Clipless Pedals FAQ

[Nomadski]

Are their in-store prices always so high compared to web, especially when it says reduced on your image?
Always pays to shop round for component parts, buying complete bikes is different, I still prefer to get them at the LBS as long as they will do a deal, especially living out here.

Well their instore price is certainly never cheaper! Like you say, shop around always the best idea, but nice to go in and see the items.

 

[Kevin Airey]

Oh yes its always nice to go and have a look if you don't know what they are like, only problem for me is I end up wanting more then seeing all those nice shiny things :-)

 

[Nigelnaturist]

To be fair to Evans, their website price is about the same - http://www.evanscycles.com/products/shimano/m540-spd-mtb-pedals-ec009751 though Wiggle still do it cheaper - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-pd-m540-pedals/

Evans will price match Wiggle got a pair of A530 pedals for £29.99 the price wiggle had them on the web.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/shimano/a530-touring-pedals-ec008662
I just about clip in first time now, much easier than clips ever were, I am no faster mind.

 

[antnee]

I see you have got into clipping in and out ok now but say your no faster? Well I can't say I'm faster either but I do feel more secure on the pedal and perhaps more so when starting away from Traffic lights and such. Going up hills too seems better; but it all could be just in my head!

 

[Basil.B]

I'm still finding it awkward to unclip.
Don't think I'm any faster either, but peddling is much smoother.

 

[spooks]

I'm liking my clipless pedals generally. I have the odd occasion when pulling away where I don't clip in first time but it's generally pretty quick. I don't really notice that I'm attached to my bike (in a good way). Haven't landed on the deck yet but I'm sure it will come. I came the closest in my drive, slowing down to toss something in the bin and leaned the wrong way. Luckily there was a wall to stop me falling and no eye witnesses!

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

and no eye witnesses!

That's the important bit

 

[Kevin Airey]

I'm liking my clipless pedals generally. I have the odd occasion when pulling away where I don't clip in first time but it's generally pretty quick. I don't really notice that I'm attached to my bike (in a good way). Haven't landed on the deck yet but I'm sure it will come. I came the closest in my drive, slowing down to toss something in the bin and leaned the wrong way. Luckily there was a wall to stop me falling and no eye witnesses!

I haven't fallen off still clipped in, but had a few occasions over rocky terrain where the bike has slipped from under me, I have always managed to instinctively pull out the foot to stop the fall. The more you use them then actions and re-actions all become automatic, I went on a bike with flat pedals the other day and that felt really weird!

 

[antnee]

Has anybody found they have had to increase the tension on their pedals yet?
I suppose it happens after a while as the springs lose some of the tension? But am sure you would probably wear the shoe cleats out before that happened? As the cleats I have look to be less strong than the metal that the pedals made of.

 

[Cubist]

Has anybody found they have had to increase the tension on their pedals yet?
I suppose it happens after a while as the springs lose some of the tension? But am sure you would probably wear the shoe cleats out before that happened? As the cleats I have look to be less strong than the metal that the pedals made of.

Depends. You'd always want eh cleats to be softer than the jaws.... stands to reason! Spring tension is more of a personal preference, but if you are using multi-directional cleats, you want the tension to be enough to stop your foot lifting off as you stand up to sprint, but not too tight to leave you scuppered at the lights......

Off road, it makes a bit more of a difference. I use one-directional cleats, but still find under certain circumstances my foot comes adrift when I don't want it to, so I've added enough tension to hold secure, but still leave room for the intuitive dabbing thing on lairy stuff.

 

[antnee]

Yes It dd occur to me about the softer metal being on the cleats mine are the multi release BTW And what you say probably would have come to me in the end but thanks very much for getting back to me on this as its probably saved me from "to leave you scuppered at the lights......"
Cheers Now thanks Regards Antnee

 

[Adam Robertson]

I don't use cleats but I use the foot straps on my road bike what type of footwear would I need thanks

 

[Basil.B]

The tension on my pedals are still at minimum.

 

[Therapor]

I bought some SPDs (M520) and DHB shoes, I opted for the MTB shoes as I didn't like the idea of not being able to walk on them.

Will report back when I've got some miles on them

 

[Nomadski]

I bought some SPDs (M520) and DHB shoes, I opted for the MTB shoes as I didn't like the idea of not being able to walk on them.

Will report back when I've got some miles on them

Yeah I took the plunge myself

Got the easy to unclip Shimano SH56 MTB SPD Multi Release cleats someone one here recommended - http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Shimano-SH56-MTB-SPD-Cleats-multi-release_30406.htm

The pedals were the Shimano M540's - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-pd-m540-pedals/?utm_source=pla&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=uk

Both the above have been received today, the shoes frustratingly never arrived today so I have to spend some of my second day off waiting for them (today was lovely and sunny too..)

Shoes were the Shimano RT82 - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-rt82-touring-shoes/

I chose them as they are the best of both worlds (ie SPD Road Shoes), hidden cleats so easier to walk in, and they are lighter weight and stiffer soled than normal MTB shoes, so more like road shoes technically.

If I don't report in, send a search party looking for an embarrassed looking fella struggling on the ground with a bike between his legs somewhere in the Wimbledon to Richmond Park area.