Clipless Pedals FAQ

[Louch]

Well after reading a few pages of this thread, am definately going to go clipless when i upgrade to a road bike.

I thought cycling was supposed to be cheaper than a car!

I think IV spent more on bike parts in 6 months than last 7 years on my golf!

 

[Nomadski]

Need advise for a mate who's bought a road bike, and shoes, but needs pedals/ cleats.

It's a 200 quid halfords bike, is it worth him going clip less, and if so what's a decent beginner set up? I have keo look max 2s, but wouldn't want to advise 80 quid pedals on a 200 quid bike

Thanks

I know these aren't road pedals but I would recommend dmr v12 pedals and be done with that. Not worth going clipless unless he starts doing bigger mileage IMO.

 

[Louch]

He's already bought shoes, so he's after something clip less. He will be doing about 20 miles a day commuting once he is used to the bike

 

[ianrauk]

Well after reading a few pages of this thread, am definately going to go clipless when i upgrade to a road bike.

I thought cycling was supposed to be cheaper than a car!

HA!

 

[Nomadski]

He's already bought shoes, so he's after something clip less. He will be doing about 20 miles a day commuting once he is used to the bike

Sorry, just you asked if it was worth going clipless. I guess if he already bought the shoes, the answer is obvious :P

Personally I wouldnt have bothered, but now hes done it if he has bought SPD shoes I would definitely get some multi release cleats (sh56 Shimano) and M540 Shimano pedals would be my vote, they have served me very well.

If its SPD-SL he has bought. cant really recommend anything on experience.

 

[Nomadski]

I think IV spent more on bike parts in 6 months than last 7 years on my golf!

You wouldnt be doing it right if you hadnt

 

[Cupra]

He's already bought shoes, so he's after something clip less. He will be doing about 20 miles a day commuting once he is used to the bike

Another vote for the m540's I love mine however my brothers ,m520's are pretty good too.

 

[Garyh09]

I bought shimano 540's a few weeks ago and have already toppled over 4 times (twice in 10 minutes) when does it normally get easier to clip out?

 

[thegravestoneman]

Being an old f*rt I put clips and straps on my fixed wheel like I always used to ride, I will now be putting on some SPD-SLs like I have on my other bike some modern progress is definitely 'progress'

 

[Nomadski]

I bought shimano 540's a few weeks ago and have already toppled over 4 times (twice in 10 minutes) when does it normally get easier to clip out?

Turn the screw on the pedals to the least tight position. Make sure to screw both sides of each pedal.

Buy Shimano SH56 multi release cleats for your shoes (replace standard ones that came with pedals) and clipless incidents will be a thing of the past.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mobile/MobileModels.aspx?ModelID=10969

Wiggle have them in stock too.

 

[mickle]

The (lightly edited) version of the OP has attracted 42,000 reads on Cyclorama!

http://www.cyclorama.net/viewArticle.php?id=352

 

[MickL]

Well Ive tried SPD's again to see if I can get to grips with them but my right foot being a lot wide than my left, I cannot get a comfortable position.
Rode 40miles (4x10miles) with them on with fine tweaking to try and find the sweet spot but no. If only I could move the pedal an extra 5mm-10mm away from the crank problem solved, still my left leg felt fine

 

[Mr Bunbury]

You can get spacers that put one foot out ~25mm more than the other, but those are probably serious overkill. I've got a similar issue to you, only for me it's my left foot. Here's my solution:
1) Use Look Keo pedals. SPD is not the most adjustable system, due partly to the limitations of the 2 bolt attachment. I can move my 3 bolt road cleat around a lot more on the bottom of my shoe, so can move one foot out more than the other.
2) Put a washer or two on the thread of the pedal you want to space out - not enough to compromise the attachment to the crank, just enough to get an extra few mm of spacing.
3) Try some of the mouldable footbeds made by e.g. Specialized and Bontrager. If one foot wants to go out more, it may be due to a fallen arch or similar and extra support can help with this. You might want to go to see a podiatrist/chiropodist about that if you haven't already.

 

[MickL]

You can get spacers that put one foot out ~25mm more than the other, but those are probably serious overkill. I've got a similar issue to you, only for me it's my left foot. Here's my solution:
1) Use Look Keo pedals. SPD is not the most adjustable system, due partly to the limitations of the 2 bolt attachment. I can move my 3 bolt road cleat around a lot more on the bottom of my shoe, so can move one foot out more than the other.
2) Put a washer or two on the thread of the pedal you want to space out - not enough to compromise the attachment to the crank, just enough to get an extra few mm of spacing.
3) Try some of the mouldable footbeds made by e.g. Specialized and Bontrager. If one foot wants to go out more, it may be due to a fallen arch or similar and extra support can help with this. You might want to go to see a podiatrist/chiropodist about that if you haven't already.

Some sound advice thank you, I didn't even know you could buy spacers, I have toyed with the idea of SPD-L/Looks but I think its more a issue of my foot geometry with taking taking a picture to show but my Big toe is slightly shorter than the next toe but the metatarsal is slightly deformed and protrudes out more than most this is the reason why my right foot is just over 1cm wider than my left.
I think trying other pedals would be waste so may was well spend the money on decent flats by wellgo or something.

 

[Mr Bunbury]

The other good thing about Looks* and Times (and Speedplays, but they cost $$$) is that they give much more float than SPDs (or SPD-SLs, steer clear of those if you've got wonky feet), which again makes it easier to get a good fit.

*if you use the red cleats