SPD Pedals

Budgie said:

As a rank amateur, can someone explain the benefit/purpose of SPD pedals. Are special shoes
required to use them?

Budgie

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You can pull up as well as push down which gives you a lot more power, especially when climbing
hills. You can also try and develop that perfect "round" pedal action which eludes most of us (a
look at the wear pattern of my inner chainring proves I only push hard with my right foot!).

You do need suitable shoes, but most mountain bike shoes these days are designed for them. The
pedals come with cleats which you must take some time to fix in a comfortable position.

IME they always let go in a crash - even the black cleats. If you're a powerful rider I'd stick
to the black ones as the alternative silver "multi-release" cleats might let go at an
inopportune moment.

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

Quoted message said:

As a rank amateur, can someone explain the benefit/purpose of SPD pedals. Are special shoes
required to use them?

I tried some for a couple of weeks this summer (not SPDs but Time ATACS) and loved the feel of them.
They made my legs feel like part of the drivetrain rather than just pushing it. Unfortunately they
made my knees ache so had to come off. I didn't fully appreciate the difference they made to my
riding until the next day out with the old toeclips. I could have wept. Of course I'd have wept more
had I persisted and damaged my knees. I do intend to give them another go though. A little more
cautiously this time. They're definitely worth another shot. tony R.

"Zog The Undeniable" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Budgie said:

As a rank amateur, can someone explain the benefit/purpose of SPD

pedals.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Are special shoes required to use them?

Budgie

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You can pull up as well as push down which gives you a lot more power, especially when climbing
hills. You can also try and develop that perfect "round" pedal action which eludes most of us (a
look at the wear pattern of my inner chainring proves I only push hard with my right

foot!).

Quoted message said:

You do need suitable shoes,

For a lot of SPD style pedals you do !

Graham

but most mountain bike shoes these days are

Quoted message said:

designed for them. The pedals come with cleats which you must take some time to fix in a
comfortable position.

IME they always let go in a crash - even the black cleats. If you're a powerful rider I'd stick
to the black ones as the alternative silver "multi-release" cleats might let go at an
inopportune moment.

"Zog The Undeniable" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
| >
If you're a powerful rider . . . .
|

If only! Used to be around 30 years ago, but only used platform pedals and toeclips, then.

Budgie

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Budgie said:

As a rank amateur, can someone explain the benefit/purpose of SPD pedals. Are special shoes
required to use them?

AASHTA: sheldonbrown.comgloss ca m.htmlOpen ↗

The purpose of clipless pedal systems is to deliver the efficiency of toeclips, cleats and straps
without the downside (namely that when securely strapped in, gettng a foot out can be a challenge).
SPD are not the only ones on the market. Depending on whether you are road riding or MTBing you can
also consider Time, Speedplay, Eggbeaters, Look and I'm sure several others.

I would not want to ride a recumbent without clipless pedals, and I don't like riding any other kind
of bike without them. Clipless makes it easy to keep power on for more of the pedal stroke, and of
course it keeps the foot in the right position on the pedal.

--
Guy
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Quoted message said:

I tried some for a couple of weeks this summer (not SPDs but Time ATACS)

and

Quoted message said:

loved the feel of them. They made my legs feel like part of the drivetrain rather than just
pushing it. Unfortunately they made my knees ache so had

to

Quoted message said:

come off.

I can't see a reason why cleated shoes/pedals *in themselves* should cause the aching knees...
variables to try would be:-

* Trying aligning them slightly differently to vary the alignment of your feet
* Try moving them slightly back or forward to vary position of your feet
* Try more (or less) float so your knees can move a bit if that's what they need (if the type of
pedals allows this)
* Try upping your cadence by using one gear lower so your knees don't get strained

I've been using SPD-SL's for a while and they *do* take some fiddling with to get set up - but well
worth it for the way effort can then be turned into motion!

Phil B York, UK

Quoted message said:

I would not want to ride a recumbent without clipless pedals, and I don't like riding any other
kind of bike without them. Clipless makes it easy to keep power on for more of the pedal stroke,
and of course it keeps the foot on the right position on the pedal.

