Cleats - suitable for old legs?

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

Quoted message said:

I am poised to lash out on a bespoke bike - a tourer.

One of the things I am being urged to consider specifying is cleats
and quick-release pedals.

I have seen people fall off when stationary, seemingly finding it
impossible to release their foot/feet. Is this a usual problem?

No, it is not 'usual'. When learning how to get in & out of cleats, it's
normal to have a 'clipless moment' where, in my case, I found the one
advantage of having a fat 4r$3 ;-) But it's also normal to get used to the
clipping in and out motion very quickly. I didn't start using clipless
pedals until I was in my forties. My husband didn't start using them until
last year - and he's 59 next month. Now, neither of us would willingly go
back to using platform pedals.

Quoted message said:

At 65, and having a less-than-prehensile right foot and leg, is this
an exagerated fear? Does the twisting action strain the knees? Or is
it just a quick flick with the heel?

Properly positioned cleats do not strain the knees - indeed they make
cycling *easier*. Unclipping is a simple matter of a heel flick.

Quoted message said:

Or would I be better off sticking with half clips or power grips?

See my comment above of never willingly going back to ordinary pedals.

Quoted message said:

Your advice and comments will be most helpful.

--
Charles
Brompton P6R-Plus; CarryFreedom -YL, in Motspur Park
LCC; CTC.

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I am poised to lash out on a bespoke bike - a tourer.

One of the things I am being urged to consider specifying is cleats
and quick-release pedals.

I have seen people fall off when stationary, seemingly finding it
impossible to release their foot/feet. Is this a usual problem?

At 65, and having a less-than-prehensile right foot and leg, is this
an exagerated fear? Does the twisting action strain the knees? Or is
it just a quick flick with the heel?

Or would I be better off sticking with half clips or power grips?

I've got a knackered knee and I'd be wary of using a clipless pedal with
it because I probably couldn't release it reliably (at least without it
hurting) unless it wasn't very tight, in which case there's the danger
that it would release when I didn't want it to. Is there a reason you
don't use regular toeclips and straps?

Quoted message said:

I am poised to lash out on a bespoke bike - a tourer.

One of the things I am being urged to consider specifying is cleats
and quick-release pedals.

I have seen people fall off when stationary, seemingly finding it
impossible to release their foot/feet. Is this a usual problem?

At 65, and having a less-than-prehensile right foot and leg, is this
an exagerated fear? Does the twisting action strain the knees? Or is
it just a quick flick with the heel?

Or would I be better off sticking with half clips or power grips?

Your advice and comments will be most helpful.

I'LL be 75 this May and don't find any problem with cleats. When I first
used them, about 7 years ago, I forgot to take my foot out when stopping
once or twice; embarrassing but nothing worse. Got used to them quite
quickly.

--
Anthony Campbell - [email hidden]
Microsoft-free zone - Using Linux Gnu-Debian
http://www.acampbell.org.uk (blog, book reviews,
on-line books and sceptical articles)

Quoted message said:

I am poised to lash out on a bespoke bike - a tourer.

One of the things I am being urged to consider specifying is cleats
and quick-release pedals.

I have seen people fall off when stationary, seemingly finding it
impossible to release their foot/feet. Is this a usual problem?

At 65, and having a less-than-prehensile right foot and leg, is this
an exagerated fear? Does the twisting action strain the knees? Or is
it just a quick flick with the heel?

Or would I be better off sticking with half clips or power grips?

Your advice and comments will be most helpful.

Just to add my tuppenceworth to the replies above - I'm 61 and have used
Shimano SPDs for about four or five years now. Far from being a
problem, they've helped greatly, for reasons difficult to explain but
easy to feel. The twist-out action is easy once you get the tension
right for your needs and quickly becomes second nature. The thing I do
to avoid the locked-in scenario is keep the cleats and pedals clean and
lubricated.

--
Brian G
www.wetwo.co.uk

In message <[email hidden]>

Rob Morley said:

Is there a reason you
don't use regular toeclips and straps?

Stroke 7 years ago left me with poor right foot control, especially
vertically about the ankle.

Pushing a shopping trolley tells me my knees are not A1 when it comes
to twisting.

I manage quite well with half-clips; the thought of full clips seems a
bit anxious-making.

On the other hand the thought of upping my cruising caoacity is quite
attractive.

--
Charles
Brompton P6R-Plus; CarryFreedom -YL, in Motspur Park
LCC; CTC.

In message <[email hidden]>

Anthony Campbell said:

I'LL be 75 this May and don't find any problem with cleats. When I first
used them, about 7 years ago, I forgot to take my foot out when stopping
once or twice; embarrassing but nothing worse. Got used to them quite
quickly.

Thanks, Anthony.

