Help with clipless decision

Quoted message said:

I have been cycling with toe clips since before some of you were
born ;-). I am not what __you__ would consider to be a "serious"
cyclist.

But probably a very tired one :-)

Quoted message said:

BTW, I am interested in recessed cleats -- the so-called MTB style --
even though I do very little biking on trails -- almost none. Also, I
have no concern about the weight of the cleat-pedal system. I am not
good enough for it to make a difference.

SPD cleats and double-sided pedals are probably your best bet. Many
people ride them on the road, not all of them slow.

Quoted message said:

1. Shimano v. Speedplay. Speedplay makes a good case for "free
float". But is it really that critical?

For almost everyone, no.

Quoted message said:

4. How to learn? Does everyone fall in the beginning?

No, although claiming that seems to be a perverse badge of honour. If it
helps, I've never come off for this reason. But go around the block or a
parking lot a few times, practising clipping in and out, starting and
stopping, until it feels natural. Due to the recessed cleats, it's not hard
to pedal gently even if you're not clipped in properly.

Quoted message said:

TIA for your thoughts.

You won't regret making the leap.

Every one may not fall in the beginning but everyone falls sometime.

--
ie
ride fast, take chances.

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

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I have been cycling with toe clips since before some of you were
born ;-). I am not what __you__ would consider to be a "serious"
cyclist.

But probably a very tired one :-)

Quoted message said:

BTW, I am interested in recessed cleats -- the so-called MTB style --
even though I do very little biking on trails -- almost none. Also, I
have no concern about the weight of the cleat-pedal system. I am not
good enough for it to make a difference.

SPD cleats and double-sided pedals are probably your best bet. Many
people ride them on the road, not all of them slow.

Quoted message said:

1. Shimano v. Speedplay. Speedplay makes a good case for "free
float". But is it really that critical?

For almost everyone, no.

Quoted message said:

4. How to learn? Does everyone fall in the beginning?

No, although claiming that seems to be a perverse badge of honour. If it
helps, I've never come off for this reason. But go around the block or a
parking lot a few times, practising clipping in and out, starting and
stopping, until it feels natural. Due to the recessed cleats, it's not
hard
to pedal gently even if you're not clipped in properly.

Quoted message said:

TIA for your thoughts.

You won't regret making the leap.

Quoted message said:

BTW, I am interested in recessed cleats -- the so-called MTB style --
even though I do very little biking on trails -- almost none. Also, I
have no concern about the weight of the cleat-pedal system. I am not
good enough for it to make a difference.

1. Shimano v. Speedplay. Speedplay makes a good case for "free
float". But is it really that critical? Generally, I am inclined to
go with the overwhelming market leader, when there is one, for a
variety of reasons. Can I really go wrong with Shimano?

Shimano pedals are cheap and work well for the vast majority of riders.
Unless you need more float or are a mountain biker who expects to ride
in mud, they're hard to argue with. Speedplay Frogs are great -- I use
them because I benefit from the float -- but they're also expensive.
So are replacement cleats, and I go through more of those than I did
with SPDs. Walkability can be an issue because the cleats are larger
and protrude slightly from some shoes.

On the other hand, I find entry and exit easier and the float makes it
very difficult to misalign the cleats.

Quoted message said:

4. How to learn? Does everyone fall in the beginning? Originally, I
thought I would cycle to the shop to get the clipless pedals
installed, do some practice {en/dis}gaging for a little at the shop,
then "practice" on my ride home. Now I wonder if that's a bad idea.
I will be riding in traffic, with some stops on uphills.

I wouldn't say that everyone falls, but starting out in traffic is a
good way to make it happen. I'd practice in a parking lot or a grassy
area until clipping out is automatic and you can clip in fairly
consistently. It will take a little bit of practice. If you try to ride
in traffic before you're used to the new motions, you'll likely as not
try to pull out backwards like you're used to doing with toe clips.