Good on you, Guy, but I personally find the whole business of having to wear special shoes to ride a
specially fitted bike a lot of hassle. I prefer to develop my own special style of leg movement in
which much more power is delivered to the pedals. I know that SPD pedals will always be better than
whatever I come up with, but then again, I can do without the extra speed.

--
Akin

aknak at aksoto dot idps dot co dot uk

tony R said:

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

Quoted message said:

As a rank amateur, can someone explain the benefit/purpose of SPD pedals. Are special shoes
required to use them?

I tried some for a couple of weeks this summer (not SPDs but Time ATACS) and loved the feel of
them. They made my legs feel like part of the drivetrain rather than just pushing it.
Unfortunately they made my knees ache so had to come off. I didn't fully appreciate the difference
they made to my riding until the next day out with the old toeclips. I could have wept. Of course
I'd have wept more had I persisted and damaged my knees. I do intend to give them another go
though. A little more cautiously this time.

Different pedals have different amounts of float, and mountain bike type pedals on the whole seem to
have more float than road type pedals. I'm told the gorgeous-looking but hideously expensive
speedplay frogs are particularly good for float.

If you're having knee problems it's possible that just repositioning your cleats would help. If not,
go for a pedal system with more float.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗

do not sail on uphill water
- Bill Lee

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

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I tried some for a couple of weeks this summer (not SPDs but Time ATACS)

and

Quoted message said:

loved the feel of them. They made my legs feel like part of the

drivetrain

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

rather than just pushing it. Unfortunately they made my knees ache so

had

Quoted message said:

to

Quoted message said:

come off.

I can't see a reason why cleated shoes/pedals *in themselves* should cause the aching knees...
variables to try would be:-

* Trying aligning them slightly differently to vary the alignment of your feet
* Try moving them slightly back or forward to vary position of your feet
* Try more (or less) float so your knees can move a bit if that's what

they

Quoted message said:

need (if the type of pedals allows this)
* Try upping your cadence by using one gear lower so your knees don't get strained

I've been using SPD-SL's for a while and they *do* take some fiddling with to get set up - but
well worth it for the way effort can then be turned

into

Quoted message said:

motion!

Oh I know, I know. Unfortunately I only had c. 3 weeks to fiddle before the start of a longish tour.
As departure neared I decided the risk was too great and so abandoned until a time less pressured.
Soon, soon....... tony R.

Sky Fly said:

Good on you, Guy, but I personally find the whole business of having to wear special shoes to ride
a specially fitted bike a lot of hassle. I prefer to develop my own special style of leg movement
in which much more power is delivered to the pedals. I know that SPD pedals will always be better
than whatever I come up with, but then again, I can do without the extra speed.

My SPDs are made in the training shoe style but why they're made in a horrible dun colour I don't
know. IIRC, they're Shimano MO36. Some time ago I rode a friend's hybrid bike which was fitted with
regular pedals. It felt rather strange and slightly dangerous.

James

--
"Sorry mate, I didn't see you" is not a satisfactory excuse.

Quoted message said:

SPD are not the only
ones on the market.

On road, I love my Look pedals. Cycling is much better with clipless - especially going uphill.

Cheers, helen s --This is an invalid email address to avoid spam-- to get correct one remove
dependency on fame & fortune h*$el*$$e**nd***$o$ts***i*$*$m**m$$o*n**s@$*$a$$o**l.c**$*$om$$ do not
post my correct 1 on *any* public forum - thanks

Budgie said:

"Zog The Undeniable" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
| >
If you're a powerful rider . . . .
|

If only! Used to be around 30 years ago, but only used platform pedals and toeclips, then.

And if you're [censored], like me, you need every bit of help going, and the clipless pedals help a lot.

Steph Fatslowoldbirdonabicycle

Simon Brooke said:

mountain bike type pedals on the whole seem to have more float than road type pedals.

Not true with the two most common systems. LOOK (road) have more float than SPD when used with the
usual cleats.

~PB