--
Charles
Brompton P6R-Plus; CarryFreedom -YL, in Motspur Park
LCC; CTC.

In message <[email hidden]>

Brian G said:

Just to add my tuppenceworth to the replies above - I'm 61 and have used
Shimano SPDs for about four or five years now. Far from being a
problem, they've helped greatly, for reasons difficult to explain but
easy to feel. The twist-out action is easy once you get the tension
right for your needs and quickly becomes second nature. The thing I do
to avoid the locked-in scenario is keep the cleats and pedals clean and
lubricated.

Thanks, Brian.

--
Charles
Brompton P6R-Plus; CarryFreedom -YL, in Motspur Park
LCC; CTC.

In message <[email hidden]>

wafflycat' w*a*ff£y£cat*@£btco*nn£ect.com said:

I didn't start using clipless
pedals until I was in my forties. My husband didn't start using them until
last year - and he's 59 next month. Now, neither of us would willingly go
back to using platform pedals.

Thanks.

--
Charles
Brompton P6R-Plus; CarryFreedom -YL, in Motspur Park
LCC; CTC.

[email hidden] said the following on 05/02/2008 04:46:

Quoted message said:

I am poised to lash out on a bespoke bike - a tourer.

One of the things I am being urged to consider specifying is cleats
and quick-release pedals.

I have seen people fall off when stationary, seemingly finding it
impossible to release their foot/feet. Is this a usual problem?

At 65, and having a less-than-prehensile right foot and leg, is this
an exagerated fear? Does the twisting action strain the knees? Or is
it just a quick flick with the heel?

At 42, I seem to be one of the youngsters here, but I did find when I
tried one brand of clipless pedals (Time ATAC) that I simply couldn't
twist my left ankle enough to release. I had no idea until then that I
had this "problem". I've used Shimano SPDs on my tourer/commuter for
quite a while now, I've just fitted them to my MTB, and they suit me
fine. You can also easily adjust them, and get multi-release cleats
making it easier to get out (but not to pull up on the pedal!)

I've never had the full "clipless moment", but that's mainly because in
my early days I had the tension set fairly loose, and used
multi-release, so could just yank my foot out when necessary without too
much thought or delay.

As far as knee strain goes, once they're set up properly they should
make things easier on the knee because your foot can "float" on the
pedal. There is a trial and error period until you find the sweet spot.

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Paul Boyd usenet.is.worse@plusnet said:

[email hidden] said the following on 05/02/2008 04:46:

Quoted message said:

I am poised to lash out on a bespoke bike - a tourer.

Quoted message said:

One of the things I am being urged to consider specifying is cleats
and quick-release pedals.

hi Paul - just to add to what has been said already. I started with
SPDs when I was 49. It took about 2 rides to get used to them. Now I
hate riding without them - either on the road or MTB. You can slacken
off the tension when learning/acclimatising, which makes them easier
to clip/unclip. As you get used to it, just tighten up the wee screw
until you have the degree of 'locking' that suits you. If you have
one gammy leg you could have different tensions in each pedal.

I second the contributer who says 'keep them clean and lubed' - this
makes a significant difference (as with most bits of your bike)

There are two types of cleat available, at least for Shimano - can't
speak for other systems. One is easier to release than the other - I
can't remember which is which but your LBS will know immediately.
Both types work with any SPD pedal.

You can buy different types of pedal - the 'pure' SPDs type which
comprises a very small platform and pretty much requires you to clip
in, or ones with a spd contained in a bigger platform - so you can
easily ride with flats if you wish, or even pedals that have a clip on
one side and a flat surface on the other (Guess what - with the last
variety they are *never* the right way up - he he he).

Take time to get the right shoes. High performance bike shoes are
very stiff, so they are great on the bike but unpleasant to walk in
for any distance. Given you have a tourer, I assume you might like
something more versatile - you can get trainers or trail shoes with
cleats, which give a better walking feel at the expense of (a tiny
amount) of efficiency on the bike.

Finally you can vary the position of the cleat on the shoe in three
directions - fore and aft, side to side and the angle relative to the
centre-line of the shoe. Getting this right makes all the difference,
both in the ease with which you can release and comfort & avoidance of
joint-strain. Once again a decent LBS will see you set up right.

Hope I haven't scared you off - they are great and setting up isn't as
complicated as I've made it sound here!

Paul Boyd usenet.is.worse@plusnet said:

[email hidden] said the following on 05/02/2008 04:46:

Whoops - Apologies, Paul, for the previous post - think I should have
said 'Hi Charles'! (
It's an age thing 😉

[email hidden] said the following on 05/02/2008 11:58:

Quoted message said:

Whoops - Apologies, Paul, for the previous post - think I should have
said 'Hi Charles'! (
It's an age thing 😉

I was wondering :-)

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Quoted message said:

I am poised to lash out on a bespoke bike - a tourer.