Quoted message said:

FYI, I am a
slow learner, to some extent. I fumble a lot in the beginning; then I
seem to have an epiphany and "voila!", you'd think I'm an expert.

All the more reason to get some practice in before you face traffic.

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
..... How to learn? Does everyone fall in the beginning? ...FYI, I am a

Quoted message said:

slow learner, to some extent. I fumble a lot in the beginning....

I'm a slow learner, too. Long ago I used old-fashioned cleats and toe clips
and fell a lot learning them, usually because I'd forget to reach down to
loosen the strap till it was too late. Switched to SPDs about 10 years ago
and I don't think I've fallen a single time. AFAIC, the diff is that, unlike
old-school cleats, you can disengage at the last second from an upright
position. Once I switched, I was immediately happy with my decision.

Quoted message said:

I have been cycling with toe clips since before some of you were
born ;-). I am not what __you__ would consider to be a "serious"
cyclist. But I do enjoy it when I can.

Now I am considering going clipless. I have a lot of questions. I
hope I don't start any "wars". I am looking for practical answers
based on experience.

BTW, I am interested in recessed cleats -- the so-called MTB style --
even though I do very little biking on trails -- almost none. Also, I
have no concern about the weight of the cleat-pedal system. I am not
good enough for it to make a difference.

Sounds like I'm in the same boat as you. I use the Shimano
system on my road bike because it gives me the option of using
recessed-cleat shoes; above all, I use my bicycle for commuting.
Exercise a few mornings a week is only its secondary purpose,
and there I'm not exactly concerned about setting any land speed
records.

Quoted message said:

1. Shimano v. Speedplay. Speedplay makes a good case for "free
float". But is it really that critical? Generally, I am inclined to
go with the overwhelming market leader, when there is one, for a
variety of reasons. Can I really go wrong with Shimano?

I can pretty much echo the comments of others who have
recommended SPD so far. I don't have much experience with
Speedplay, outside of briefly having tried some at a bike shop,
but the SPD cleats seem much more appropriate for walking around
in. However, you will probably still make at least a little bit
of a crunching noise as you walk down the sidewalk with SPD
cleats, even in the most recessed-cleat shoes you can find.

Quoted message said:

2. Single-sided v. dual-sided pedals. On the one hand, the rationale
behind DS pedals makes good sense to me: easier to engage if you do
not have to worry about which side of the pedal you're on. On the
other hand, I am used to SS insofar as pedals with toe clips are
"single-sided"; I am used to it, and I never need to look down. On
the "third" hand, I am concerned about the time it takes to engage the
cleat already; DS might give me added confidence. On the "fourth"
hand, I cannot image riding a narrow trail or similar situations
without having the option of not "locking" in. It has happened to me
on rare occassion.

3. Single-directional v. multi-directional. Initially, I thought MD
might be helpful in getting started with clipless. But I do try to
lift in my stroke, especially on hills and starts. I am worried about
disengaging too easily. I know that the release can be tightened; but
I worry that that will make it hard while I'm learning. I know I will
go to SD eventually. Should I just start that way? That is my
inclination.

I went from toe-clips to single-directional, double-sided SPD
pedals (Shimano PD-M540). I personally didn't have much trouble
with the fact that I had to twist my ankle outward to release
the cleat, as opposed to having the option of twisting it either
outward or inward; either way, it would have been a matter of
learning to twist my ankle instead of pulling my foot backwards.

On the other hand, I do enjoy double-sided pedals very much for
the ability to engage the cleat without looking down. If you
adjust your pedals correctly you can disengage the cleats in a
heartbeat, so I wouldn't consider a single-sided pedal unless
you want half-platform, half-SPD pedals because you anticipate
riding without your cycling shoes on a regular basis. (If
you're really concerned about not engaging the pedals, though,
keep in mind that by simply positioning your shoes slightly
further forward on the pedals you can prevent the cleats from
catching at all.)

