Entering Mtb clipless pedals

Sir Ridesalot said:

Is there a special technique to clipping into an Mtb clipless pedal?

Good aim!

Quoted message said:

Are more expensive pedals easier to clip into?

Not necessarily. It's usually a personal preference.

Quoted message said:

Or is it simply a matter of practice, practice and more practice?

Yup. It's a muscle memory thing. I ride such Wellgos. They're also sold
as "Nashbar atb pedals" and under the Ritchey brand. I think they're
one of the best values in cycling. I ride mine super tight with road
shoes and have no problem clicking in. It's just a matter of knowing
where your food should be and mashing. It takes some time for your foot
to remember this. The occasions when I ride with roadies that have Look
type or spd-r road pedals, it seems I usually have the least trouble
clacking in. I doubt it's the pedals, just practice.

Do check that you don't have bits of shoe tread getting in the way,
that's common with non-road shoes. If you do, just trim it away with a
razor knife.

Sir Ridesalot said:

Hi there.

Thanks to some of the links I have seen here and at rec.bicycles.tech I
have been watching some videos of cyclo-cross racing.

I notice that when the riders re-mount they seem to naturally clip in.
I have a pair of Mtb clipless pedals on my cyclo-cross tyre equipped
Miele Road bike because I ride a lot of trails and dirt and gravel
surfaced roads with it. I like the ease of walking in the Louis Garneau
mtb shoes I have.

However I find it much harder to clip into these pedals than I do with
my Wellgo WAM-R1, Shimano Exage or Look clipless road pedals which I
can clip into instinctively. With the mtb clipless pedal I usually have
to shift my foot a fair bit feeling for that click as I try to clip
into my Mtb pedals. That is not what I want. These are Wellgo mtb
pedals but I don not know what model they are. I know they were not
expensive at about $50 Cdn but they were recommended by the shop as
being easy to clip into.

Is there a special technique to clipping into an Mtb clipless pedal?

Are more expensive pedals easier to clip into?

Or is it simply a matter of practice, practice and more practice?

Your relevant advice is greatly appreciated.

BTW my funds are severely limited so high end components are out of the
question.

Peter

I have used Shimano 540 and 520 pedals. Getting into them could not be
easier. Just slap your foot down and they are in. The 520's are pretty
inexpensive and work miles better than some (cheapo) Wellgo's I've
tried.

If you are having problems, see if the sole of the shoe is interfering
somehow.

Joseph

Quoted message said:

I have used Shimano 540 and 520 pedals. Getting into them could not be
easier. Just slap your foot down and they are in. The 520's are pretty
inexpensive and work miles better than some (cheapo) Wellgo's I've
tried.

FWIW, these are the Wellgo pedal that most everybody recommends as
being the best bang/buck model:

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/olderpedals/product_22443.shtml

The cheaper ones, that aren't compatible with the Shimano cleat have
indeed been reported to be [censored].

landotter said:

Sir Ridesalot said:

Or is it simply a matter of practice, practice and more practice?

Do check that you don't have bits of shoe tread getting in the way,
that's common with non-road shoes. If you do, just trim it away with a
razor knife.

This can definitely be a problem. My Lake MX101 shoes are *much* easier
to clip in than my Exustar cold weather cycling shoes. With practice,
I've gotten better with them, but the Lakes are definitely easier.

--
Dane Buson - [email hidden]
"Roses are red, violets are blue,
I'm a schitzophrenic, and so am I."

landotter said:

Quoted message said:

I have used Shimano 540 and 520 pedals. Getting into them could not be
easier. Just slap your foot down and they are in. The 520's are pretty
inexpensive and work miles better than some (cheapo) Wellgo's I've
tried.

FWIW, these are the Wellgo pedal that most everybody recommends as
being the best bang/buck model:

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/olderpedals/product_22443.shtml

The cheaper ones, that aren't compatible with the Shimano cleat have
indeed been reported to be [censored].

Hi there.

I think they are Shimano type cleats. They are the same model (98A) as
the ones at Harris Cyclery shown at this link:

http://harriscyclery.net/page.cfm?PageID=49&action=details&sku=PD4035

Are these the better quality ones?

Thanks again.

Peter

Sir Ridesalot said:

landotter said:

Quoted message said:

I have used Shimano 540 and 520 pedals. Getting into them could not be
easier. Just slap your foot down and they are in. The 520's are pretty
inexpensive and work miles better than some (cheapo) Wellgo's I've
tried.

FWIW, these are the Wellgo pedal that most everybody recommends as
being the best bang/buck model:

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/olderpedals/product_22443.shtml

The cheaper ones, that aren't compatible with the Shimano cleat have
indeed been reported to be [censored].

