NYC that might be a bother. I lived there and used a
heat gun to remove decals, strategic duct taping, added klutzy, rusty
fenders to hide the wheels. In short, a stealth bike. Worked.

Will

Theft is a problem but I anchor the bike pretty well and almost always
in one place with guards nearby.

I have a bike that had the cages once. I couldn't get my foot out when
I had to and by the time I did get it out it was just in time to break
my ankle. Then again, it isn't likely that I'll be in a 6 inch mud
puddle on 3rd Avenue. The surgeon suggested that I find somewhere else
to bike that doesn't have big mud puddles. Smart man.

wafflycat said:

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

Quoted message said:

Another thread got me thinking about this again. I just have standard
pedals on my bike (commuter hybrid Trek 7100) but keep thinking about
going clipless. My feet never slip off the pedals so I guess that the
whole idea is just so that I can pull up as well as push down? That
involves a whole new set of muscles I would think.

Is this a good idea when much of my biking is in Manhattan? I suppose
I'll practice in a deserted parking lot for a while first.

I've never regretted going clipless, even though I had the obligatory
spill by forgetting to unclip before stoppng ;-)

Once I got used to clipping in and out, which happened quicker than I
thought it would, it beame second nature. I have no problem clipping in
and out as necessary in traffic. The advantages? Well I too never used
to slip off pedals when I used ordinary platform pedals, but clipless
gives the same speed for less effort - as you are effectively pulling on
the upstroke as well as pushing on the down stroke - and my knees were
much appreciative of the change to clipless. Aching knees disappeared
overnight for me.

I find clipless make it easier to cycle up any sort of incline - it's
just more efficient & effective pedalling.

I concur. In short, you can haul ass uphill and downhill ( I ride a
fixie) without worrying about your feet coming off.

And you WILL fall over the first time you try to clip out, so be sure to
do it in front of people you don't know to give them some comic relief.
But after a day or two of practice clipping out is easy.

Quoted message said:

I would not willingly go back to platform pedals.

I use Look pedals, by the way.

Cheers, helen s

psycholist said:

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

Quoted message said:

Another thread got me thinking about this again. I just have standard
pedals on my bike (commuter hybrid Trek 7100) but keep thinking about
going clipless. My feet never slip off the pedals so I guess that the
whole idea is just so that I can pull up as well as push down? That
involves a whole new set of muscles I would think.

Is this a good idea when much of my biking is in Manhattan? I suppose
I'll practice in a deserted parking lot for a while first.

Just so you know ... it's not about pushing down and/or pulling up. It's
about spinning circles (or as close to it as possible). That's the most
efficient way to pedal. Remember the old locomotive engines that had a
large wheel turned by the steam engine and the large wheel was attached by
steel rods that drove smaller wheels out in front of it. Well, think of
your hip as the large driving wheel. A good, efficient spin comes from the
hip.

Pedaling through Manhattan. Hmmm. There are some strap devices that
mountain bikers who didn't want to be clipped in have used. You might
consider something like this that would attach to your existing pedal. That
way you could get a feel for being attached to the pedals without the larger
investment. I don't recall who made them, but they attached diagonally
across the pedal.

PowerGrips http://www.powergrips.com Never tried em tho.

Collin said:

And you WILL fall over the first time you try to clip out, so be sure to
do it in front of people you don't know to give them some comic relief.
But after a day or two of practice clipping out is easy.

Correction, you might fall. Not everybody falls, I never have, because
I forgot to unclip.
Pay attention and unclip early, while learning. Eventually it becomes
second nature.

Life is Good!
Jeff

Go for it , but master a track stand first.
That way you have options if you hve to stop at a puddle or lights.
also only fit on for a few days, say the right pedal and toe down with the
left while you practice
real time clipping and unclippping of the right foot in trafic/ trail.
rob d

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

Quoted message said:

Another thread got me thinking about this again. I just have standard
pedals on my bike (commuter hybrid Trek 7100) but keep thinking about
going clipless. My feet never slip off the pedals so I guess that the
whole idea is just so that I can pull up as well as push down? That
involves a whole new set of muscles I would think.

Is this a good idea when much of my biking is in Manhattan? I suppose
I'll practice in a deserted parking lot for a while first.