Quoted message said:

4. How to learn? Does everyone fall in the beginning? Originally, I
thought I would cycle to the shop to get the clipless pedals
installed, do some practice {en/dis}gaging for a little at the shop,
then "practice" on my ride home. Now I wonder if that's a bad idea.
I will be riding in traffic, with some stops on uphills. FYI, I am a
slow learner, to some extent. I fumble a lot in the beginning; then I
seem to have an epiphany and "voila!", you'd think I'm an expert.

I can't speak for everyone else, but I did fall. But not on the
day I installed the new pedals, or even the day after that. One
morning, almost a week later, I was riding between classes at
UF. I saw a mother, a father, and a daughter pointing bemusedly
at a campus map in the father's hands: clearly a disoriented
family taking a tour of the University to decide whether to send
their daughter here for college. So I thought I'd stop to offer
some directions.

Unfortunately, I wasn't yet a complete natural at my new
clipless pedal system. I instinctively tried to pull my left
foot backwards as I came to a stop in front of the family, and
by the time I had realized my mistake I was completely out of
momentum. I landed on my side right in front of the father, who
gave me a bewildered look as the three of them turned around and
started quickly walking in the other direction.

I bet that young lady wasn't expecting a complementary physics
demonstration when she came to UF for Preview...

Quoted message said:

TIA for your thoughts.

Best of luck,
Mark

--
Mark Shroyer
http://markshroyer.com/

Thanks for all the constructive feedback. It confirmed my intuition.

One last question on the learning curve. Realistically, how much
practice in a parking lot should it take?

(Assume I get the Shimano single-directional dual-sided pedals and
shoes with recessed cleats.)

I know that's a hard question to answer. We all learning at different
rates. I'm just trying to determine if it is realistic to ride to the
shop for installation and expect to ride home after "some practice",
or if I should transport the bike using my car and practice over some
time (days?). What did __you__ do?

Quoted message said:

Thanks for all the constructive feedback. It confirmed my intuition.

One last question on the learning curve. Realistically, how much
practice in a parking lot should it take?

(Assume I get the Shimano single-directional dual-sided pedals and
shoes with recessed cleats.)

I know that's a hard question to answer. We all learning at different
rates. I'm just trying to determine if it is realistic to ride to the
shop for installation and expect to ride home after "some practice",
or if I should transport the bike using my car and practice over some
time (days?). What did __you__ do?

You can probably ride them home from the bike shop unless you're
very concerned about traffic. Just be sure to constantly keep the
fact that you're using a new kind of pedal system at the back of
your mind, and make sure you've completely freed your foot from the
pedals before you stop the bicycle until it all becomes second
nature to you.

For my part, I purchased my pedals, cleats, and shoes online, so I
installed them at home and practiced with them in my apartment's
parking lot for about ten minutes before I ventured out into
traffic.

--
Mark Shroyer
http://markshroyer.com/

On Jul 7, 3:48 am, "[email hidden]" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Thanks for all the constructive feedback. It confirmed my intuition.

One last question on the learning curve. Realistically, how much
practice in a parking lot should it take?

(Assume I get the Shimano single-directional dual-sided pedals and
shoes with recessed cleats.)

I know that's a hard question to answer. We all learning at different
rates. I'm just trying to determine if it is realistic to ride to the
shop for installation and expect to ride home after "some practice",
or if I should transport the bike using my car and practice over some
time (days?). What did __you__ do?

if you've riden for such a long time without clipless pedals, I will
suggest that you continue to do so. you can seriously damage your
knees if they are not setup right, and at an older age your joints
might not be able to recover from even minimal damage. Another thing
is that you will fall wearing clipless pedals; again as you age your
bones become more brittle and a small fall could seriously impare the
quality of life you now enjoy. They were still using toe clips in the
tour in the 90s ( robert millar was one of the last I believe). there
is not much clipless could add to your cycling experience and the
cost could be more than you bargained for.

Quoted message said:

if you've riden for such a long time without clipless pedals, I will
suggest that you continue to do so. you can seriously damage
your knees if they are not setup right

Yes, that is one of my concerns. That is why I would rely on a bike
shop to do the set-up. Of course, if I am not confident of their
work, that will be another story altogether. Nonetheless, I am indeed
concerned about possible knee problems. I will be very vigilant and
sensitive about that.

