Do I buy clips

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

Quoted message said:

I've recently started to commute to work - journey around 14 miles and

I've

Quoted message said:

observed that some riders have shoes that clip in.

Admittedly I'm not the fastest rider but I've been told by a fellow

commuter

Quoted message said:

that they are worth getting - any advice?

If so, can anyone recommend which combination of pedals and shoes to buy upto a maximum of £60.

I've always just used my work shoes to commute in, but I would certainly not be without my toeclips.
My commuting bike had clips fitted as standard, but they are only a tenner or so for a pair of clips
that screw onto the pedals, and they are worth that money for the safety aspect alone - less risk of
slipping off the pedals.

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

Quoted message said:

All, I've recently started to commute to work - journey around 14 miles and

I've

Quoted message said:

observed that some riders have shoes that clip in.

Admittedly I'm not the fastest rider but I've been told by a fellow

commuter

Quoted message said:

that they are worth getting - any advice?

I got some recently and they do allow you to pedal a little more efficiently - worthwhile if you're
doing 28 miles a day. As they let you pull the pedal back and up you'll be using muscles that aren't
used to it, so you won't see an immediate benefit. Make sure you practice unclipping, and ensure
they're adjusted loose rather than tight initially. Most people fall over or nearly do so after
changing over. I haven't done so yet, but I've had a few close shaves.

Quoted message said:

If so, can anyone recommend which combination of pedals and shoes to buy upto a maximum of £60.

I got my cheapo combination from cyclexpress.co.ukcyclexpress.co.ukOpen ↗ : Shimano M020 shoes and PDM515
pedals. You do need to try the shoes on, though, before you buy. I normally take size 42, but I
needed size 43 M020s, as 42s were too tight. Maybe they'll let you order 2 or 3 pairs and let you
send the ones that don't fit back.

Quoted message said:

Any help is appreciated.

Let us know how you get on.

Mark

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

Quoted message said:

All, I've recently started to commute to work - journey around 14 miles and

I've

Quoted message said:

observed that some riders have shoes that clip in.

Admittedly I'm not the fastest rider but I've been told by a fellow

commuter

Quoted message said:

that they are worth getting - any advice?

If so, can anyone recommend which combination of pedals and shoes to buy upto a maximum of £60.

Any help is appreciated.

I presume you mean SPD's (pronounced spuds) ...

Not sure on prices, but take a look around www.wiggle.co.uk for an idea on price.

My bike has some bigger SPD pedals (similar to
wiggle.co.ukv2 product detail.aspOpen ↗). This means I can still hop on the
bike without having to wear the SPD shoes as the frame is a decent size. Shoes is a tough one, I'd
only recommend going to a bike shop and trying a few pairs. These shoes will be on your feet for a
while, and different makes have different build styles. Getting ill fitting shoes would be
disastrous!

Have you tried out these style pedals? They improve your cycle flow, but some people find them a
big step up from normal pedals. It's not unknown to slowly tip over into a sprawling heap at
traffic lights!

Maybe try putting some cages onto your existing pedals for a while, as these too will make some
difference ....

Nick

Andrew Johnson said:

I've recently started to commute to work - journey around 14 miles and I've observed that some
riders have shoes that clip in.

Admittedly I'm not the fastest rider but I've been told by a fellow commuter that they are worth
getting - any advice?

I use Shimano M-324 pedals which have a clipless binding on one side and a regualr metal cage on the
other which allows them to be used with regualr shoes, and Shimano MO20 cycling shoes which are
shimano's "entry level" offering. If I recall correctly both the pedals and the shoes were in the
30-40 pounsd range.

As an all-weather commuter I see the biggest advantage of using clipless pedals and shoes being the
solid attachment to the pedal when riding - you don't have the problem of your feet slipping off wet
pedals as you do with flat pedals or traditional clips.

--
Mike Quin <[email hidden]> :: Do you want to save before you quit? ::

MarkK said:

I got my cheapo combination from cyclexpress.co.ukcyclexpress.co.ukOpen ↗ : Shimano M020 shoes and PDM515
pedals. You do need to try the shoes on, though, before you buy. I normally take size 42, but I
needed size 43 M020s, as 42s were too tight. Maybe they'll let you order 2 or 3 pairs and let you
send the ones that don't fit back.

I can heartily recommend cyclexpress as I just bought a pair of PDM515s and a pair of Shimano MO37s
from them. Of course, not knowing that Shimano have a strange sense of shoe sizes, I got the wrong
size. I posted them back to cyclexpress on Friday afternoon, and received the replacements by
courier on Tuesday morning.

If buying Shimano shoes, get a size larger than you think you will need.

--
Giles Paterson

[to reply, replace nospam with my first name]

Andrew Johnson said:

All, I've recently started to commute to work - journey around 14 miles and I've observed that
some riders have shoes that clip in.

Admittedly I'm not the fastest rider but I've been told by a fellow commuter that they are worth
getting - any advice?

If so, can anyone recommend which combination of pedals and shoes to buy upto a maximum of £60.

Any help is appreciated.

Andy

I'm definitely not a fast rider, currently trying to move from veryfatblokeonabike to merely
fatblokeonabike. I went to SPD pedals after trying them while cycling abroad.

I found it's much easier on my knees. I really wouldn't want to be without them now.

I think I paid a little more than £60 for my shoes and pedals while in the USA, but not a
huge amount.

Pete

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

Quoted message said:

All, I've recently started to commute to work - journey around 14 miles and

I've

Quoted message said:

observed that some riders have shoes that clip in.

Admittedly I'm not the fastest rider but I've been told by a fellow

commuter

Quoted message said:

that they are worth getting - any advice?

If so, can anyone recommend which combination of pedals and shoes to buy upto a maximum of £60.

Any help is appreciated.

Andy

Hi Andy,

I bought Shimano M545's about a month ago and, so far, absolutely love them! I've embarrassed myself
a couple of times falling off when I've come to a stop, but now, I love 'em.

chainreactioncycles.comviewproduct.aspOpen ↗

I bought the 545's because you can use them with regular shoes as well as SPDs, although you
*really* notice how much extra effort it takes when you're not clipped in :-)

Thomas.

Giles Paterson said:

If buying Shimano shoes, get a size larger than you think you will need.

Agreed, Giles.

Shimano's shoes are quite narrow for their size. Normally I take size 10 shoes but had to buy size
11 for cycling. This results in my cycling shoes (M036, IIRC) being a little too long for me -
plenty of room for toe-growth! However, I do prefer them being too long but OK in the width. They
fit snugly without being over-tight. M036 shoes are of the type where you are able to walk normally
without having to waddle.

James

--
homepage.ntlworld.comLarrau.jpgOpen ↗