Hi there.

I think they are Shimano type cleats. They are the same model (98A) as
the ones at Harris Cyclery shown at this link:

http://harriscyclery.net/page.cfm?PageID=49&action=details&sku=PD4035

Are these the better quality ones?

Those are the ones on the bottom of my shoes, they're just cleats and
fit my pedals, nothing exciting there, but $22 for metal cleats?
There's some markup for ya. I'm not saying it's Harris, but somewhere
along the line...yikes!

landotter said:

Sir Ridesalot said:

landotter said:

[email hidden] wrote:

> I have used Shimano 540 and 520 pedals. Getting into them could not be
> easier. Just slap your foot down and they are in. The 520's are pretty
> inexpensive and work miles better than some (cheapo) Wellgo's I've
> tried.

FWIW, these are the Wellgo pedal that most everybody recommends as
being the best bang/buck model:

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/olderpedals/product_22443.shtml

The cheaper ones, that aren't compatible with the Shimano cleat have
indeed been reported to be [censored].

Hi there.

I think they are Shimano type cleats. They are the same model (98A) as
the ones at Harris Cyclery shown at this link:

http://harriscyclery.net/page.cfm?PageID=49&action=details&sku=PD4035

Are these the better quality ones?

Those are the ones on the bottom of my shoes, they're just cleats and
fit my pedals, nothing exciting there, but $22 for metal cleats?
There's some markup for ya. I'm not saying it's Harris, but somewhere
along the line...yikes!

Hi there.

What I was asking was are these the better Shimano type cleats that are
you used with the Wellgo pedals that are not "reported to be [censored]"?

Thanks from Peter

Sir Ridesalot said:

landotter said:

Sir Ridesalot said:

landotter wrote:
> [email hidden] wrote:
>
> > I have used Shimano 540 and 520 pedals. Getting into them could not be
> > easier. Just slap your foot down and they are in. The 520's are pretty
> > inexpensive and work miles better than some (cheapo) Wellgo's I've
> > tried.
>
>
> FWIW, these are the Wellgo pedal that most everybody recommends as
> being the best bang/buck model:
>
> http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/olderpedals/product_22443.shtml
>
> The cheaper ones, that aren't compatible with the Shimano cleat have
> indeed been reported to be [censored].

Hi there.

I think they are Shimano type cleats. They are the same model (98A) as
the ones at Harris Cyclery shown at this link:

http://harriscyclery.net/page.cfm?PageID=49&action=details&sku=PD4035

Are these the better quality ones?

Those are the ones on the bottom of my shoes, they're just cleats and
fit my pedals, nothing exciting there, but $22 for metal cleats?
There's some markup for ya. I'm not saying it's Harris, but somewhere
along the line...yikes!

Hi there.

What I was asking was are these the better Shimano type cleats that are
you used with the Wellgo pedals that are not "reported to be [censored]"?

Thanks from Peter

You're still not making sense. The cleats come with the pedal. They are
spd compatible in certain cases. If the pedals aren't up to snuff,
different cleats are rarely the solution. When making "[censored]"
accusations, I was referring to pedals, not cleats. The [censored] Wellgos
are [censored], not because they're not fully spd-compatible, but because of
build quality and such.

I suggest you stop this nonsense and just go outside and practice
clipping in and out.

landotter said:

Sir Ridesalot said:

landotter said:

Sir Ridesalot wrote:
> landotter wrote:

Snipped:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> >
> > FWIW, these are the Wellgo pedal that most everybody recommends as
> > being the best bang/buck model:
> >
> > http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/olderpedals/product_22443.shtml
> >
> > The cheaper ones, that aren't compatible with the Shimano cleat have
> > indeed been reported to be [censored].
>
> Hi there.
>
> I think they are Shimano type cleats. They are the same model (98A) as
> the ones at Harris Cyclery shown at this link:
>
> http://harriscyclery.net/page.cfm?PageID=49&action=details&sku=PD4035
>
> Are these the better quality ones?

Snipped:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hi there.

What I was asking was are these the better Shimano type cleats that are
you used with the Wellgo pedals that are not "reported to be [censored]"?

Thanks from Peter

You're still not making sense. The cleats come with the pedal. They are
spd compatible in certain cases. If the pedals aren't up to snuff,
different cleats are rarely the solution. When making "[censored]"
accusations, I was referring to pedals, not cleats. The [censored] Wellgos
are [censored], not because they're not fully spd-compatible, but because of
build quality and such.

I suggest you stop this nonsense and just go outside and practice
clipping in and out.

Sorry about that.