Quoted message said:

there is not much clipless could add to your cycling experience

I wear my toe clips somewhat lose so that my foot can slip in and out
easily. Because of that, I believe I am losing a lot of power,
especially on hills. Of course, a large part of it could be technique
and just plain weak "small quads". But I "need to" try clipless to
see if they improve things, if only to rule that out. For me, it is
not that big an investment. I can always switch back to toe clips if
I have too many problems with clipless. Perhaps another reason to go
with the common Shimano configuration: I could probably find a
secondary market, if I decide to abandon them. (But I really hope I
like them.)

On Jul 6, 10:57 pm, "[email hidden]" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I have been cycling with toe clips since before some of you were
born ;-). I am not what __you__ would consider to be a "serious"
cyclist. But I do enjoy it when I can.

Now I am considering going clipless. I have a lot of questions. I
hope I don't start any "wars". I am looking for practical answers
based on experience.

BTW, I am interested in recessed cleats -- the so-called MTB style --
even though I do very little biking on trails -- almost none. Also, I
have no concern about the weight of the cleat-pedal system. I am not
good enough for it to make a difference.

1. Shimano v. Speedplay. Speedplay makes a good case for "free
float". But is it really that critical? Generally, I am inclined to
go with the overwhelming market leader, when there is one, for a
variety of reasons. Can I really go wrong with Shimano?

2. Single-sided v. dual-sided pedals. On the one hand, the rationale
behind DS pedals makes good sense to me: easier to engage if you do
not have to worry about which side of the pedal you're on. On the
other hand, I am used to SS insofar as pedals with toe clips are
"single-sided"; I am used to it, and I never need to look down. On
the "third" hand, I am concerned about the time it takes to engage the
cleat already; DS might give me added confidence. On the "fourth"
hand, I cannot image riding a narrow trail or similar situations
without having the option of not "locking" in. It has happened to me
on rare occassion.

3. Single-directional v. multi-directional. Initially, I thought MD
might be helpful in getting started with clipless. But I do try to
lift in my stroke, especially on hills and starts. I am worried about
disengaging too easily. I know that the release can be tightened; but
I worry that that will make it hard while I'm learning. I know I will
go to SD eventually. Should I just start that way? That is my
inclination.

4. How to learn? Does everyone fall in the beginning? Originally, I
thought I would cycle to the shop to get the clipless pedals
installed, do some practice {en/dis}gaging for a little at the shop,
then "practice" on my ride home. Now I wonder if that's a bad idea.
I will be riding in traffic, with some stops on uphills. FYI, I am a
slow learner, to some extent. I fumble a lot in the beginning; then I
seem to have an epiphany and "voila!", you'd think I'm an expert.

TIA for your thoughts.

Here's another vote for dual-sided Shimano SPDs. I first tried these
over 15 years ago after years of 'clips and straps' and two other
clipless systems and I still see no reason to change. Good stuff.

On Jul 6, 10:57 pm, "[email hidden]" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I have been cycling with toe clips since before some of you were
born ;-). I am not what __you__ would consider to be a "serious"
cyclist. But I do enjoy it when I can.

Now I am considering going clipless. I have a lot of questions. I
hope I don't start any "wars". I am looking for practical answers
based on experience.

BTW, I am interested in recessed cleats -- the so-called MTB style --
even though I do very little biking on trails -- almost none. Also, I
have no concern about the weight of the cleat-pedal system. I am not
good enough for it to make a difference.

Good. Get some nice walkable shoes. Whatever brand fits you. I'm a
Lake and Diadora footed guy, you might have Shimano shapes at the ends
of your ankles. Who knows, try a lot of shoes. If you like slot
cleats, stick with 'em--NOS shoes show up all the time, and
traditional shoes with clips and straps are readily available.