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

Quoted message said:

Collin said:

And you WILL fall over the first time you try to clip out, so be sure to
do it in front of people you don't know to give them some comic relief.
But after a day or two of practice clipping out is easy.

Correction, you might fall. Not everybody falls, I never have, because
I forgot to unclip.

Smart ass ;-)

Quoted message said:

Pay attention and unclip early, while learning. Eventually it becomes
second nature.

For a while, when I first went into clipless, I was followed by the sound of
husband & offspring yelling "Unclip!" every time I got near any situation
unclipping was likely to be required. Bit like a leper yelling "Unclean!"
;-)

Cheers, helen s

Quoted message said:

Life is Good!
Jeff

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

Quoted message said:

Go for it , but master a track stand first.
That way you have options if you hve to stop at a puddle or lights.
also only fit on for a few days, say the right pedal and toe down with
the
left while you practice
real time clipping and unclippping of the right foot in trafic/ trail.
rob d

Have to say I cannot track stand and have never needed the ability to do so
in long, almost daily use of clipless pedals. Once I got the initial fall
(in private by home) out of the way, where I discovered the advantage of
having a large, well-padded rear end. Glad I did it then and not now, as my
rear is considerably smaller & less less padded ;-)

Cheers, helen s

psycholist said:

Just so you know ... it's not about pushing down and/or pulling up. It's
about spinning circles (or as close to it as possible). That's the most
efficient way to pedal. Remember the old locomotive engines that had a
large wheel turned by the steam engine and the large wheel was attached by
steel rods that drove smaller wheels out in front of it. Well, think of
your hip as the large driving wheel. A good, efficient spin comes from the
hip.

This seems a logical theory but it isn't supported by science.

Quoted message said:

Pedaling through Manhattan. Hmmm. There are some strap devices that
mountain bikers who didn't want to be clipped in have used. You might
consider something like this that would attach to your existing pedal. That
way you could get a feel for being attached to the pedals without the larger
investment. I don't recall who made them, but they attached diagonally
across the pedal.

Those are PowerGrips. I used them for a while. I think they are very
dangerous. I wouldn't recommend them.

if your gears are not low enough for some hills,
you will find that pulling up definitely
makes you able to go up hills that you just can;t go up just by
pushing down.

and if you like to pedal at low rpms, contrary to current spinning
religion,
you can pull and it helps.

wle.

Thu, 26 May 2005 07:25:54 -0400, <[email hidden]>,

Peter Cole said:

Those are PowerGrips. I used them for a while. I think they are very
dangerous. I wouldn't recommend them.

How so? What would make them more dangerous than clipless pedals?

The release action is the same twisting motion as clipless pedals. So,
even switching back and forth between PowerGrips and clipless isn't as
potentially dangerous as switching between clips & straps and
clipless.

I got into trouble with PowerGrips while I was using clips & straps on
all the other bikes. I was still trying to twist out when I hit the
ground badly straining my leg. After that I had to switch back to
clips & straps because I couldn't twist my leg for at least a month.
For that, I wouldn't fault the PowerGrips as being dangerous.
--
zk

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

In article <[email hidden]>,

dgk said:

On 25 May 2005 10:25:49 -0700, "Will" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I understand the notion. I went to clipless years ago and would feel
odd being "unattached" to the bike these days. I put old fashioned toe
clip pedals on in the winter so I can ride without freezing my feet but
they come off as soon as the temperature gets back into the 40's.

I think the question really is a stop and go issue. If you are stopping
in traffic frequently, the comfort and efficiency is diminished quite a
bit.

Quoted message said:

I have a bike that had the cages once. I couldn't get my foot out when
I had to and by the time I did get it out it was just in time to break
my ankle.

_ There is a learning curve, but once you get to the point where
getting out of the pedals becomes an unconcious reaction,
frequent stopping and starting is not an issue. Pedals with
a bit more platform help with this as well. In an emergency
clipless are much better than cages, if you've practiced to
the point where it's automatic.

_ I think lightly treaded MTB shoes and SPD type pedals are the
way to go. I like the various Crank Brothers pedals a lot, and
Shimano makes some relatively cheap MTB shoes ( M-20 and M-30 )
that are great for commuting.

_ Booker C. Bense

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