Clipless Pedals FAQ

[Black Country Ste]

Should I be afraid of fitting them?

No!

After some real world practice out in the street clipless are much easier to engage and release. I had a pootle around the block last night to practice and a good 8-mile blast this afternoon with few problems. Sometimes the pedal was upside down which made clipping in difficult when moving off with traffic behind but I had that problem when I first used toeclips.

 

[potsy]

Without going through the whole 26 pages of this thread can someone answer me this question?

Do single sided spd pedals stay the side up that you leave them in, ie-unclipping at the lights will they then stay clip side up or is it random?

 

[deadpool7]

Without going through the whole 26 pages of this thread can someone answer me this question?

Do single sided spd pedals stay the side up that you leave them in, ie-unclipping at the lights will they then stay clip side up or is it random?

Mine seem to tilt backwards a bit, so roughly 5 or 10 degrees back (towards rear of bike) from vertical.

 

[Louch]

Fitted my keos tonight. Felt a lot better than I expected. Looking forward to a longer run tomorrow and hopefully beat my previous strava PB's

 

[Nomadski]

It's been a couple of weeks since I got all my clipless pedal bits and still haven't installed them. Need to obey Rule 5 and get on with it.

 

[Louch]

I had my first clip less moment Friday over thinking 2 mini roundabouts and a fire engine. Has to be done

 

[themosquitoking]

It's been a couple of weeks since I got all my clipless pedal bits and still haven't installed them. Need to obey Rule 5 and get on with it.

Ordered the m530's on the new bike this morning. Lets fall over together.

 

[themosquitoking]

Picked up my new bike today with clipless pedals and managed to have my first off too. Wasn't really down to the pedals more me trying to turn too slowly and overbalancing and not being able to release quickly enough. Unclipped on the way down though

 

[Nomadski]

Picked up my new bike today with clipless pedals and managed to have my first off too. Wasn't really down to the pedals more me trying to turn too slowly and overbalancing and not being able to release quickly enough. Unclipped on the way down though

How is the new bike mate?? I guess it probably feels like a rolls royce compared to the one you were using before!

STILL haven't got my clipless on, guess will have no excuses and will stick em on next week / maybe after our ride tomorrow.

Glad your still in one piece!

 

[themosquitoking]

How is the new bike mate?? I guess it probably feels like a rolls royce compared to the one you were using before!

STILL haven't got my clipless on, guess will have no excuses and will stick em on next week / maybe after our ride tomorrow.

Glad your still in one piece!

It's brilliant, i love it. I was only moving at about 0.5 mph when i fell off and the lack of speed was why i fell off. Love the pedals though, even clipping in accidentally already.

 

[Nomadski]

It's brilliant, i love it. I was only moving at about 0.5 mph when i fell off and the lack of speed was why i fell off. Love the pedals though, even clipping in accidentally already.

Am looking at bike thinking *should I?* My bike is saying nothing.

 

[themosquitoking]

Am looking at bike thinking *should I?* My bike is saying nothing.

Give it a beer and see what happens.

 

[Louch]

Do it! Having much more fun since I fitted mine

 

[Kevin Airey]

Get them fitted, don't worry or think about it all too much, relax and enjoy and you will soon get used to them...

Only time I don't like them is when I am at the front of traffic waiting for lights to change and can't get the last foot in. Take your time and get clipped in before pedalling away or your foot can slip off when powering away, more noticeable with my Look Keo pedal.

Doesn't hurt to add a bit of Vaseline on the pedal where they clamp to the cleat, just helps get into new pedals but get tension wound down first...

 

[Nomadski]

So I bit the bullet and installed the pedals and cleats to the shoes, FYI this is the kit I have -

CLEATS - 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

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

SHOES - Shimano RT82 - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-rt82-touring-shoes/

After installing I did a few laps of the communal car park we have, had very little issue clipping in and clipping out, felt quite natural.

I know they are designed to have some movement, but is there any way to minimise this? I still felt there was a little too much. By movement I mean I can move my foot inwards or outwards on the pedal, I would prefer I little more 'hold'. They don't come out accidentally, that isnt the issue, just once clipped in I can move point my foot pretty freely which feel weird.

Also, compared to my V12 flats, I feel I am 'tippy toeing' the pedal. I have the cleats in the front pair of holes in the shoe, maybe should try the rear holes? Maybe just takes some getting used to.

Apart from the above, had one half clipless moment where I came to a roundabout slowly, unclipped my right foot, the woman in the car seemed to take an absolute age getting it around the roundabout and I tipped over to the left! Fortunately I managed to pull out my foot out of the left pedal in time to save the day.

Maybe 3 times I struggled a little to get the last foot in after lights etc, but generally was surprised how easy and natural it felt reclipping.

Any advice on the issues above would be welcome, but I still give the experience a thumbs up.