Quoted message said:

1. Shimano v. Speedplay. Speedplay makes a good case for "free
float". But is it really that critical? Generally, I am inclined to
go with the overwhelming market leader, when there is one, for a
variety of reasons. Can I really go wrong with Shimano?

Speedplay is good, though around here the recent trend of Speedplay on
the bike path is more fashion than anything else. Fat guys on carbon
bikes are scared to be seen in sensible shoes and spds.

Spd is good, it's cheap, and if you hate it--not too much money lost.
I like the Nashbar standard atb pedal, which is $30 right now, and
sold under various names such as the original, Wellgo, and also
Ritchey. It's fully compatible with Shimano cleats. It's cheap enough
so you can put it on all your bikes. Or get Shimano if that's what
your shop has--the basic spd pedal is time proven. BTW, don't get the
cheaper of the Nashbar branded pedals, it's incompatible with
everything else.

The float might feel weird at first, but you'll *probably* get used to
it. I miss the positive feel of slot cleats sometimes.

Quoted message said:

2. Single-sided v. dual-sided pedals.

All practical pedals for recessed cleats are multi-sided.

Quoted message said:

3. Single-directional v. multi-directional. I

Start with the de-facto standard, normal spd cleats. They'll come with
the pedals. Hate 'em? Work from there.

Quoted message said:

4. How to learn?

Set the tension to fairly loose, go ride. Feel your head swell. No
problemo. Go for a ride the next day, and tip over at a light. That's
about it.

Quoted message said:

I have been cycling with toe clips since before some of you were
born ;-). I am not what __you__ would consider to be a "serious"
cyclist. But I do enjoy it when I can.

Now I am considering going clipless. I have a lot of questions. I
hope I don't start any "wars". I am looking for practical answers
based on experience.

BTW, I am interested in recessed cleats -- the so-called MTB style --
even though I do very little biking on trails -- almost none. Also, I
have no concern about the weight of the cleat-pedal system. I am not
good enough for it to make a difference.

1. Shimano v. Speedplay. Speedplay makes a good case for "free
float". But is it really that critical? Generally, I am inclined to
go with the overwhelming market leader, when there is one, for a
variety of reasons. Can I really go wrong with Shimano?

2. Single-sided v. dual-sided pedals. On the one hand, the rationale
behind DS pedals makes good sense to me: easier to engage if you do
not have to worry about which side of the pedal you're on. On the
other hand, I am used to SS insofar as pedals with toe clips are
"single-sided"; I am used to it, and I never need to look down. On
the "third" hand, I am concerned about the time it takes to engage the
cleat already; DS might give me added confidence. On the "fourth"
hand, I cannot image riding a narrow trail or similar situations
without having the option of not "locking" in. It has happened to me
on rare occassion.

3. Single-directional v. multi-directional. Initially, I thought MD
might be helpful in getting started with clipless. But I do try to
lift in my stroke, especially on hills and starts. I am worried about
disengaging too easily. I know that the release can be tightened; but
I worry that that will make it hard while I'm learning. I know I will
go to SD eventually. Should I just start that way? That is my
inclination.

4. How to learn? Does everyone fall in the beginning? Originally, I
thought I would cycle to the shop to get the clipless pedals
installed, do some practice {en/dis}gaging for a little at the shop,
then "practice" on my ride home. Now I wonder if that's a bad idea.
I will be riding in traffic, with some stops on uphills. FYI, I am a
slow learner, to some extent. I fumble a lot in the beginning; then I
seem to have an epiphany and "voila!", you'd think I'm an expert.

TIA for your thoughts.

My two cents. Recessed cleats are very popular. SPD pedals are popular.
I don't have any experience with them. But they seem like they would be
okay for you and your riding. Another option that you might look at is
Crank Brother pedals. I just switched from look style cleats to them for
the recessed design. Much to say about them. They are nice. And gaining
popularity too.

Ken

"oldhickory" <> Every one may not fall in the beginning but everyone falls
sometime.