But sheesh not every one is an expert on bicycle components or
terminology. Nor does every one have unlimited financial resources they
can dispose of by buying first one part ie pedals and then another pair
because the first were not suitable. That is why I asked my questions
here. I did not realize that it was nonsense to try and learn some
thing new about some thing with out having to pay a lot of money
experimenting.

You said that the Wellgo pedals that were not Shimano cleat compatable
were [censored]. I was trying to ascertain whether the cleats I had which
indeed did come with the pedals were from the crappy pedals. If they
are then it stands to reason that the pedals I have are the crappy ones
and no modifications will make them better.

Thanks for your input any way.

BTW I am up in an area of Canada where right now the weather is not
conducive to the outdoor testing of these pedals.

I think I'll just use the old pedals with toe-clips I had on the bike
last year before I tried the Mtb cliples ones. At least with those I
did not have to fiddle around trying to get my fot in them. I'll try
the mtb pedals again in the spring when the weather is beter suited to
not clipping in and having the foot slip.

Peter

Peter

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

Quoted message said:

landotter said:

Sir Ridesalot said:

landotter wrote:
> Sir Ridesalot wrote:
> > landotter wrote:

Snipped:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> > >
> > > FWIW, these are the Wellgo pedal that most everybody recommends
> > > as
> > > being the best bang/buck model:
> > >
> > > http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/olderpedals/product_22443.shtml
> > >
> > > The cheaper ones, that aren't compatible with the Shimano cleat
> > > have
> > > indeed been reported to be [censored].
> >
> > Hi there.
> >
> > I think they are Shimano type cleats. They are the same model (98A)
> > as
> > the ones at Harris Cyclery shown at this link:
> >
> > http://harriscyclery.net/page.cfm?PageID=49&action=details&sku=PD4035
> >
> > Are these the better quality ones?

Snipped:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hi there.

What I was asking was are these the better Shimano type cleats that are
you used with the Wellgo pedals that are not "reported to be [censored]"?

Thanks from Peter

You're still not making sense. The cleats come with the pedal. They are
spd compatible in certain cases. If the pedals aren't up to snuff,
different cleats are rarely the solution. When making "[censored]"
accusations, I was referring to pedals, not cleats. The [censored] Wellgos
are [censored], not because they're not fully spd-compatible, but because of
build quality and such.

I suggest you stop this nonsense and just go outside and practice
clipping in and out.

Sorry about that.

But sheesh not every one is an expert on bicycle components or
terminology. Nor does every one have unlimited financial resources they
can dispose of by buying first one part ie pedals and then another pair
because the first were not suitable. That is why I asked my questions
here. I did not realize that it was nonsense to try and learn some
thing new about some thing with out having to pay a lot of money
experimenting.

You said that the Wellgo pedals that were not Shimano cleat compatable
were [censored]. I was trying to ascertain whether the cleats I had which
indeed did come with the pedals were from the crappy pedals. If they
are then it stands to reason that the pedals I have are the crappy ones
and no modifications will make them better.

Thanks for your input any way.

BTW I am up in an area of Canada where right now the weather is not
conducive to the outdoor testing of these pedals.

I think I'll just use the old pedals with toe-clips I had on the bike
last year before I tried the Mtb cliples ones. At least with those I
did not have to fiddle around trying to get my fot in them. I'll try
the mtb pedals again in the spring when the weather is beter suited to
not clipping in and having the foot slip.

Peter

Peter

Well I think you got that alright Peter. Weather has to be good so you can
spend a long while outside without other dangers make it 100X harder to
learn spd's.
Your pedals should be just fine. You could ask the LBS if they had any
complaints. Chances are they will work and that's that.

SN

nash said:

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

Quoted message said:

landotter said:

Sir Ridesalot wrote:
> landotter wrote:
> > Sir Ridesalot wrote:
> > > landotter wrote:

Snipped:

Quoted message said:

> > > >
> > > > FWIW, these are the Wellgo pedal that most everybody recommends
> > > > as
> > > > being the best bang/buck model:
> > > >
> > > > http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/olderpedals/product_22443.shtml
> > > >
> > > > The cheaper ones, that aren't compatible with the Shimano cleat
> > > > have
> > > > indeed been reported to be [censored].
> > >
> > > Hi there.
> > >
> > > I think they are Shimano type cleats. They are the same model (98A)
> > > as
> > > the ones at Harris Cyclery shown at this link:
> > >
> > > http://harriscyclery.net/page.cfm?PageID=49&action=details&sku=PD4035
> > >
> > > Are these the better quality ones?