One of the things I am being urged to consider specifying is cleats
and quick-release pedals.

I have seen people fall off when stationary, seemingly finding it
impossible to release their foot/feet. Is this a usual problem?

To add to the other threads which say, essentially, its a bit of practice.

A local to me rider, well into retired age, swapped from toe straps to
cleats because he couldn't get new touring shoes for straps at a sane price.
He now wonders why he didn't swap 20 years ago.

When shopping there are numerous standards/systems.

Shimano and Look (and others) do road systems with big cleats (hard to walk
in).

Shimano, various clones of Shimano (which in my experience are not 100%
compatible), Time, Frog, Crank Bros (eggbeaters), and no doubt many others
make MTB/Touring cleats which can be recessed into a shoe sole (easier to
walk around in the shoes).

If going with Shimano MTB/Touring, there are at least two primary types of
cleat action (I think there are actually four types, but might be more now)
:
- only release with a sideways push of ankle ("Single Release"😉
- will release sideways and if the heel of foot is pulled upwards ("Multiple
Release"😉.
The latter is less good if you pull upwards on pedals for additional power
(foot releases!), but offer much easier release if you feel cautious about
them. My wife uses multiple release cleats in preference to single release.

Set the angle of the cleat on the shoe with care so you don't put strain on
the knee through twisting whilst normal riding.

- Nigel

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

Quoted message said:

I am poised to lash out on a bespoke bike - a tourer.

One of the things I am being urged to consider specifying is cleats
and quick-release pedals.

I have seen people fall off when stationary, seemingly finding it
impossible to release their foot/feet. Is this a usual problem?

At 65, and having a less-than-prehensile right foot and leg, is this
an exagerated fear? Does the twisting action strain the knees? Or is
it just a quick flick with the heel?

Except for some of the racing models with high tension or the tension turned
up high, only a small amount of force is needed to exit from the pedal. It
is just a quck flick. This action soon becomes second-nature.

It's also much easier once actually out cycling in the real world - just in
case you are alarmed by the way they feel when first trying them at home or
in a shop. It may take a few atempts to find a comfortable position for the
cleats on the shoes as well.

Clipless pedals (pedals with cleats) are well liked by keen cyclists of all
ages - so I would encourage you to give 'em a go.

~PB

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

Quoted message said:

I am poised to lash out on a bespoke bike - a tourer.

One of the things I am being urged to consider specifying is cleats
and quick-release pedals.

I have seen people fall off when stationary, seemingly finding it
impossible to release their foot/feet. Is this a usual problem?

At 65, and having a less-than-prehensile right foot and leg, is this
an exagerated fear? Does the twisting action strain the knees? Or is
it just a quick flick with the heel?

Or would I be better off sticking with half clips or power grips?

Your advice and comments will be most helpful.

--
Charles
Brompton P6R-Plus; CarryFreedom -YL, in Motspur Park
LCC; CTC.

Changed to clipless in 2004 at 67.

I fell off 3 times all together -- 2 on day one while practicing and then on
day two I thought I had the hang of it.

Coasted up to some traffic lights on red and as I stopped I realised that I
had totally forgotten about unclipping. I toppled slowly sideways into the
edge of the road. A truck pulled up in the outside lane and asked if I was OK!
Not hurt -- just a heavily bruised pride since naturally there was a group of
"yoofs" there, falling about laughing at me.

I go up as fast as I could and pedalled off without comment but somewhat red
faced!

Wouldn't change back again. -- I remember that first set I had -- it made my
one year old bike feel like a totally different velo!

--
Trevor A Panther
In South Yorkshire,
England, United Kingdom.
www.tapan.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

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

Quoted message said:

I am poised to lash out on a bespoke bike - a tourer.

One of the things I am being urged to consider specifying is cleats
and quick-release pedals.

I have seen people fall off when stationary, seemingly finding it
impossible to release their foot/feet. Is this a usual problem?

At 65, and having a less-than-prehensile right foot and leg, is this
an exagerated fear? Does the twisting action strain the knees? Or is
it just a quick flick with the heel?

Or would I be better off sticking with half clips or power grips?

Your advice and comments will be most helpful.

As with the other posters, I'd definitely say to go for them. The only
reason that you've seen people struggling to get out of them is because
they've had them done up too tight. Make sure that either the shop where
you get them let you try them out while you're there, or that they make sure
that you know how to loosen/tighten them. I have known of people who got
them from what they thought were decent bike shops, but allowed them to ride
with them far too difficult to get out of.

Start them loose and you really can't go wrong.