The idea to ride around in the parking lot while practicing unclipping is a
good one, but let me add this: Try this maneuver when your foot is at the 6
O'clock position. Rotate your heel away from the bike. Don't make your
first effort to unclip when you come to a stop.

Pat in TX

[email hidden] wrote:
:: Thanks for all the constructive feedback. It confirmed my intuition.
::
:: One last question on the learning curve. Realistically, how much
:: practice in a parking lot should it take?
::
:: (Assume I get the Shimano single-directional dual-sided pedals and
:: shoes with recessed cleats.)
::
:: I know that's a hard question to answer. We all learning at
:: different rates. I'm just trying to determine if it is realistic to
:: ride to the shop for installation and expect to ride home after
:: "some practice", or if I should transport the bike using my car and
:: practice over some time (days?). What did __you__ do?

Why take the chance? You should practice until you feel confident, and then
practice a bit more.

I think the reason I fell is that I felt confident with the pedals, but
didn't yet realise that I didn't quite have the habit down yet and then got
distracted by something around me - my riding partner - which took my
attention off the fact that I was clipped in. Then, as my speed came near
zero...I thought I was free, but I wasn't and my feet were still on the
pedals. At the last minute - I found I was still attached somehow, but my
speed had gone to zero. I was then on the ground.

Everytime I fell it was because I wasn't really free (even though I had
clipped out) but I was giving partial attention to something else. I put my
foot on the pedals and had re-engaged without realizing it.

I had spent time in the LBS on a trainer....practicing clipping
in/off...about an hour. Then, I got home and did several rides around the
neighborhood, observing the stop signs, etc. I was riding alone, too.
Everything was working fine.

Then, went out on my first road ride with a friend and as I rode up to where
we were to meet, with him standing there waiting, I said 'hi' and
conversation started. Well, I ended up on the ground. I repeated that
scene twice more on that ride. After that, I had it down. There is
something about pain and learning....

YMMV.

raamman (who?) said:

...
if you've riden for such a long time without clipless pedals, I will
suggest that you continue to do so. you can seriously damage your
knees if they are not setup right, and at an older age your joints
might not be able to recover from even minimal damage.

The same would be true with traditional cleats, clips and straps, since
the relatively narrow cleat also limits "float".

Quoted message said:

Another thing
is that you will fall wearing clipless pedals; again as you age your
bones become more brittle and a small fall could seriously impare the
quality of life you now enjoy. They were still using toe clips in the
tour in the 90s ( robert millar was one of the last I believe). there
is not much clipless could add to your cycling experience and the
cost could be more than you bargained for.

I have had a lot more falls due to not being able to get my foot out of
clips and straps on time, while I can only recall falling once due to
having a foot clipped in while using SPD's (and that was from leaning
slightly to the clipped in side while sitting still).

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Roger Zoul said:

[email hidden] wrote:
:: Thanks for all the constructive feedback. It confirmed my intuition.
::
:: One last question on the learning curve. Realistically, how much
:: practice in a parking lot should it take?
::
:: (Assume I get the Shimano single-directional dual-sided pedals and
:: shoes with recessed cleats.)
::
:: I know that's a hard question to answer. We all learning at
:: different rates. I'm just trying to determine if it is realistic to
:: ride to the shop for installation and expect to ride home after
:: "some practice", or if I should transport the bike using my car and
:: practice over some time (days?). What did __you__ do?

Why take the chance? You should practice until you feel confident, and then
practice a bit more.

I think the reason I fell is that I felt confident with the pedals, but
didn't yet realise that I didn't quite have the habit down yet and then got
distracted by something around me - my riding partner - which took my
attention off the fact that I was clipped in. Then, as my speed came near
zero...I thought I was free, but I wasn't and my feet were still on the
pedals. At the last minute - I found I was still attached somehow, but my
speed had gone to zero. I was then on the ground.

Everytime I fell it was because I wasn't really free (even though I had
clipped out) but I was giving partial attention to something else. I put my
foot on the pedals and had re-engaged without realizing it.