Snipped:

Quoted message said:

> Hi there.
>
> What I was asking was are these the better Shimano type cleats that are
> you used with the Wellgo pedals that are not "reported to be [censored]"?
>
> Thanks from Peter

You're still not making sense. The cleats come with the pedal. They are
spd compatible in certain cases. If the pedals aren't up to snuff,
different cleats are rarely the solution. When making "[censored]"
accusations, I was referring to pedals, not cleats. The [censored] Wellgos
are [censored], not because they're not fully spd-compatible, but because of
build quality and such.

I suggest you stop this nonsense and just go outside and practice
clipping in and out.

Sorry about that.

But sheesh not every one is an expert on bicycle components or
terminology. Nor does every one have unlimited financial resources they
can dispose of by buying first one part ie pedals and then another pair
because the first were not suitable. That is why I asked my questions
here. I did not realize that it was nonsense to try and learn some
thing new about some thing with out having to pay a lot of money
experimenting.

You said that the Wellgo pedals that were not Shimano cleat compatable
were [censored]. I was trying to ascertain whether the cleats I had which
indeed did come with the pedals were from the crappy pedals. If they
are then it stands to reason that the pedals I have are the crappy ones
and no modifications will make them better.

Thanks for your input any way.

BTW I am up in an area of Canada where right now the weather is not
conducive to the outdoor testing of these pedals.

I think I'll just use the old pedals with toe-clips I had on the bike
last year before I tried the Mtb cliples ones. At least with those I
did not have to fiddle around trying to get my fot in them. I'll try
the mtb pedals again in the spring when the weather is beter suited to
not clipping in and having the foot slip.

Peter

Peter

Well I think you got that alright Peter. Weather has to be good so you can
spend a long while outside without other dangers make it 100X harder to
learn spd's.
Your pedals should be just fine. You could ask the LBS if they had any
complaints. Chances are they will work and that's that.

SN

Thank you.

I have borrowed a wind trainer to mount the bicycle on later today.
When I do get bothe feet clipped in I'll remove my feet from the shoes
while the shoes are clipped in. Then Ill dismount and look at the
cleats to see if any of the lugs on the shoes are interfering or are
very close which could be the problem as some others here
suggested.

I tried clipping the shoe into the pedal by pushing just the shoe
itself onto the pedal but can not get it to clip in. I can with my road
shoes and road pedals. Maybe this is another indication that it is the
sole of the shoe that is interfering. That is if the pedals I have are
not the crappy ones. The shop did say they were very popular and no
problem.

The only other thing I can think of is that I am trying to use the same
technique to clip in the mtb pedals as I do with the road pedals.

I'll let you know how I make out later today after my friend delivers
the wind trainer and I try it out.

Thanks again from Peter

Quoted message said:

Sir Ridesalot said:

Hi there.

Thanks to some of the links I have seen here and at rec.bicycles.tech I
have been watching some videos of cyclo-cross racing.

I notice that when the riders re-mount they seem to naturally clip in.
I have a pair of Mtb clipless pedals on my cyclo-cross tyre equipped
Miele Road bike because I ride a lot of trails and dirt and gravel
surfaced roads with it. I like the ease of walking in the Louis Garneau
mtb shoes I have.

However I find it much harder to clip into these pedals than I do with
my Wellgo WAM-R1, Shimano Exage or Look clipless road pedals which I
can clip into instinctively. With the mtb clipless pedal I usually have
to shift my foot a fair bit feeling for that click as I try to clip
into my Mtb pedals. That is not what I want. These are Wellgo mtb
pedals but I don not know what model they are. I know they were not
expensive at about $50 Cdn but they were recommended by the shop as
being easy to clip into.

Is there a special technique to clipping into an Mtb clipless pedal?

Are more expensive pedals easier to clip into?

Or is it simply a matter of practice, practice and more practice?

Your relevant advice is greatly appreciated.

BTW my funds are severely limited so high end components are out of the
question.

Peter

I have used Shimano 540 and 520 pedals. Getting into them could not be
easier. Just slap your foot down and they are in. The 520's are pretty
inexpensive and work miles better than some (cheapo) Wellgo's I've
tried.

If you are having problems, see if the sole of the shoe is interfering
somehow.

Joseph

Hello there.

I used the wind trainer and tried clipping in. I had the same
difficulty. I unstrapped the shoes and took my feet out leaving the
shoes still attached to the pedals.

Looking at the soles of the shoes through the bottom of the pedals I
see that the lugs of the shoes are extremely close to the pedal cleats.

I am going to bevel the offending shoe lugs so my foot is directed
towards the cleat rather than the lug catching on the pedal which seems
to be the current problem.

Thank you very much for pointing this interference issue out.

Peter