Cleats getting binned, back to flats!

[Brandane]

I only started using cleats last November and to be honest I was never 100% convinced that they were right for me. I didn't like having my foot welded to one specific position on the pedal no matter whether I was climbing, coasting, spinning or grinding. To me, not being an expert on these matters, I have always had a slightly different foot position depending on the task in hand!

I began to get slight cramps in my feet despite trying different cleat positions. Then I had trouble with my left knee which may or may not have been related to saddle height and/or cleat positioning.

The final nail in the coffin for my cleats was a few days ago I had my first "clipless moment" when I had an off. I reckon if I hadn't been wearing cleats I would have been able to regain my balance and not fallen, but as it was I took a tumble and to cut a long story short was very lucky to avoid serious injury.

So I will happily forsake a questionable (at my level anyway) increase in pedaling efficiency for the comfort and safety of flats and normal shoes!!

Feel free to advise me that this is the wrong decision; or surely there are others out there who agree? I just think that at my level, as a casual cyclist who does it for recreation and hopefully an increase in fitness, they are a bit OTT?

PS... I did persevere with them for 9 months/2200 miles.

 

[iAmiAdam]

Bad to hear, my toe clips are indeed helping me, and I find clipless is a common thing among cyclists of any capability. I tried cycling without my toe clips the other day, and it felt totally unsafe.

I'll take the equipment you have spare off your hands if you're going to bin it

 

[ianrauk]

If you don't get on with them then don't use them. Go with what ever you feel comfortable with.
I have a friends who felt the same as you. He tried using cleats but couldn't get on with them and went back to flats.
And if memory serves me correct, MacB from this very parish feels the same.

 

[HLaB]

Sorry to hear it isnt working out for you Brandane, I personally would persevere making sure your cleats are set up right but its your choice. To me the efficiency thing doesn't matter much but I actually find clipless safer; I feel more connected to the bike and can handle it better and my foot doesn't slip off in the wet and the cranks do a 180 ouch; my shins would testify to not liking the old flat pedals.

 

[StuAff]

MacB is indeed dubious about the merits of SPDs, he'd tried them, gone back to flats, tried them again I think..
As Ian says- if you don't feel comfortable going clipless, don't. That said, the problems you experienced with cramps etc would probably be sorted out by a bike fit and/or getting your cleat position sorted out (as HLaB has noted whilst I was first typing this!). When I first got SPDs, I did have problems clipping in and out (though no moments, fortunately)- my DIY cleat positioning was a bit out, and a visit to my LBS sorted that out. If you stick with flats, a bike fit's still a good idea. The one time I've had a knee twinge, it was down to saddle height.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

It really doesn't matter and is down to what ever suits you. I have clipless on my race bikes and flats on the singlespeed and MTB and that's the set up that suits me according to the riding style and the bike in question. As ianrauk says MacB went back to 'flats' but then again he likes butterfly bars so is obviously 'different'.

Stick to what you like brandane, it's your choice, all riders are not the same.

 

[snorri]

So I will happily forsake a questionable (at my level anyway) increase in pedaling efficiency for the comfort and safety of flats and normal shoes!!
Feel free to advise me that this is the wrong decision; or surely there are others out there who agree? I just think that at my level, as a casual cyclist who does it for recreation and hopefully an increase in fitness, they are a bit OTT?

You are not alone Brandane
I have never tried cleats, just have not been sufficiently convinced to make the change. I agree with you regarding the ability to move your feet around on the pedals, and the use of normal shoes.
Just do your own thing and enjoy it.

 

[jpembroke]

suffered terrible knee pain when I got my first road bike. It was a case of lowering the saddle height by a few mms and setting the cleats so my toes didn't point inwards (that's how they wanted to point but caused IT band to flare up). Since I got the setup right I've had no recurrence, and that's 10 years now.

 

[GlasgowGaryH]

I given up using clipless pedals and gone back to using platform pedals. Used them for sometime now and once foot is planted on pedal it seems to hold very well and never slips. Ok they might weigh a bit more but I Dont have to remember to unclip either in an emergency or when coming to a stop.

 

[PK99]

I only started using cleats last November

Snip

PS... I did persevere with them for 9 months/2200 miles.

did you fit them yourself?
Did you have a bike fit at the same time?

I was sceptical before switching to SPD's but would now never go back- but i did have them properly fitted by my LBS to ensure cleat positioning matched up with my natural foot angles

 

[HJ]

Clipless isn't compulsory and it isn't for everyone. I use Shimano A530 pedals so that I have a choice of clipless or flat, and after having a bad clipless moment last year (cracked two ribs) I have cleated in less and less. I wouldn't put down any one who has tried riding clipless and decided that it not for them...

 

[kewb]

i switch between platforms and spd`s and both have seperate uses i had spd`s on mtb but off track they were an accident waiting to happen 

and on rough tracks they werent to hot either as i had to think whether to go off road or not ,thats the thing with clipless pedals you always need to think a step ahead and accidents have a nasty habbit  of suprising you 

i  agree with you op spd`s and other clipless are slightly dangerous but the advantages , for me for now , outweigh the dis advantages .




ps one thing i do like about spd is you dont get pedals whacking your shins , not nice with mtb platforms that are metal with teeth like a bear trap .

 

[scott s10]

was the cleat below the ball of your foot???

 

[sarahpink]

as everyone else has said go with whatever you are comfortable with. I have recently been an convert to spds and they have been great couldn't be without them. they did take me a whil to get used but now find un clipping as natural as braking.

 

[Muddyfox]

I think after 2200 miles you have given it a good shot and if you dont get on with them then use whatever suits and enjoy your cycling

I've got the dual sided pedals on my tourer but i do clip in 99% of the time but i have'nt been brave enough to put SPD's on my Moutain Bike

Simon