I had spent time in the LBS on a trainer....practicing clipping
in/off...about an hour. Then, I got home and did several rides around the
neighborhood, observing the stop signs, etc. I was riding alone, too.
Everything was working fine.

Then, went out on my first road ride with a friend and as I rode up to where
we were to meet, with him standing there waiting, I said 'hi' and
conversation started. Well, I ended up on the ground. I repeated that
scene twice more on that ride. After that, I had it down. There is
something about pain and learning....

YMMV.

My biggest struggle with clipless pedals has been remembering NOT to
unclip my feet when coming to a stop on my trike.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

landotter who? said:

...
Spd is good, it's cheap, and if you hate it--not too much money lost.
I like the Nashbar standard atb pedal, which is $30 right now, and
sold under various names such as the original, Wellgo, and also
Ritchey. It's fully compatible with Shimano cleats. It's cheap enough
so you can put it on all your bikes. Or get Shimano if that's what
your shop has--the basic spd pedal is time proven. BTW, don't get the
cheaper of the Nashbar branded pedals, it's incompatible with
everything else....

I have some bad experiences test riding bicycles with supposedly SPD
compatible pedals and my own Shimano SH-55 cleats, where it was a real
struggle to unclip. Stick to pedals and cleats from a single
manufacturer or test (where possible) before purchase for compatibility.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

On Jul 7, 6:02 am, "[email hidden]" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

if you've riden for such a long time without clipless pedals, I will
suggest that you continue to do so. you can seriously damage
your knees if they are not setup right

Yes, that is one of my concerns. That is why I would rely on a bike
shop to do the set-up. Of course, if I am not confident of their
work, that will be another story altogether. Nonetheless, I am indeed
concerned about possible knee problems. I will be very vigilant and
sensitive about that.

Quoted message said:

there is not much clipless could add to your cycling experience

I wear my toe clips somewhat lose so that my foot can slip in and out
easily. Because of that, I believe I am losing a lot of power,
especially on hills. Of course, a large part of it could be technique
and just plain weak "small quads". But I "need to" try clipless to
see if they improve things, if only to rule that out. For me, it is
not that big an investment. I can always switch back to toe clips if
I have too many problems with clipless. Perhaps another reason to go
with the common Shimano configuration: I could probably find a
secondary market, if I decide to abandon them. (But I really hope I
like them.)

well then, I will suggest ritchey mountain bike pedals; I have used
them for the past 10 yrs plus; I like them because the large platform
means you don't have to clip in to pedal over ice- not that I expect
you to try that, but that is the reason why I use them- and you can
use them as regular pedals if your cleats aren't set up right and
still need to pedal more without having to clip in- also the double-
sided spd allows you to use regular mountain bike shoes so if you ever
have to walk, say, go into a convience shop you are not slipping and
sliding and clacking all over the floor. the spd design means your
cleats last a long time, and you have a bit of float and can ride with
them loose.so they are fairly easy to clip out of if you need too. the
simple design means no maintence. the v4 pro version is small, so
stick with the regular ritchey.
you should make a point of cliping out and making sure your foot is
free when rolling up to a stop. practice your trackstands.

Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman said:

landotter who? said:

...
Spd is good, it's cheap, and if you hate it--not too much money lost.
I like the Nashbar standard atb pedal, which is $30 right now, and
sold under various names such as the original, Wellgo, and also
Ritchey. It's fully compatible with Shimano cleats. It's cheap enough
so you can put it on all your bikes. Or get Shimano if that's what
your shop has--the basic spd pedal is time proven. BTW, don't get the
cheaper of the Nashbar branded pedals, it's incompatible with
everything else....

I have some bad experiences test riding bicycles with supposedly SPD
compatible pedals and my own Shimano SH-55 cleats, where it was a real
struggle to unclip. Stick to pedals and cleats from a single
manufacturer or test (where possible) before purchase for compatibility.

Cleats come with pedals--duh. These are fully spd compatible.