Clipless Pedals FAQ

[Ethan]

Finally made the move to clipless. I love it! I wasn't planning on doing it for a while, but I saw some decent cycling shoes in sports direct by chance! £19, reduce from £90. Couldn't say no!
I didn't make the mistake of using them for the first time of on the road, so the only person that saw me fall over was my mate who was riding with me bit of a comedy fall, came to a small hill and needed to stop for a gate. I completely forgot and started to panic, slowing falling to my right side! It was onto grass though, so s'all good.

I have massive trouble getting the damn things in though, im getting there though!
Riding without being clipped in feels positively strange now!

 

[BC BOOTLE]

i'm glad i'm not the only one still not clipping in right..although i've just backed the adjustment off a bit whilst out and found it a bit easier ,,,some pics of you lying on your side still clipped in would be most welcomed Ethan ive come close at lights,,,bmw broke my fall tho

 

[User16625]

How much improvement in speed can I expect by switching from normal pedals to clipless ones?
Does having an upstroke motion when pedaling really improve speed to a noticeable degree? and are they necessary if you want to be competitive in a race?

 

[BC BOOTLE]

clipless has given me much better performance.......adjusted the cleats a couple of times to get my foot just right,and adjusted the pedal tension ,,now all is good,,,,,I advise you to convert,,,also I'm intrigued on what avatar your going to use

 

[User16625]

clipless has given me much better performance.......adjusted the cleats a couple of times to get my foot just right,and adjusted the pedal tension ,,now all is good,,,,,I advise you to convert,,,also I'm intrigued on what avatar your going to use

Done! Never really thought about using an avatar but now that you mentioned it......

 

[Gez73]

Hello all. Long time commuter first time poster. This is a great site too by the way. On the subject in question does anyone know of a reflector that can be placed on a Shimano SPD pedal. The 540 to be exact. I have been using them for about four months now and wish I'd taken the plunge sooner. I currently wear two reflective straps around my ankles with or without overshoes but was wondering what I could do in the Summer with a racier shoe and ankle socks. Is the law strict on pedal reflectors or would it be worth sticking some reflective tape to the heel of the shoe? Decathlon do sell a complete pedal cleat set that does come with a clip on reflector but I've got a lot of life left in my current kit. Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[gaz]

How much improvement in speed can I expect by switching from normal pedals to clipless ones?
Does having an upstroke motion when pedaling really improve speed to a noticeable degree? and are they necessary if you want to be competitive in a race?

Studies have shown that pro cyclists do not pull up as well as pushing down. What clip less does allow them to do is apply less pressure on the upward stroke as there foot is guided all the way around.

Hello all. Long time commuter first time poster. This is a great site too by the way. On the subject in question does anyone know of a reflector that can be placed on a Shimano SPD pedal. The 540 to be exact. I have been using them for about four months now and wish I'd taken the plunge sooner. I currently wear two reflective straps around my ankles with or without overshoes but was wondering what I could do in the Summer with a racier shoe and ankle socks. Is the law strict on pedal reflectors or would it be worth sticking some reflective tape to the heel of the shoe? Decathlon do sell a complete pedal cleat set that does come with a clip on reflector but I've got a lot of life left in my current kit. Any advice greatly appreciated.

The law isn't strict on this, there have been no reports over the past few years about cyclists being pulled over because they don't have pedal reflectors, as long as you light up well in the hours of darkness you will be fine.

 

[Gez73]

Thanks for that. Was just wondering as I came across my original pedals with the reflector panels on and it got me thinking. Thanks again.

 

[BC BOOTLE]

I have a flat pedal clip on clipped on one side of my Shimano spd's,reflectors either side Gez.

 

[Gez73]

Thank you for that. Any idea where I could get one of those plates or are they home made? Would ideally like to modify my pedals some way. Have tried cable ties and making the pedals one sided but the reflectors eventually cracked under the strain. Gez

 

[BC BOOTLE]

the Shimano part number Gez is SM PD22 for the clip on pedal platforms with reflectors

 

[Gez73]

Thank you. Will definitely look into them for the duskier evenings in Spring. Cheers. Gez

 

[cyclebum]

Had my new pedals fitted last week but have been ill since so haven't been out yet. A friend lent me her son's turbo trainer so I have been using that over the last 2 days but I am finally going to brave it and go out in a short while. Problem is I am now finding clipping in quite easy and can just about manage without looking. However unclipping is still a bit stiff. I have discovered I need to be at the lowest point and the spring is set at the lowest point but what else can I do? I am going up a cycle path that's very close by so I don't have to worry about traffic but I do have a short ride up a canal towpath so I hope I don't fall in wish me luck

 

[Gez73]

I found my right foot easier to remove than my left initially. Just made sure that my right foot was the loadbearing one when stopping. Not ideal since I would have rather used my left foot on the kerb but managed in the end. Plenty of practice even when Not required is the key. You'll find your feet if you'll excuse the pun! Goodluck and give yourself plenty of time everytime. Gez

 

[cyclebum]

Im back and I've survived, almost intact . Came a cropper 2 minutes into the ride at the top of the road, but this was my own stupid fault. I have a bag I strap to the front of my bike to carry a few essentials in, as for some reason my bike wont take a saddle bag. It has a couple of long straps I always carefully secure but for the first time ever I forgot. The strap soon became wound round the front wheel and I came to a sudden hault. Yes you've guessed I was seen, by the guy whose house I was outside when I went down, though he did say I went down very gracefully! I finally got down onto the cycle track and was really gaining confidence, too much so as I tried to negotiate a Z gateway by only unclipping 1 foot, the wrong foot and down I went again. . To add insult to injury I also got a puncture . I had just got the wheel off and was getting my kit out (glad I had that bag after all!!) when a very kind gentleman appeared and offered assistance. Now I like to think I'm quite a capable and when needed, independent sort of person, but I'm no feminist and gladly accepted his help.
But at the end of the day it wasn't as bad as I thought. My right foot has already loosened and is no problem, the left still a bit stiff but I deliberately swapped feet occasionally. Thanks to all the advice on this thread, I've actually taken the plunge and I don't think I would have done so
otherwise. It's just over 4 weeks till I go to Central America for my challenge so I just hope I haven't left it too late