The message <[email hidden]>
from "Just Visiting" <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

I am poised to lash out on a bespoke bike - a tourer.

One of the things I am being urged to consider specifying is cleats
and quick-release pedals.

I have seen people fall off when stationary, seemingly finding it
impossible to release their foot/feet. Is this a usual problem?

At 65, and having a less-than-prehensile right foot and leg, is this
an exagerated fear? Does the twisting action strain the knees? Or is
it just a quick flick with the heel?

Or would I be better off sticking with half clips or power grips?

Your advice and comments will be most helpful.

Early 60s succesful with spds. For several years I used pedals with one
side spd and one side normal. These were ok especially for wearing
wellies or other non cycling shoes. But it was always a faff to engage
the cleats.

I recently tried proper 2 sided spds and immediately found engaging the
cleats intuitive, ( and disengaing) and would not want to go back to the
single sided jobs.

When new, make sure the mechanism is lubricated, it makes a big difference.

--
Hbunnet : (replace "nospam" with "athome" to reply)
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

Hbunnet said:

The message <[email hidden]>
from "Just Visiting" <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

I am poised to lash out on a bespoke bike - a tourer.

One of the things I am being urged to consider specifying is cleats
and quick-release pedals.

I have seen people fall off when stationary, seemingly finding it
impossible to release their foot/feet. Is this a usual problem?

At 65, and having a less-than-prehensile right foot and leg, is this
an exagerated fear? Does the twisting action strain the knees? Or is
it just a quick flick with the heel?

Or would I be better off sticking with half clips or power grips?

Your advice and comments will be most helpful.

Early 60s succesful with spds. For several years I used pedals with one
side spd and one side normal. These were ok especially for wearing
wellies or other non cycling shoes. But it was always a faff to engage
the cleats.

I recently tried proper 2 sided spds and immediately found engaging the
cleats intuitive, ( and disengaing) and would not want to go back to the
single sided jobs.

When new, make sure the mechanism is lubricated, it makes a big difference.

If the cleat is too far forward the rubber sole of some shoes can make
disengagement problematic and, if inexperienced, you wonder what you
are doing wrong. A few mins with a Stanley knife solves this - properly
set up spds click to totally free.
Paul

--
CTC Right to Ride Rep. for Richmond upon Thames

Quoted message said:

I am poised to lash out on a bespoke bike - a tourer.

One of the things I am being urged to consider specifying is cleats
and quick-release pedals.

I have seen people fall off when stationary, seemingly finding it
impossible to release their foot/feet. Is this a usual problem?

At 65, and having a less-than-prehensile right foot and leg, is this
an exagerated fear? Does the twisting action strain the knees? Or is
it just a quick flick with the heel?

Or would I be better off sticking with half clips or power grips?

Your advice and comments will be most helpful.

I've fallen off once when I couldn't disengage. It happened not long
after I first switched to SPDs after passing a long traffic jam and
the worst injury I got was to my pride!

I have VP pedals which came with 'E-CO1' cleats which VP told me are
beginner versions and you can just rip your foot out vertically if you
need to. I've found that despite this they rarely unclip by accident
when pedalling.
They're almost the same system used by the pedals Lidl were selling
about 12 months ago for £9.99. The Lidl cleats ('E-CO1+'😉 work great
with the VP pedals but it's not quite as smooth the other way around
although they still work ok.

It is a change you have to get used to though:
I found the twisting a bit uncomfortable for a few weeks but as the
shoes and cleats were holding my otherwise wonky feet straight and
flat cycling in general has become much more comfortable.
When I fell off when coming to a stop I couldn't disengage because the
cleat hadn't engaged properly and was jammed. When I was on the floor
I had to take the shoe off my foot and wrench it off the pedal with my
hands. Adjusting the bindings properly and learning when it has/has
not engaged properly has sorted this out and I've had no more problems
since.

When I was doing some research, some websites said that any walking
on hard surfaces will wear the cleats down so they become unusable.
In reality I've found that walking from a bike park to the office/
library/shop has not worn the cleats at all significantly. The bolts
did get battered beyond recognition though but I was advised to swap
them for similar generic stainless steel ones (by a materials
engineer!) which I got from a fixings shop and the new ones have fared
much much better.

I've had mixed experiences in emergency situations: I got shoulder
barged on a cycle lane once and went onto my side and couldn't stand
up because my feet were still locked into the pedals. However in the
recent bus incident my feet came cleanly off and I certainly didn't
get a chance to put any thought into it! General, controlled
emergency braking such as when a car stops dead in front of you is not
a problem because it still takes a second or so to stop which is
enough time to get a foot out.

Unfortunately I can't give a comparison with toe straps or other types
of cleats because I've never used them but others swear by them and
people still buy them so they can't be that bad.