A quick hello

[robz400]

Evening all...

Love the site, loads of useful info

I've just started a new job 7 miles from home so thought i'd try cycling. Bought myself a road bike and f**k me i'm loving it!

Did monday to friday plus a few other trips so have done 90 miles this week!

thought i'd introduce myself as i fell off at 0.1mph trying to get my foot out of the strap today on the way to work and felt instanly initiated

the shame was nearly as bad as doing a similar thing 2 yrs ago on my motorbike in guildford high street!!

would clipless pedals be easier to escape from?????????

 

[Scoosh]

robz400 and

would clipless pedals be easier to escape from?????????

The pedal .... or the shame Not much in it either way !

Seriously though, I found going from no clips to toeclips was a huge improvement. Going from clips to clipless was a similar huge improvement. If you can remember to drop a clutch when you are stopping a car/ motorbike, you will be able to unclip when stopping on a bike. No Problem.




And you WILL have "clipless moments"

 

[robz400]

I thought as much! think i'll be investing in a pair of them

next step is averaging 20mph to work

 

[HJ]

Hi robz400,

Watch out it this cycling stuff become very addictive...

 

[4F]

next step is averaging 20mph to work

Welcome robz400 to the best cycling forum around

I have been trying to get to that magic mark for 10 years now on my commute and the best I have got is 19.7 ,ruddy cars keep getting in the way

 

[Danny]

Welcome.

I have had clipless pedals for over a year now and still don't find them as easy to get out of a old fashioned toe clips, particularly on my newer pedals. However they definitely make pedalling much more efficient.

Be warned though, everyone ends up having a "clipless moment" usually when you least expect it. So you'll still end up on your arse sooner or later

 

[Oddjob62]

Today was my first day clipless.... and I think i'm in love.
I have a pair of Shimano M520 SPD pedals.

 

[Keith Oates]

Well done, you've made a good choice of pedal for commuting, so now you can look forward to many happy days on the bike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[robz400]

Yep i think a pair of M520s will be bought next week. Loving this cycling stuff and feeling stronger already.

Decieded to have a relaxed ride to work today and somehow had my quickest yet! Think there's a lesson about not pushing too hard up hills or something there????

 

[Willow]

what shoes you got with the pedals.

Are the pedals easy for a girly to fit, being toying with some for a while.

 

[Oddjob62]

what shoes you got with the pedals.

Are the pedals easy for a girly to fit, being toying with some for a while.

I've got a pair of Northwave Mission MTB shoes. Very comfortable, just one point, make sure you try them on (don't just order online) I usually wear a 11, or 11.5 max (with very wide feet), these are 12 and tight fitting (not too tight though) This seems to be quite a common trend with cycling shoes

The M520 pedals are easy to fit, you may need a pedal wrench (or you may have a spanner that's narrow enough) to get the old ones off, then just grease the thread on the new ones and screw them on. I would advise you to adjust the pedals to the loosest possible setting (easier to release the cleat) when first starting (this is done with a small allen key)

End of first clipless week: Cycling is much more fun now, 1 clipless moment , but it's worth it.

 

[Scoosh]

Are the pedals easy for a girly to fit, being toying with some for a while.

Yes, just remember that the left pedal has a left hand thread, which, should you not have come across this before, means that you turn it anti-clockwise to tighten it ... and clockwise to back it off.







As long as you don't have a digital watch !

 

[punkypossum]

Depends on how easy the old ones are to get off!!!! Mine were a challenge even for a rather well muscled bloke!!!

 

[alecstilleyedye]

you can also use an allen key from the back, if the pedal has that option. a word of warning though, put the chain on the biggest chainring to avoid impaling your palm on it…